The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-08-31

front Of the abolitionistic young lady
He sat by Melissa.
The speech was like all others Of that
time-defamatory to the south, touch
ing heavily on the wrongs Of slavery,
lions and winding up with q eulogy on
Abraham Lincoln; only this particular
speech ended differently.
Molly had shown no dangerous But
ternut symptoms during the day. In
fact, she had applauded feebly at times.
but when Mr.. Brough called the whole
race\of Butternuts towards and thieves
she could stand 1t no longer. She put
on her Butternut badge, declaration
of war them. and turned SO Melissa
could see it. Then did Melissa's in
stinct for destruction of all things But
| ternutty assert itself, and, in the words
of old Mr.. Meyer, German by birth,
who saw it all, "she crap for dot
padge."
But she didn't get it. Molly leaped
to her feet as quickly as her skirts
would allow her to resent the insult,
and, raising her green silk parasol,
smote Melissa on her chignon Of arti-
fetal hair, thereby breaking the weap-
on. Then Melissa tried to slap her ad-
versary, and in lodging Molly went
backward over the bench behind her.
That put an end to hostilities The
scene can be imagined better than de-
scribed. Abijah turned away, and Mrs.
Meyer assisted the PROSTATE girl to her
l foot opd 6aclarod an ormfcfioo P,,t
| the speech, went on unheard. Evq9y-
body was laughing too much to listen;
everybody except Abijah. He didn't
laugh; he was too worried.
Pm a dumb FOOL" said he to his
aunt Maria when the girls had gone to
separate houses to repair damages.
"I'm dumb fool to take Butternut
and an abolitionist out together. Dumb
ed if know which to take home"
"Take Meliss," said Mrs. Maria.
| course I'd ruther take Meliss,"
| Abijah answered. But can't we'll
git outen takin Molly. And dursen't
| take 'em both"
Wont Will Hanson take Molly?"
suggested his aunt. HE used to spark
her." y
They've fell out" he complained.
"Well, there's Ben. He come alone,
and he can't drive good with bullet
in his arm. Let him take one Of 'em."
HE won't have Molly, and Meliss
won't 60 with him if he is an abolition
list and got wounded. She said so.
Mebbe he would take Molly, though"
"All right. You ask him." said Mrs.
Maria. Now, look here, Bijah 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
oughter hit her with that umbrelr."
"You talk to her, anyway. Pas call
In me. got to CO."
Abijah's 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-
lieved he liked Molly best. She was
more quiet and then the pie she had
made beat Melissa's all hollow.
| Just as he fastened the last buckle
he 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, that I wouldn't trouble YOU
to see me home"
Whore you goin with?' he asked.
"Ben's goin to take me-" she said.
He come alone"
Abijah said nothing, but after she
had gone and climbed in beside Ben he
thought some more and shook his head
over his thoughts Melissa had done
just what she said she wouldn't do,
and he would have Molly to sit with
him In the buggy. If he wasn't But
ternut, why, then
'1'll do it," he muttered as she came
out and got in with him.
She gave him just the sweetest sort
of smile and never mentioned the af-
fair until he spoke first. But they had
gone some way before he spoke at all,
and it 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 to take
my badge" said Molly.
N"Mebbe not" said he, "but you
hadn't oughter hit her with the UNI
brelp."
I'm sorry done it, Bijah," she an
swered, looking ruefully at the demol-
ished parasol. But she tried to hit
me afterward."
Il know she did"-he blushed at the
thought of the scene-"and I'll tell her
So"
II hain't never goin to speak to her
again." said Molly determinedly.
"You won't even say you're sorryY'
mo, won't. But I'll tell you, BIZ
jah," she said, looking into his face.
Abijah didn't know what to say, so
he kept quiet until they were almost
4 within sight Of home. Then he decided
1t was time to speak.
II wisht you want a Butternut, Mol
~" he said.