El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-16

the afternoon speech. True to his prom
Use to Melissa. Abijah had Molly sit in
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.
touching lightly on the rights of ma
lions AMI winding up with 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 it no longer. She put
ON her Butternut badge, n declaration
of war then. and turned so Melissa
could see il. Then did MelisSa's III
stinct for destruction of all things But
ternutty assert itself. and. in the words
of old Mr.. Meyer, n 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 rs 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 eaking 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 he imagined better than de
scribed. Abijah turned away, and Mrs.
Meyer assisted the PROSTATE girl to hei
feet and declared an armistice. But
the speech went on unheard. Every
body was laughing too much to listen:
everybody except Abijah. He didn't
laugh; he was too worried.
I'm Il dumb fool said he to his
aunt Maria when the girls had gone to
separate houses to repair damages.
I'm a dumb fool to take a 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 l dursen't
take 'em both
Wont Will Hanson take Molly?'
suggested his aunt. He used to spark
her.
They've fell out" he complained.
We'll. there's Ben. He come alone,
and he can't drive good with a bullet
in his arm. Let him take one Of EN-
HE won't have Molly. and Meliss
won't go 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, Biiah 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
oughrer 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, Biiah."
L WOulunC trouble Won
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 a 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
OF smile and never mentioned the af-
fair until he spoke first. But they had
gone some way before he spoke at all,