The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-19

each and smiled up in Tandy's face. In
spite of herself, her eyes fell before VIII
loughby's. She felt rather than saw that
ms glance passed over her in search of
Mary-Spec, who had slipped out of sight
among the shrubbery. While her hand
was still In Willoughbys. Red-Mary
caught the sound of slow wheels.
The buggy was big and low swung. but
splek and span. An oldish woman drove
it, fat woman with mild blue eyes and
happy, yacuous face. She had on
white frock, book muslin, short enough
to show her feet in slippers that their
pudginess overhowed. Her hat, which sat
awry, was a wonderful connection of lace
and pink ribbons, with pinker roses nod
ding juantily above it. In defiance of its
youthful gaiety, there was black band
about her neck, clasped under the chin
with funeral miniature. She had black
gloves, too, old-fashioned lace mitts. not
on her hands, but pushed back around her
plump wrists.
Look out, major! Sister Lisenbee has
got on all her war paint" Uncle Bob said
in the majors ear-then aloud: Sister
Lisenbee, you are a sight for sore ewes.
Howdy! Howdy Bless my soul! An
these chits of girls will have to gt out o.
your wayl
"Lawsey, Brer Mayner! How you do
talk! Like 1 was good set outr Sister
Lisenbee said, waddling through the gate;
but whut if I air set out? Scripcher
says, don't it, that man was made ter
mourn?-but men amt women, and the
good Lord knows I've been a-mournin'
poor old Lisenbee bettern ten year. [
come ter the moonlight though. Jest fer
nothing but not ter hurt Sst' Lucy Nav.
ner's feelings. I didn't have no ide-eear
OF seeing the major L am mighty glad.
though. have saw him. He makes him.
SELF the skacest at our house ever sence
he promised me one er his fine pegs
All major! 1 always thought YOU
were a gay deceiverr' Amos Tandy said
shaking his finger at the major; Mrs.
Lisenbee, I'm a lawyer, but have never
had case Won't you give me one? I
see first-class breach of promise suit
right ahead"
MAJ. Dade grew scarlet. Anger always
set MN stammering. He tried hard to
say something, something, cool and with
erlng, but not a word was ineligible. Sis
ter Lisenbee ambled up to him and caught
his arm.
i believe in my heart yor're struck
with the shakin' agur" she said: Il kin
cyore 1t in three shakes of er dead lambs
tail. All you got to do is ter take and
swaller nine whole grains err back nen-
per, ard then hold yer breath While Won
say over your name and age backward. II
IS the best thing. 1t cyored poor ole Iisen-
bee, and the fust year we lived down In
the Purchase he shuk so they used ter
hear him over at the neighbors.'
Willoughby had found Mary Spec. and
was talking eagerly to her. Amos beck
oilea them TO him. As they came up he
sad with flourish: IAN honor like q
pleasure, is doubled by sharing it with
fliends. Let me present you to ladv
Whom II is an honor to know-Mrs Lis
enbee, the mother of ex-Sheriff SeIbv-"
NeXt-Congressman Selby fits better"
Uncle Bob interrupted. Maj. Dade swore
silently, and said in his mind. 'Of all
the low-down tricks! Trying to make
Berts sweetheart believe he is blood kin
to that blessed old elephantr
Mary Spec took Mrs Lisenbee,s ia,
hand between both her own, and said
pressing 1t gently, Il am glad to see
you, Mrs Lisenbee. Some one has been
telling me about Nanny ever since
came"
And ! been a-wantlng to Sc YOU the
very must way, Miss Mary Spec" Mrs
Llsenbee said, earnestly. Il been a-try
ing 10 40 II, too, ever sence | seen how
my boy jest couldn't eat no sort er VIII
Ties when he come home frum seeing Won
That's the very shorest sign of deem ;ovc
why 1t Wus only at the last barbecue
ieil Jest as hearty intel l seen the major
go on the stump. Then / ses fer Sis
Sarah Jane Beasley. Sarah Jane. NOT a
mossei kin tech-not eff you wus ter STAY
me win hagons, and comfort me with ap-
pies like they done ole Solomon
Sne stood ruminantly, tapping her snuff
muil with one forehnger. Wilougbbv
was at her elbow, Amos Tandy the other
Red Mary darted up to them. lyon are
nice parcel, YOU Purchase felowsi'' She
sad, giving us a picnic without music,
Don't you knew it Is as fiat as a cucun-
Der without salt?"
Don't murder us, pleased" Willoucbhv
SAD; 'at least. not until you hear how
hard we tried for the band There is only
one pand' you know, that Purchase folks
care about Amos, didn't we both trv ror.
an hour TO hire, or coax, or scare that ola
niger into playing here to-night?"
We'll, we must do something. I reckon
we can fall back on Wevilly Can Won
trot?" Red Mary asked mischievousIv
All night-with you for partner" Amos
said, catching her hand
Partners! Partners! Partners right
now. Partners for Weviily Wheatv' Amos
calied aloud. The sun is down, the moon
is up, the fun ought TO be going"
Willoughby tried to take out Mary
Spec but she shook her head. Her eyes
were half dreamy, half expectant She
let them rest upon the house 1t was a
double log one with shed rooms at tho
back, a wide, middle passage and a deem
hospitable piazza across the front. OnIv
last night she had sat upon the piazza.
hearing voice whose timber left her
soul curiousy vibrant As she listened
the moon-f1owers had kept opening ali
about her, and the sparse white honey
suckae spranks had made the air odorous.
She wondered If she would ever again
smell the flowers without bringing back
the thrills, the tremor Memory of them
was half terror, half delight. She might
have promised-anything and she was
free
Daddy Dowell came around the house
corner, His sense of Difference never al
lowed him TO approach qualify white
folks" by the front way. lie was very
tall very black, withered but hale with
a fringe of grlzz,ed wool around a
shiny. bald head He held a SLOUGH hat
at his side, and dropped it before speak
ing. So did his son, and his three
grandsons, who came behind him with tid-
dies, banjo. a flute and tambourine.
Dixie, the youngest granddaughter, beat
time t,rao1 fha t,ianpIo he small