The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-04-11

| under the impression that 1t would be
JUST as we'll IL he kept thut opinion to
himself. He was sure Turner would
| not feel any kindlier or more friendly
toward him II he should give utterance
to his thoughts.
SO when after a long pause Melvin
finally spoke 1t was OH another and an
entirely different subject. a little diff
fdcntly, as If he knew he was ap-
preaching dangerous ground, he said:
| 81 presume, Mr. Turner, you are ac.
| uuuintcd with Il man named Banks,
who lives over at Beckett's Mill?"
"Who-Sim Banks" Turner Ques-
| toned
81 think so-a tall man with red hair
and
"Oh. it's Sim!' Turner interrupted.
ITS bound to be him. cause thar amt
| no other Banks thar"
"lou know him, thcn?'
| "Lord. me know Sim Banks! Why,
| what drrn fool question! Do you
reckon | know myself? Know Sim
Banks. Why, Lord a-massy. man, Pve
knowcd that chap ever since he was
knee high TO n grasshoppcr. Yes,
Sir-cc!'
Hes married. | believer"
"'ro be shore. Yes. Sims married"
"And happy, presume"
IIappy RS some, | reckon"
There was short pause. Then Mel
vim said:
II saw Banks and his wife today
over at Bcckrtt's Mill. don't know,
| Of course, that it is 50. but 1t appeared
| to me that they are mlsmated pair.
| What do you think about IT."
Turner looked at Melvin. sQuinted
his eyes and grinnrh.
Young fcllrr," hr said, them two
may he miSmatcd for all | know, an
they may not an ii they are mis'nated
it ain't none Of my doin's. an | ain't
nowiSc responsible for It,"
"l'rrlaiuly not" Melvin admitted,
''bu, | thought perhaps you had no.
tircd that the wife is SO different from
the husband. She appears TO be ctu-
Gated and refined, while he does not.
Haven't YOU observed that?"
u hain't blind" Turner replied quiet
Iy, "an what | see see
"Do you think it possible for two
people so entirely different to live to-
grthcr happily"
Il halnt been dom no thinkin along
that line. Mr.. Melvin. don't tiggcr
thai - any cab to-"
"Hut YOU certainly have an idea along
that l...r:"
Turner eyed Melvin very narrowly
for moment. then slowly rcplicd
"Ioung fcllrr can't make out that
You got any call to worry bout Sim
Banks an his wife. an | low it'd be
jest as well for all parties concerned If
YOU didn't do It. I'm agittin along up
IN years myself. an | amt lived all my
life in this world without lcarnin one
or two things. One Of the things I've
done learnt is never to mix up in no.
body clSc's business when | amt got
no interest In 1t. an another thing is
never to bother myself bout what goes
on between Il man an his wife. | amt
so blamed smart as some. mcbby, nor
| amt no dcrncd idiot asylum. ali I
know enough 70 know tha; bout the
most dangerous place a fcllcr kin stick
his nose Is In between man an his
woman. He'd dad burned sight bet.
ter stick it In Il steel trap. Yes. stree.
You bet he had"
Turner paused. but Melvin offered no
reply. Presently the former went on
speaking In all seriousness:
You are Il youE" fcllcr. Mr.. Mel.
v!n." he said. IAN | guess you amt had
no great experience with the world. sc
III jest risk given YOU II little piece OF
advice. Whatever else YOU do in this
| lil" IN however many other mistakes
You may make. hc shore Of one thing
| an that is don't you ever go an gil
mixed UP In no mess with no other
mans wife. No matter what comes
nor what goes. don't YOU ever do nc
| S!"h thing rs that, for as shore rs
! You d" you'll live TO see the day whcr
y"u'l bitterly rue 1t. You mark my
words for that"
Melvin laughed at the old mans scri
| "uSM"SS anl turned the matter off light
| ly. II" had no intention Of going tC
| any dangerous extremes, and he fell
| that t!!""" was no occasion for all this
| s"!ln"niIiuc
| However. there came a time In after
| days when those words came home t(
him with stunning force, and he wish
| cd with all his heart that he had heed
| cd them.
CHAPTER VIII.