Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-08-06


well stop spell"
"Well-jes' tell he serds.fur you"
Now you set down an lem1ne bride
You this little lamb chop. les real ten
der. And here's pertzter Aii2 hot
"No, amt call 10 eat
~,Ain't hungry?'' stepping about
briskly. Eyes, you bo. And.a mealy
'pertater. with salt and pepper, and plenty
Of fresh butter'-and she was preparing
it "a she spoke, for the table had been
laid before the bell ringing, and the
gridiron was on the coaks-
81 dunno bout this. - he SAID as the
smoking chop was Slipped on the plate
before HIM. lit smells sOrtof tcznptin, "
he muttered. Here. PaDto. syOu try a
bite. MOI We mustn't give tine chill
!. cren's meat to dogs. You're sure it's
all right, Sally?'' with . wondering.
wistful look.
"Sure's be of sEnrise'i'' And while
he was picking the bone like a finnish
cd deg himself she was tossings light
large pancake and covering il with her
peach strip, and following it with an
other and another, keeping the great
cup OF cocoa filled all the time beside
fed and overfed.
Then he leaned forward, his elbows
| on the ia bic, and stared at the high
sunny window where a little jug of
buttercups and clover stood and bee
6uzzed and hummed. Andhis head fell
I between his hands, and she came and
/ put her arms about it and brought it
forward SO that it touched her shout
der. You're real sleepy" she said.
You 5es' go into the bedroom and he
down and git nap. and III ocxer you
up
He putsout bis long arm, pushing her
off with the open palm Of bis hand
"i'd like you to keep your distance,
he said, raising his heavy lidded eyes.
/ 81 know about morals, eff you amt no
| princerpeler' and he rose and moved
majestically TO the calico covered lounge
under the window and threw himself
down upon it. "You there again?'' he
said presently, as she pulled the curtain
across the window over him. "No bust
ness here, dropping off to sleep and
| waking again with a start to murmur.
"'Tain' t proper, and then lost in some
| five minutes vagary of a dream from
which he sprung hallooing. with an
idea that he was drowning. "Take your
hans off'n mel" he reared "You re
a-chokin mel I'll hev you hung for
witch yetr' And when the air was sui
phurous with storm of oaths that cur
died the blood of the little woman on
the stool at his feet-he-her husband
"a church member-she hid her face
in her arms, rocking TO and fro, the
tears OVERLOOKING
IL don't like to see you cry, Sally,
and you know iti'' he said, stopping to
gaze at her.
ooh, IL can't help iti" she ex-
claimed.
81 sh d think twas me that made you
cry" he said irresolutely, and he add
ed under his breath, ''instid of your
own cussedness.
Where's Polly?" he said presently,
after standing moment and staring in
TO vacancy as if trying to recall his
poor wits. THAT'S what want to
know. Where's Pollyg"
she's we'll took care of. She's-she's
better where she is while you-while
you amt feelin SO we'll. little trem-
L.ulous thrill in the sweetness of the
voice.
I'm pufickly we'll. Look at the
dinner I've eat. never felt better in
my life. I could take you down to the
river and drownd you quick as could a
kitten"
"You couldn't drown kitten, Hum
phrey."
He made a step toward her. cat
least could, +" he said as she looked
in his face. with tho tears still on her
own, "ef you belonged to me. But be-
ing as you re Tom Brier's now-you re
a pretty woman, Sally" he said after
looking at her moment again. "Ef
you hedn't ben so blamed toppin and
bound tohave your own way, Iwouldn t
"a got red of you. You can hev your
CHI ice now between Tom Brier and the
river. oh, my head. my headl''
There was rap on the door, and then
a shadow fell through the little passage
way into the bright kitchen. ''Oh, ]
forgot TO bolt the doorp' exclaimed Mrs.
Lavender.
"I'll be bound you didr' cried Hum
phrey. "Who's this a-comin into folks
houses 'thout a by your leave?''
Its me, Humphrey; it's-yes-it's
me, piped high thin voice with
something like an escapement midway
of its utterance.
ooh. Mr.. Hodger" exclaimed Sally,
wiping a chair that was clean before.
Come right in. Only you'll excuse us
Humphrey ism 't-isn't quite as well
as''-
"Who be you,'' cried Humphrey,
"tellin him to set down in my housei
And you amt welcome here, a-spyin
round, Ivy Hodge, and You know it.
"My observation-disclosures really
think you can't know what-yes, what
you're a-sayin. said Mr. Hodge bland.
ly and taking the chair "A selec'.
mans welcome yes - most any
where's. -
50 'Ceptin here" said Humphrey,
looking for his stick.
"How?' said Mr.. Hodge.
81 said exceptin here, and amt go.
in to heV YOU exchangin looks with