Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-08-23

III
W book right down an run an
pick up some chips to hurry up this
plaguey frc-an' put on some taters
to cook whilst l sets tn table. Theys
a man an woman-mighty stylish
lookin' folks-what's hos Their way an
wants sumpin' t'eat jes' as quick as
ever they kin git it. Lucky l baked
yistc'day, an had that hen on a-cook-
in Jump, now, an take yore min
off'n yore readin' long huff to hep me
git tn dinner" and TAN, thin woman,
with scanty gray hair drawn tightly
back from a sallow face, returned to
the front room of small weather
stained, story-and-a-half frame house
where she had left one of her guests
a lady in plain gray travelling dress
standing in the doorway looking OUT
across the broad, level expanse of bot
tom" land stretching away from the
hills nearby to the Missouri river.
"Take tn rockin' cheer, ma'am, an
rest yorese'f," said the hostess, pulling
q table to the center of the room; COW
ering 1t with coarse but snowy cloth
and bringing the dishes from the Etch-
en- as she talked. "Yu mus be pow'ful
hoDgry If yO got yore brekfus to
Whites. They do say they haint never
nothin' fit to eat there. Strange how
WI missed tn road to Jim Banion's-
leastways tn place what he runs fur
some eastern man; hits bout five mile
frum here, up t'other side tn Maple.
Hope tn gentleman hain't havin' no
trouble f1ndin' tn feed Theys a-plenty
Qua ttsere. Jerry-that's my son-went
owvs 70 town this mornin' an haint
QoA hack, an my OIL mans out a-hunt-
In. they hain't nothin' Dan Holten
loves better'n snoopin' 'roun' with his
gun, less'n hits a-playin' on his fiddle,
or readin' a story book. Missoury Hell
eny''-going into the htchen-'as them
taters a-bilin'? That gurr-coming
back 10 place dish Of sliced cucumbers
on the tablets jest like her pa fur
readin' ev'ry scrap O print she kin lay
her bans on, an she's crazy to git a
edication an learn music. 1 let's her
90 to school when they is any, an she
knows bout as much now, as tn las
teacher, though she hain't but 16 las
MAY. Her pa named her fur tn state
we. come from an a liam wher Bony-
part wuz shet up to keep him out'n mis-
chief. Well, reckon dinners ready If
WI air." and she brought In platter
of stewedb chicken which sent up an APP
petizing odor.
Passing shyly in and out, assisting
the talkative woman, was a slender,
fair-haired young girl In faded blue
calico dress. She scarcely lifted the
long dark lashes yelling pair of deep
blue eyes, and slipped away to her in
terrupted reading the moment the
meal was ready.
Hugh Ramsey, a young New YORK
lawyer, and his sister, Mrs. Zadhh Nor
rison, were on their way to Omaha,
where Mrs. Morrison purposed spend
ing some time with former school
mate before joining her brother in
Colorado, where he was going to look
after some mining property. At a
small town, between Sioux City and
Council Bluffs, they left the train, that
bright August morning, to visit farm
a dozen miles or so distant, which had
been left to Mrs. Morrison by an uncle.
After an unsatisfactory breakfast,
they hired pair of horses and an open
buggy and, mistaking the direction,
wandered about until noon found them
very hungry, at the Holten place They
had not expected much from the APP
pearance of the house and its mis-
tress, and enjoyed all the more the ex-
ceAent meal so soon ready for them,
after which they proceeded on their
way, taking the right road this time
Hugh, do you remember Missoury
Heleny, the pretty girl where we got
such a good dinner the day we were
lost on our way to my Iowa farm
asked Mrs. Morrison, the evening after
her arrival at Colorado Springs.
II remember the ridiculous name, "
answered Hugh Ramsey, lying at ease
on lounge in his sisters room, land
the woman, and, best Of all, the din
ner, but can't say that remember
much about the girl. A thin, colorless
little thing, wasn't shep"
Mrs. Morrison laughed and, drawing
her low chair nearer, ran her fingers
through his curly locks.
"You were hungry, not to notice
such pretty grill She is rather thin
and colorless now, but she will be a
beauty one Of these days, promise
you. I was hungry, too, but there was
something so sweet about her, and
whaA her mother said about her desire
to learn haunted me so that ! went up
there one day and arranged for Lena
i won't call her by that dreadful
name-to enter st. Mary's, at Omaha,
for two years. Her mother, who is an
old-fashioned Methodist, objected Of
first. She was afraid them Catholics
would 'prosserlite' the child; but Mr.
Holten, a gentle, really refined sort Of
man, was very grateful for the op.
portunity offered his daughter, and
spoke up with, Judging by his wife'f
look of establishment, unusual firm
ness, and she gave in. Jerry-a blond
giant, a combination of his energetic
mother and easy-going father-was on
our side, and there Lena is, at St
Mary's, studying like everything, and
happy as the day is long. I am only
afraid Of her working too hard; she Ii
30 anxious to improve every moment
''Dear old Zadah, you are always do
ing good to someone" murmured hel
brother, pressing her white hand to hi'
lips.
Hugh Ramsey was tall, exceedingly
good-loolxing young fellow-about 26-
with dark hair and mustache and darl
eyes, which, Outlines, did more execu
ton than their possessor realized o.
intended. His sister, some eight or tel
years older, had the same dark eyt
and curly dark hair, but was niue
shorter and inclined to be rather stou