The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-11-27

ued, loosely wagging a forefnger at
her, "I shouldn't like young girl with
such a beautiful head Of hair"-here he
stroked it-"and such eyes'-and~ he
gazed into their depths -'to feel
strange with me-"
A puzzled look overspread Nancy's
countenance.
"And," Alexander went on, Il should
certainly not like such lips to tell it to
me-" He wound this up by playful
attempt to chuck Nancy under the chin.
Nancy, slipping back. drew herself up
in an attitude of Indignation.
What he said, surprised. And
the pose of a Greek goddess, by all
that's beautiful" he stepped toward
her in admiration and attempted to lay
his arm around her waist.
Instantly Nancy's little hand shot up
more rapidly than he could have been
prepared for. and with the back Of it
she drew him a sounding smack along
the mouth, which stopped him IN min
gled amazement and pain.
When he got his breath again. "Well,
upon my solemn word. you fiery Nancy
your sweet lips must soothe what your
wicked hand has made smart And
he made dash at her.
But Nancy. clutchins at butter
spade, struck out and hit him a sound
ing rap seuarely on the nose, making
blood squirt and bringing the gallant
Alexander to dead stop.
Ee clapped both hands to his nose.
Nancy, who could not help smiling
through her Indignation, still stood at
bay watching the brave fellow nurse
his nose, and at that instant Mrs. Neil
sons voice was heard, just without the
door, crying back to the kitchenmaid
directions sbout dinner. Alexander
threw up his hands in alarm.
Nancy, upon my soul, I'm undone."'
Rapidly his eye ran around the dairy.
but few hiding places were there. His
glance fell upon the big churn. He
whisked of the LID and jumped in. Ere
his head disappeared he paused, while
he whispered:
Nancy, Nancy, I'm your friend from
this day-if you say nothing" Then
the head disappeared and the lid was
pulled down to its position within the
cnurn.
Poor Nancy was swayed between in
dignation, amazement and laughter at
the ludicrous denouement, and it is
more than probable that laughter, and
right hearty laughter, would have
claimed her had not Mrs. Nelson then
come sailing in.
"Well, little girl. are you standing
idle? Why aren't you at work? Don't
commence to NOPE, thinking OF home
now" And Mrs. Nelson fused around
the dairy. "You know that's not what
I'm paying you extravagant wages for.
Nor were you ever quartered so well
at home, away in those wild mountains,
as you are here, with plenty to eat and
not too much to do, only you must al
ways keep your hands going. What are
you working at now? What? And you
haven't finished with the churn yet!
Oh, dear! What are servant girls use
full for now. except to get in ones way:
Have you given it the second sca!dins
vet? No? What's this to do? What's
this to do? Is the kettle boiled? Here,
stand out Of my way! Old woman as
am, I'm as good as half dozen Of the
sort Of girls going nowadays. Out Of
nv way! Out of my way! And pray
observe how scald churn, for I'll
venture my word you have to be taught
it. paugh. Deary me, it's roasting!'
And Mrs. Nelson, letting go the kettle
she had essayed to lift, now protected
/ her hand with her apron and bore on
to the churn the steaming and kissing
kettle.
She rested it on the rim Of the churn.
"Now, observe, my girl What? Do
you think it is only for your amusement
I do this, that you stand grtnning:'
Nancy drew as long face as she could
assume. "Observe. You first pass the
water round the edges Of the lid this
way, and
"Oh. Oh! Oh! Oh"
An unearthly yell ascended from out
the bowels Of the churn, the lid shot up
in the face Of the screaming Mrs. Neil
son, q dripping human head. dashed
after, forth jumped man, and at q
bound, leaping clear over the PROSTATE
form of his mother, the wise, the stu
dious the good and bashful and well
scalded Alexander burst screaming
through the door.