The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-09-27

| gested the church news in the Baptist Her
aid. 81 had slipped away to see Annabel
! Amanda was at the melodeon, singing al
ternately hymns and war songs. Sammy
| Woggles, who had been promised half
day for squirrel-hunting when the corr
and apples were all in, which was near al
| hand, was cleaning the little rifle, and
preparing to melt some lead in a small
skillet to run the bullets. Maria, with 6
small bit of muslin stretched over hoop
was laboriously reproducing the stamped
lines with coloreds thread. Finding the
heat and blaze of the fire too much, she
lighted candle, and took her work into
distant corner of the room. This was
Shorty's opportunity. He summoned all
his courage and tact, and with anxious
heart tried to noiSelessly take advantage
of the absorption of the rest in their sew.
eral occupations to make his way to Ma
ria's side. But his generous-sized feet
which needed the free play Of a regi-
mental camp, and were wholly unused to
the traps of a ''living-room," caught on the
rockers of Mrs. Klegg's chair, disturbed
rhat good lady in the midst of an absorb,
ing editorial on the reasonableness and
most brought Shorty to the floor.
''TOo bad" said Mrs. klegg, gently.
''Then rockers is entirely too long. They're
always catching people unawares. I've
said hundred times that I'd have 'em
sawed Off"
"'Taint the rockers, ma," laughed Ma
ria. ITS Mr.. Elliott's able feet. He
growed them for climbing mountains and
ferrying over creeks, and they amt used
to anything less'n 10-acre lot. Can't
you manage some way to leave part o
them outdoors when you come in, Mr..
Elliott"
Now, Maria, how can you talk so about
Mr.. Elliott" expostulated Amanda. I'm
sure that his feet are well-shaped, and
not at all out of proportion to his size"
Much you know about mems feet, Mis-
sy," snapped Maria, to warn her sister
o. her preserves. "You pay attention to
ones you have ever noticed, and they re
certainly smaller and better-shaped than
his sisters, thin as she is. Mr.. Elliott, if
you can get the right purchase ON them
clod crushers, come over here. l want to
talk to you"
Shorty's hopes rose again. He finally
seated himself in split bottomed chair by
Maria's side, and looked at her with eager
inquiry. But the young lady had sud
denly become very much interested in
some perplexity in her pattern, which she
could not make out, and was bending over
it in deep scrutiny. Shorty looked admir-
ingly at the white column of her neck,
fine in its texture as the petal of morn
ing-glory, and noted the little curls of
silken hair which had escaped from the
confines of the lustrous mass browning
her shapely head. He wanted to tell her
just how lovely it all looked, but dared not,
and would not have had the words if he
had dared. He waited for her to speak,
but she did not, and then thinking that
something ought to be said, ventured
upon:
That's an awfully purity thing you're
MAKING there, Miss Maria"
''Humph," replied Maria, with sniff
''Taint much. Only a tidy for pap's
chair. l suppose you'd have a fit if you
saw some o Sally Wakefeld's needle
work. She thinks she can embroider to
beat the Queen o Shelby"
mo, indeed protested Shorty. 81 never
seen none o her work, and never want
to. Yours is purity enough for me. l
don't believe no girl in the world can do
that as well as you can"
This seemed to have a good effect, and
Maria softened little, She stopped,
snuffed the candle, surveyed her work by
the better light, bit off her thread, thread
ed her needle with another color, and re-
marked, contemplatively:
Il suppose you'll be trotting over to
see Sally Wakefield, you found her so
charming the other EVENING""
mo, indeed" fervently asseverated
Shorty. Il don't want to go away from
you to see any other girl in the world
I'd a heap rather be with you than with
anybody else"
In his stumbling way Shorty was strik-
ing the true chords, and Maria softened
visibly.
Isl says that sometimes you talk
great deal with your mouth" she re-
marked.
$50 does ST himself" Shorty answered
a little warmly. $50 do all of us, mebbe,
at times. But this now is straight goods.
all-wool and indigo-dycd. I'll tell YOU
but you seemed nightly taken with
Sally Wakefield. You looked at her as
if you'd like to eat her, she was SO nice,
when she made eyes at you"
"Pll tell you, Sally Wakefield, nor no
other girl, amt in it for a minute with
you. No other girl ought to be mentioned
the same day with
There was an explosion, howl of pain
from Sammy Woggles, and the Goals flew
ont of the fireplace. over the rag carpet
covering the floor. The Deacon started up
from the snooZe he had fallen into over
his paper, Mrs. Klegg snatched up the
broom from the side of the fireplace and
began sweeping the Goals back, while
Amanda Sped out for q pail OF wafer or,d