Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1900-09-29
THE COURTsHR.
The Way to a Mans Heart is :
Through His Stomach. :
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Priscilla and I were having little
chat on the subject of cobwebs, a
conversation not altogether of a
pleasant character, and she had Just
Informed me that she was too busy
keepin' her soul clean ter keep de
house clean." and 1 was about to
make fitting response when Char
totte Deals, old Pc ter Deals youngest
daughter, appeared in the doorway.
Charlotte was small, weakened
little creature, with a put-upoh ex-
preston, that always appealed to me
strongly, and now, when I saw her
hesitating ON the Threshold, /
straightway forgot Priscilla and my
grievances, and called to her to
come in She wore blue calico
skirt, an old pink silk waist, that had
once been mine, and a mans over
coat; her shoes were laced with white
strings and her hair "wropped," as
Priscilla would have expressed it, in
innumerable tight twists.
She was not prepossessing looking,
and as much as I liked her, 1 was
fain to confess that from a pictur-
esque or fashionable standpoint she
was hopeless, but I was always glad
to see her, for back in the dim past,
when l was a little child, she had
been one of the few Quarters" chill
dren that I was allowed to play with
and I could never quite forget the
glorious blackberrying and crayfish
expeditions that she had successfully
| engineered for me. Priscilla did not
approve" of Charlotte, and never
lost a chance to run her down; she
said she was common that old
on de place, an her ma"
What is the matter now?" 1 ask
ed, sitting down on the steps and
leaning my head against pillar
Has anyone been worrying you
again?"
Charlotte grinned and began to
tumble with her sunbonnet. 'Dey's
| all mad against me-" she remarked
but in no detected tone; "dey sholy
| is mad, but dis time hit don't mex nc
difference at all ter me-
1t doesn't2" I said. 'Well, I am
glad to hear it; have often told you
how silly it was to mind them; what
was the trouble, anyhow"
was gazing over the grassy yard
but as Charlotte did not reply turn
ed in some surprise and looked at her
why, Charlotte said, what has
happened?" For her black face fair
ly beamed with happiness and her
dull eyes shore with excitement.
Miss Mary" she said in a shaky
voice. Use Engaged ter be married.
Now, I had always known that to
| express establishment over such an
| announcement, no matter how unex-
pected or extraordinary, was exceed
ingly bad form, and among my ac-
quaintances I had hitherto failed to
betray my amazement, even under
the most trying circumstances, but /
regret to say that when CharIotte's
tidings fell on my ears my good breed
ing suddenly failed me.
Engaged" I repeated in the ut
most bewilderment, to whom?''
ITO Lincoln Smith, she said,
shame-facedIy.
Lincoln" I cried, mot Priscilla's
Lincoln?''
'fYessum."
'Oh. sweet revenge" 1 murmured;
''the mills of the gods grind slowly.
but they grind exceedingly fne.''
"Ma'am? said Charlotte
Nothing" I replied hastily, moth
ing; tell me how it happened For
that Lincoln Smith. PrisciIla's pride
and boast. Lincoln-who taught school
on the Howell place and who was in
training for a preacher, should con-
template marrying old Peter Deals
daughter, seemed really incredible.
Hit wuz like dis" said Charlotte
in a reminiscent tone. Mas sister
Dinah-you members Dinah Green,
Miss Mary?"
Eyes, yes"
s'Well, mas sister Dinah. what
lives on de Howell place, TUX sick
Christmas week an sent ter ma ter
sind her one of US gals ter nuss her.
"And the others wouldn't go, and
you did2s' broke in.
ssWhy, yessum, cried Charlotte
Iopen-eyed; tbut how did you knovs
Idat?s'
81 just guessed it." I laughed. egg
ON, this IS z sEorv with 3 moral. sulsz'7-5