The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-10-31


wind as to talk to brother John, when
his minds sot On anything."..%,
Airs. ThisflegrGw, or Aunt Rodilla,
as the neighbors called, her, shook her
head gravely, as she; sat: :.downxto peel
the potatoes for; dinner iY
AN here 1 am, with. my lame back
s-xittin' lamer every day, an, no help
to be hadGfur love nor money: Brother
John a-coInin home, too, an what
am a-goin' to do with such,a Sister-in;;
law as Serena Saxon, can't see. So
pertiklcr as John allus wasft too, an
to think of him. a-marryin' a. girl $that t.
can't hardly cook "a pertato decent
Them Saxohs is all shif-leSs set. but
Serena is the shif-lcssest one Of the
hull lot; an it does rile me a heap to;
think of her. a-mafryin' Johns. ant
a-colnin' here,to be mistress the ;oiei
place. A fine housekeeper! she'fbabe,
an pretty mess she'll make insfhhis;;
kitchen, that I've allus tuck sech painssss
with" s2L"H j. - -. :Si-
And 4he.tears, almost stood in Ms,
ThistlegSows eyes, as slR glaneea
aroundsthe roomy kitchen, which, in
deed, gave. evidence: of her thrift and
management. ~; 49,,
E.. The speckiess window panes through
which the faintcst rays of$ sunshine
found easy ingressg4thes slong. Kitchen
table, white. with~its weekly, securing;
the bright array of pots and pans, and
the polished china and glassware, ar
ranged ON the spotiess. shelves OF. the
tall, old Kitchen -dresser-all told Of
careful industry and honsewifely
thrift. -, ~ =. 81
Mrs. 4Thlstlegrow sighed a,;; SHE
looked around ana. thought OF the
changes:that would. soon be MADE in
the tidy apartment. x: e, =,
II wouldn't mind John a-gittin' mar
ried.'%she continued, "ef twas only to
somebody smart an capable; fufswhat
with the, yEhenmat!z in my back an
that sf1elrS Of ager, i he'd in the. fall I
amt shofe too able to git about no.
how. 81; ~ = .,....' .
But to think of Serena Saxon
a-trappin' him like she did, purtendin'
to take him in arnest when he was
only Albumin all the time! 1t can't
be helped, though, now, I s'pose, an
I must try to. git some help afore John
comes. There'll be heap O cookin'
to do, an of course Serena won't offer
to help. She'd only be in the way
an clutter UP the kitchen. ef she did.
I must git. Squire Brown to put an
advertisement in the paper fer me-"
{" . =. s.
"You don't look nonr to chirk.' said
Aunt Rodilla, .critiC .1y scanning the
white face Of. a girl before her
q girl with sill ills OF bronze-g gold
hair, and eye &c color Of wild forget
me-nots. Put you lain't been sick,
you say, and mebbe you'd do. Hain't
never hired out before, 1 b leve you
said:'
No." but 1 have done housework at
home, an think l could suit you"
u think sQsstoo," declared Aunt Ro-
dilla, heartily saaBut you hain't told
me~your name%@t.'
ITS Bella-BeHa Bittersweet,"
smiled the girl, looking wonderfully
pretty, Aunt Rodilla thought, with
deep dimples indentiug the tair checks,
over which q faint, blooming flush
had dawned, heightening their delicate
beauty.
VERY WE'LL, Bslla. 1 81, II be glad
,of 'your help I..lsi1ew.' There's heaps
O. 'nouse:cleanin'E to do, fur I'm ex-
pectin' my brother John homo every
day, now, to- be married. An there's,
fruit-cake,; and lenion-tarts to be made
for the affair. An we might as we'll
make up some jelly rol$}Fwhile were
about it. Brc&Aer John used to be on
common fond;s0f jelly-roll.'
And when Miss Serena Saxon walkeI
into the kitchen. .3cne day, as she fire.
quently did, with the ar of proprietor.
she. stared hausltily at the fair-faced
girl, who sat whfsking eggs, with up
rolled sleeves Showing pair of white,
dimpled arms such as the Mcdician
Venus herself might have envied.
: "Humph! SO you've got hired
girl" remarked. Serena, turning to
Aunt l;odilla, with supercilious smile
&. in her bold; black eyes, and at the
corners Of her sharp, thiI-lipped
mouth.
'Ineeded or ! think retorted Mrs.
Thistiegrow. .bInptly. with the
rheumatic il my back, an all the trou-
bic OF gettin' ready for john"
You won't have the. trouble long.
them observed Miss Saxon. compla.
Gently. For. I, Shall soon he the mis-
tress here, and II you pay your
board" ..i
Johns a-eomin'r' cried Aunt Ro-
dllla, rushing through the hail. Miss
Serena tripping closely jat her heels.
John.greeteo bis sister affectionately
before addressing his Intended bride.
Then you have rot schanged your
mind:yet:" he asked, half gloomily.
Serena pouted, and fossed her head
defiantly. e;
"Of' course not! Il amt the kind to
change my mind after say thing"
she retorted. significantly. -. T. q
Very we'll
John looked resigned, as if he had
made m his mind for tho sacrifice