El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-06-26
IN JACKSON'S
PURCHASE.
By MARTHA M'OULLOCH WILLIAMS.

the moonlight The PurcnaSe KNOWS
what a moonlight is. Outland folk,
however, may require to be told that it
is night picnic held when the moon
is coming on to full. 1t prevails from
May to September, the young people,
small blame to them, preferring dew
and GOODNESS and the delicious seclrl.
sion of half lighted hooks to the Grass
and garish brightness of n broiling
day.
The two MaryS We're the occasion of
this one 1t came off in Uncle Bob
Mayner's yard, which was level, COW
cred with white clover turf and set
rectangularly with naples and honey
locuStS. All the rOSebuShes were strung
with Chinese lanterns. Tin Sconces for
candles hung against some of the tree
trunks. \ few glass lanterns had been
fastened upon pendulous boughs.
Where the lights were thickest there
were long plank benches. In remoter,
shadowy hooks Uncle Bob had insisted
upon setting camp stools in pairs.
'"Thar's a time for all things, even
counting. l amt forgot that if 1 am so
fat and DID," he had said to Red Mary,
with twinkIing eyes. Red Mary was
his own niece, Mary Spec his wife's.
The two were first cousins, dear
friends, delightfully."- alike, still more
delightfully."- unlike and differentiated
in the mouths of their world according
to complexion.
Both Marys were out in the yard,
running hitler and yonder, though it
was barely shutdown and nobody likely
to come for an hour. Major Dade had
come but he did not count. He prop
ped his chair back against the trunk
of 4 maple and let his eyes follow the
two Marys in their white frocks and
frittery red ribbon. Uncle Bah, who
sat three feet away, his chair planted
squarely upon its four feet, his elbows
on his knees, caught the glance, set his
fat fingers together with a little soft
p-lop and said rumnantly:
mice span O. blood fllies.'
"Thoroughbreds-cle the major
calculated; then with a sigh: ''If only
1 man could throw off 80 years! Choos
ing between them must be Il big puzzle.
I'm right down sorry for Bert Selby.
Upon my soul don't believe he knows
which he loves BEST for all he's been
here every day since they came and
nights and Sundays thrown inr'
I've had a sorter sneaking notion
all along he was in love with both,"
Uncle Bob said.
Major Dade laughed.
1.-THE young man must remember he
is running for congress in Kentucky,
not Utah." he said. Tell those young
ladies for me, please, that the one who
don't take him is mighty apt to live to
be sorry for it."
81 told 'em so yistiddy," Uncle Bob
returned. Lord, how Red Mary did
laugh! She is the sassiest piece-al-
ways making fun o. the way Bert
talks
81 can hardly blame her-but poor
Bert" Major Dade said, with a frown.
at is the greatest shame, the greatest
pity, he was left to. grow up with
those poor white Lisenbees. A finer
gentleman than his father never trod
shoe leather, and his father. Bert's
grandfather, went to congress from
Tennessee"
Bert will get everybody's vote-if
only he gets the nomination." Major
Dade continued thoughtfully. But
there's the rub. Politics amt what it
used to be, Uncle Bob-not by n long
chalk. Money has n heap of friends.
You don't need to be told that. Bert
has just one man to fear, Duke VIII
loughby, and Willoughby has money to
throw at the birds. He throws it, too;
chips in for anything going-barbecue,
picnic, big meeting, preachers salary
or missionary collection. Then he has
lent money to a dozen fellows who are
in tight places. OF course there has
been no talk Of buying their influence,
h1It ING do
their best for him. 1 tell you VIII
loughby is smart. He has got mighty
taking way too. If we don't look
sharp, he'll sweep the convention
"And then Bert Selby is jest fool
enough to pull off his coat and work
like niger to elect him." Uncle Bob
broke in. Bert has had whatever he
chose to ask for-been sheriff, assem-
blyman and all that. He is as ambi-
tious as Lucifer. One term in congress
will rub off that poor, white tang. Aft
er that-well, there's no telling what
he may not be and do"
"Sister Lisenbee to the contrary not
withstanding?" Uncle Bob asked, with
a lowering smile. ITS amazing, but
Bert will stand by that poor creeter as
long as she lives.''
Major Dade scowled. eff she is COM
ing tonight. l shall leave at once" he
said. Uncle Bob laughed until he
shook all over.
you can't be so cruel, majorv' he
said, gripping the others arm. 'She's
coming a-purpose to see you. We had
to ask her-couldn't think of raising a
row in church by sighting sister that
way"
Il smell plotting" Red Mary called
gayly, rushing at her uncle as she
smoke and caftiDcr his nacLtia ctr oil