The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-02-15
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AAoSh anu opcHeu IL just wide enough
to discern the identity of the caller.
The latter thought he detected embar-
rassment in Pixies manner. When he
caught an unintended glimpse of the
supper table, he was astonished beyond
measure. There were two cups of coffee
and two plates. containing pork and DO
tatoes. One cup and one plate had been
partially emptied. The other cup and
plate looked as if they had not been
touched.
"Got company7" he blurted out, be-
fore he thought what he was saying.
Pike had never been known to invite q
guest to supper 0. any other meal.
The bachelors face flushed q deep
crimson. For moment he appeared to
be unable to reply. Finally he suffered
out:
"Well, no-er, yes; I'm kinder ex-
pectln some one.
His neighbor observed his confusion
and hastened to state tho business that
prompted his visit Pike did not aak
him III, and he departed without OBJ
tanning further light OH the cause Of
the presence of the extra cup and plate.
Tho neighborhood now had q genuine
mystery. All sorts of vague rumors
We're circulated. But the bachelor kept
his secret.
IS pose Brown II tell what he seen
and FOLKS Yill tall; some. Dus noijody'll
guess what IL Ill about he cllnc1lcd.
II went much against the grain with
him - cuoH twice ~ l,,ucl II, each meal
as Il" would have prepared for himself
alone. BIt he co,lsolsi his economical
spirit by feeding what was left over to
Tie ,lu<s.
Tain t lost, after al. : he thought.
The end of ihc month arrived lIo
had awaited the day with impaticnce.
That evening he ate supper earlier than
usual. He helped the extra plate and
amour, he would allow IL wifc--if ho
had oIe-for the last time. And as he
did it l.. pictured to himself the brown
eyed Mabel gayly chatting with him
across the table.
When he had finished the meal he
took the old slate ON which he had done
his figuring since childhood and in Il
few minutes had ascertained to a cent
the cost of the extra portion.
-Four dollars and nineteen cents,
four dollars and nineteen cents, - he re-
peatcd to himself, over and over again.
His hrows were knit. The chill Of
avarice was creeping into his heart
'-And that don't include clothes. But
I reckon she'd have enough duds to do
be-. for awhile.
1t was the first rule of the Bachelors
life u deny himself everything except
absolute necessities. For The first time
he was dangerously near deciding to
break the law which had become almost
second nature with him. Few inn.l
there be indeed who would hesitate to
invest 81. 10 ii ,ii,,,til il ;ln l<cr, Of Il
wife who snri>li,f: il ri. l. ..,i:i their
ideal Bl.t Pike has! cosric,i lie yvllow
gold s., long that his i',vc was not to be
changed easily.
Three days the battle :ll-cd within
.lis breast. 1t was the most lnis,l:hl"
period of his existence. Even after ilc
had made mp his mind to seek the hand
Of the witching Mabel he found himself
wondering at his own rccklcssness. But
he was a man of stern resolve. Once
determined. it required more than hu-
man power to turn him from his course.
On the morning OF the fourth day ho
finished up the work about the place
earlier than was his custom and hitched
Esau to the spring wagon.
Its purity nigh time was buyin
store snit, and reckon this il, proper
occasion for sich q purchase, - ne solilo-
Gnized as he mended break in the
mules bride with piece of twine
An hour later he was examining the
assortment Of clothing in Smiths gen.
eral store at Hill Top.
''What sort of suit ort feller buy
to git married in?" he asked the pro-
prietor with an effort at smile.
The stOrekeeper received the inquiry
as joke. The idea of Pike desiring in
formation of such q character to guide
MIN in the selection of suit did not
enter his brain.
''Same sort you'd want if you was
expectin to be buried replied Smith.
''Pants, coat and vest
Then both laughed a the homely
witticism.
The bachelor drew it ont OF the store
keeper without exciting suspicion that
the young man who had participated in
the most recent marriage in the neigh
borhood had worn frock suit.
IL ain never had no tail coat ylt,
he remarked in q careless way. believe
I'll just git one to surprise the neigh
bors''
He found cutaway suit that pleased
him in every respect except price. -Four
teen dollars was more than he was &C
customed to pay. But he again con-
quared his economical disposition.
''I'll be back this way in a couple of
hours and you can have the bundle
ready for me, - he said to the storekeep-
er and added, "When git it. I'll pay
you.
The drug store was his next objective
point. The apothecary was dumfounded
when the bachelor asked for dimes
worth of peppermint drops.
Got cold2" inquired the sallow
faced druggist.
t.. -L11