Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-04-27

without another word Hicks led the
way to the cellar, and there, sure
enough, they found Ebenezer, the
brave and the bold buried under
mass of potatoes which had rolled
down over him when he had attempted
to secrete himself by burrowing into
them.
He looked sheepish and cheap when
he was hauled out. and when the men
laughed ut him he was in half mind
to ger angry, but he thought better OF
1t and grinned instead.
"Ycur woman lowed you war gwine
to jine The war" Pap Sampson said
with srnile. but we uns reckoned you
warn't hurtin so bad as all that to
whup no battles, an it looks like we
uns war right"
ell did start to jine the war"
Ebenezer stammered, "but how could
git to go any fudder when I done
got kotched under them derned Ia
ters?
Did you Tow the war had dcne
retched clean TO Hicks cellar Pan
Sampson asked, eau war you Down
thar loolxin round 'mong them taters
for battle to whup2"
Ebenezer grinned, but made no reply.
His wife, however, who had come I'D
Just in time to hear Pap's question,
said:
ct reckon, Pap Sampson, you oil
thinks you ups Is powerful smart Ny
land, didn't none OF you uns never
start nowhar an g1t lost on the way7
Humphi Like as IL Ebenezer couldn't
"a fell into that cellar or got sort OF
ratified an run into It by mistakel
Reckon the next thing you all ill be
tryin to mako out that Ebenezer are a
coward"
"Lord. His'us Sparks, we don't need
to do nary SIGH thing as that" Pap
Sampson replied promptly. "Ebene-
ger has done made that all out as plain
as the nose on your face hisself. Yes,
Stree"
"Guess Ebenezer an Sim Banks has
done showed jest how brave they are"
Jason Roberts observed, with a laugh.
"One OF 'em a-hidin In q cellar an the
other'n tearin down the road lippety-
clippety, an all on account Of a drove
OF old cows. Say, bet the ward soon
be it If they uns had a whack at It."
Lord! Wouldn't It, thought Pap
said, with chuckIe. "Why, it'd Jest
be whipped all to frazzles In no time"
Then everybody laughed-everybody
except Sparks and Banks and their
wives. The two first hung their heads
IN shame, Mrs. Sparks bristled up in
her husbands defense, while Mrs.
Banks gave her husband n look full Of
disgust and coolly turned her back on
him.
Mrs. Mann noticed the conduct Of
Mrs. Banks and promptly called atten-
ton to it by saying:
lord, Loueesy, you amt nigh so
quick to stand up for your husband as
Betty Sparks is for her'n. You acts for
all the world jest like you is plumb
ashamed Of SIM"
81 am" Mrs. Banks replied fatty.
"Who could help being ashamed of a
coward, I'd like to know2"
Sim looked up at his wife, a panied
expression in his eyes and his face very
red.
"Loueesy," he gasped, "you dast to
talk that away about me an we uns
jest been married a year?'
81 dare to speak the TRUTH" Mrs.
Banks replied cuttingly, her lips curl
ing with scorn. "Tm plumb ashamed
OF you"
'Then you don't love me none," Sim
whimpered broken heartedly. "a wife
what loves her old man amt goin to
run him down afore other folks. Lou
eesy, you don't love me; you don't love
me4
Mrs. Banks, instead of being touched,
gave her husband one scornful glance
and turned and walked away.
With her utter want OF tact Mrs.
Mann said:
al guess, Sim Banks, Loueesy's been
a-contrastin you with that Mr.. Melvin,
an reckon she thinks you amt much
shakes compared with him."
Sims eyes flashed fire In an instant,
and, trembling with anger, he cried:
"You are a-lyin, Mrs. Mann, when
you say any SIGH thing as that, an II
you was man I'd whup you till your
hide wouldn't hold shucks. Hain't no.
body got no call to speak nary a word
ag'in Loueesy, an amt goin to stand
still an let no SIGH a word be spoke.
That's jest what 1 got to say, an
mean it."
Mrs. Mann shifted contemptuously.
"Sim Banks" she said, you kin jest
stand up for Loueesy all you pleases,
! but mind she didn't stand up for you
none, an my notion IS she hain't goin
to stand up for you, no matter what
/ anybody says. I've got eyes, an what
/ see i see. Loueesy was plumb struck
with that man, an you mark my words,
d. Sim Banks, il she ever gifts to know
him she'll learn to love his little finger
! better than she'll ever love your whole
body. You jest bear them words in