West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-12-05

MY1T was In the old time, and it
Isl was the old story. A man
lrS@SSi and 4 maid sat under tree,
Esss-SsSJ little stream Mt their feet
and the lush summer all around The
land was wild and beautiful. The cul-
tlvated fields TO be seen by bird
above their heads were only little,
Irregular islands grouped through the
sea OF forest. Near the palr--that is.
not half a mile away-s stood the lar
gest and best farmhouse within many
miles. II had frame addition built
In front OF the older log structure a
big, rough. grassy yard, and at one side
garden equally divided between fiow-
ers and vegetables.
Two stout danes sat on the back gal.
lery. Que knitting. one with folded
hands.
IL tell you, Betty" said the idle one.
II don't give my approval TO the way
you're a-lettin Lucindy carry on. That
sal is the talk OF the county"
Nov, Sist Emmy" replied the
other In an aggrieved, long suffering
tone, that's n turrlble way 10 talk.
It's onjust. The talk OF the county,"
she repeated. iiaring into n little un-
usual vigor OF utterance. sounds as IL
the poor child had done somethin dis
respectable, and goodness knows
don't know sencc when there's law
in the land that n gylrl's got TO marry
afore she's ready"
THE trouble with that gal" said
Sist Emmy. "'pears TO be that she
won't git married when she Is ready"
IL was the belief of her relatives that
Mrs. Emmeline Simms persisted I'm say.
Ing gal for the express purpose OF
mortifying and Irritating them and
that she particularly loved TO so desig-
nate Lucinda, Lucinda being the source
of certain innovations in the family
English.
There she sits out there" said Mrs.
Simms, pointing TO the pair visible rs
small blots under the distant feathcry
walnut tree. "a-lettin that poor fool
spark her and as like as not a-lettln
him pint the day ag'in. and then she'll
go Kick over the traces once more at
the last minute. And, talk about bein
the talk of the county, do you reckon,
Betsey Ann, that anything is a-goln to
be more talked about on the footstool
than n gal breakln off her weddin after
they've begun to bake the cake? Do
your"
Now, Sist' Emmy" began Lucinda's
mother, exactly as before. "you know
there was mighty little cake baked.
You'd Jest come and hadn't fairly got
into the fruit cake. and Lucindy never
let II get that far afore. and She won't
ag'in. 'cept she's goin through with it.
You forgit the feeiin's OF "A gyirl. They
don't alluZ know their own minds.
Ethan Simms Is only your nephew by
marriage, and Lucindy's your own
blood niece. and my feelin's is hurt,
Sist' Emmy
Betty Ann, don't begin like that.
You know I'm as fond OF Lucindy as IL
she was my own child, but you never
did have no government, and l do say
that to have all this courtn startin up
ag'in with that eejet-I think the mans
bewitched when IL was scan'al enough
to have the weddln broke of after the
Invites was OUT Mrs. Simms stop
ped an Instant. then escaped the laby-
rinth of her own sentences by cutting
through directly to the main matter.
THE gal ought to be made to drop
him or take him."
Seems as II It's more Ethan's bust
ness than y-than anybody clsc's, and
he pears mighty anxious not TO be
dropped, whether he's taken or not"
"Humphi Ethan's a plumb ecjet-
far be any dcnyin OF that from me-
but Luclndy Is full as eager about
keepin him danglin as he Is. and you
don't lift your finger about II. don't
know why the Lord sends families to
women with no government. but hc
most certainly do"
OF course her own caprlces were also
being discussed by Lucinda ard her
lover under the walnut tree. Truth TO
tell, these caprlces had always furnish
ed them with conversational material,
commodity which otherwise they Of
ten must have lacked.
For four years they had been court
in" and three times n wedding day had
been set. The last time. only three
months before. the usual retreat by
the unstable Lucinda had been delayed,
as we have already learned. until pub
licity and general condemnation were
IT'S well mcrited portion
Lucinda DOW stood under the walnut
tree a lamcntably attractive nnd ap-
poaling figure OF n culprlt. Sine was
only n slip OF thing though 10 years
were quoted warhirGly to Ecr There
were few unmarried girls I'm the settle
mont 80 old
Little. tricksy brown curis had slip.
rrd from the bands aud knots she tried
20 hard 20 keep smooth Her brown
cyos were swimming I'm tears. which
were falling ono hy one over brown
checks as round rs n chilGs. She
luoticd her hands in her apron, though
lt was Der best one and just ironcd. as
fhc said.
- DO care about you. Ethan; you
know DO. want 60 marry you some
time; you know ] do. But-but don't
seem ready TO settle down right OF.
10 looks sort Of dreadful everything
all fixed one way then for The rost Of
yonr lifc like being q Rylrl" On this
last word this frivolous young person
caught ber breath and began 10 sob
"You wouldn't think that away II
you cared for me-" said The seated
Ethan gloomlly. prudcntly keeping his
honest, dust colorcd heod turned from
the melting sight beside him.
II would, too-oo a gylrl amt like a.
man"
Nom; you're right they amt. III
says IN all the books chat women Isl
withouten no heart and mans destroy
o. That's the pnion OF the wiso
men"
II was sunset before the two could
abandon the delights Of Quarrclng and