The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-07-26


f!cial hair, thereby breaking the weap-
Oh. Then Melissa tried to slap her ad-
vcrsary, and In dodging Molly went
backward over the bench behind her.
That put an end to hostilities. The
scene can be imagined better than de.
scrlbcd. Abijah turned away, and Mrs.
Meyer assisted the prostrate girl to, her
feet and declared an armistlce. But
the speech went Oh unhcard. Every
body was laughing too much to:llsten;.
everybody except 'AblJah. He didn't
laugh; he was too worried. 49,.
'I'm n dumb FOOL" said he to his
aunt Maria when the girls had gone to
separate houses TO repair damages.
"1'm a dumb fool to take n Butternlt
and an abolitionist out'togcthcr. Dumb
ed IL know which to take home"
"Take Mcliss," snid Mrs. Maria.
"Coursc I'd ruther tako Melss."
Abijah answered. "But. can't we'll
git outen taSin Molly. And 1 dursen't
take 'cm BOTH"
won't VIII Hanson take Molly?"
suggested his aunt. "He used to spark
her"
"They've fell OUT he complained.
"Wcll, there's Ben. He come alone,
and he can't drive good with Il bullet
In his arm. Let him take one Of 'em."
"Hc won't have Molly, and Meliss
won't so with him If he is an abolition
ist md got wounded She said so.
Mebbc he would take Molly, though"
"All right. You ask him." said Mrs.
Maria. "Now, look here, Bijnh Hop
kins. want you to talk to MelIss
| bout the way she acted. 'Twan't lady
| like"
Don't care" said he. "Molly hadn't
oughtcr hit her with that umbrelr."
"You talk to her, anyway. Pas call
In me. I got to 60"
Abijahs mind was full Of very seri-
GUS thoughts as he backed the pony be-
tween the shafts. He guessed he had
better talk to Melissa. but he would
have to be careful how he talked. She
was dangerous. On the whole, he be-
l1eved he liked Molly best. She was
more quiet. and then the pie she had
made beat Melissa's oil hollow.
Just as he fastened the last buckle
| ne saw Melissa Bray coming toward
| him In borrowed hat, and he turned
to hear what she had to say.
Il jest wanted to tell you, Bijah,"
said she, chat 1 wouldn't trouble YOU
to see me home"
Whore you goin with?" he asked
| "Bcn's goin to take me-" she said.
He come alone"
ADijah said nothing, but after she
had gone and climbed in beside Ben he
| thought some more and shook his head
NIn1I,
Just what she said she wouldn't do.
| ana he would have Molly to sit with
him In the buggy. II he wasn't But
ternut, why, then
I'LL DO It," he muttered as she came
out and got IN with him.
| She gave him just the sweetest sort
or smile and never mentioned tho af-
falr until he spoke first. But they had
gone some way before he spoke at oil,
and 1t was not until they had passed
the first tollgate that he found his
| voice.
You hadn't oughter done that way,
Molly" said he. "'Twasn't nice"
SHE hadn't no business tryin 10 take
my badge" said Molly.
"Mebbe not" said he, "but you
hadn't oughter hit her with the UNI
! brelP."
Pm sorry done it. Bijah," she an
swered, looking ruefully at the demol-
lshed parasol. "But she tried to hit
me afterward"
Il know she did"-he blushed Mt the
thought of the scene-"uud III tell her
| So"
Il hain't never. goin to speak to her
again" said Molly detcrmnedly.
"4ou wont even say you're sorry?"
mo, l won',. But I'll tell you, b.
jah,' she said, looking into his face.
ADijah didn't know what to say, so
he kept quiet until they were almost
within sigh: Of home. Then he decided
1t was time to speak.
Il Wisht you want q Butternut, Mol
| ly." he said.
She looked at him again and began
to sing softly:
! ii had 4 dream the other night
! When all clear and still;
j dreamt saw Vaundigham :
Go sliding down n HILL"
An abolitionist song, and Abijah was
beginning to understand.
"Then you've changed your mindr'
he asked.
"Mebbc." said she so low he could
scarcely hear her. "HaYe you changed
yours"
about whatY"
About Meliss. Do you like her like
you used tor"
Molly" said he, ignoring her ques-
ton. you and mes 'heen KNOWN G ,h1
other long time. l know amt hand
some, but If you'll"-
Course l will, Bijah," she whisper {
ed, leaning close to him..
And the Butternut had scored one. I
Marketing OF Range Cattle.
In 0onrinor an thn nn44lo .t4..aII--. ~.