The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-21

when Zepherlne trlppcu ia hea 1..e
There were times when she thought sne
hated Mr.. Sanders but his smiles spurreo
her on until she came to handle tine YER
nacular much more correctly than any
| of her acquaintances-but always Win
quaint accent, which Nan bennington
| thought the most beautiful sound her
ears had ever heard.
Mr.. Sanders used to contend that he had
| hut three weaknesses-Nan, Zepherine and
| John Barleycorn. Nan, who was only Is
spent more than two-thirds OF her wax
| ing thoughts in the land OF romance
| To her, Zepherine was beautitul giri
who was the victim of some maheious
| fairy. She would find her father, anG
then tho spell would be broken. II she
didn't become a princess she would al
least marry some handsome young man
| and be happy forever after. As for MIR.
| Sanders, Nan regarded him as man VINO
| could work magic. If he had turned into
| a beautiful prince right before her eyes
| she would not have been IN the least sur
prised. She knew perfectly well that ne
| could find Zepherine's father. or tell her
| how to find him, whenever ne tnoush'
the proper time had come. Such was her
| confidence in the powers Of Mr.. sanders
that she used to say to him when they
were alone together: Don't let's mo
Miss Johns father too soon; she might
| go away
| Mr.. Sanders always hundred Mans ro-
| mances When her mischievousness De-
came unedurable, Mr.. Sanders had way
of making a very demure young woman
of the child. Don't be sech rowdy.
Man." he would say. Frank Bethune
owes you a whippin', an I'll make MN
| pay you off eff you don't behave. Inc
mention of Bethune's name always nao
| No w
| supposed to be sworn enemies, ana were
not even on speaking terms.
After the advent of Zepherine the old
| Clopton homestead no longer had an
| empty appearance. Nan came every day
and in fact spent more than half OF her
| time there.
Mr.. Sanders took a great fancy for the
| stranger from the first. Often the OLD
man would draw her gently toward him.
as she had seen him draw Nan. and say:
| TN be your pappy. honey. till you nnu
| a better one" She knew from the KIND
ly light in the clear and honest blue eyes
that looked into hers that Mr.. Sanders
had pledged to her both his friendship
and his protection. But. after Sarah
| Clopton, the dearest friend that Zepher-
inc found in her new surroundings, was
| Nan Darlington. Verging onto IA, nan
was still a child. 1t could be coldly SAID
that she was no beauty: yet she was love-
| w in her artlessness and simplicity, and
was as graceful as some wild thing fresh
from the woods or fields. Her face glow
| ed with health and high spirits. ana was
full of intimations of mischief. As trick
! sly as Ariel, her hoyden ways rhymed true
to mirth and innocence.
Nan was not always hot-foot in pursuit
of fun and mischief. No, indeed There
were long hours when she would sit and
watch Zepherine at her tbroidery work.
And at such times 1t would have been
wonder if Sarah Clopton and Mr.. Sand
ers were not also engaged In watching the
deft fingers weaving the figures.
On one occasion. when Mr.. Sanders was
watching the fairy-like work, Zepherine
raised her eyes and cried: "Oh. they
have changed my name. think 1t II too
bad"
Man, who was sitting near, smiled faint
ly as she caught the eye Of Mr.. Sanders
Yes" she replied, your name is Miss
Johns. l think 1t very pretty-I called
you Miss Johns from the first"
But Johns is not Dion; l think 1t is
cruel" protested Zepherine. How will
my dear father know me as Miss Johns?"
well, I'll tell you. honey" said Mr..
Sanders; the way you pernounce the
two names makes 'em sound jest like
they was twins.
Zepherine hardly knew whether to laugh
or cry: and before she could make up
her mind to do either, Sarah CIopton, who
had heard a part of the conversation. re-
marked that Mr.. Sanders had a very bad
habit OF changing names. and she re-
minded him of the havoc he had played
with the family name of poor old Peter
Nalicombe.
We'll, to my mind Sarah, holp him
outn mighty big difficulty" But 1t was
plain that he had little relish for the sub
ject.
The reference to the matter, however
kindled the curiosity of both Zepherine
and Nan, and they insisted on knowing
all the facts in the case. Mr.. Sanders
arose, cleared his throat and said he be-
lieved he would go out and see which
way the wind was blowing. Nan jumped
up and caught him. and made him sit
down again, and he proceeded to tell them
how the family name of poor Peter VAL
icombe had been so changed that none
Of the friends of his youth would know
him If they should meet him in the road.
In 1858 Mr.. Vahcombe was the only
shoemaker in Harmony Grove. the little
town to which Shady Dale lies adjacent;
in 1870 he was the proprietor of a shoe
and leather store; and yet Mr.. Sanders
said of Miss Johns. that there was never
any such person in Harmony Grove. The
explanation is very simple. When Mr..
ValicOmbe went to Harmony Grove, in
1885, the small tin sign that hung over
the door Of his modest shop bore this in
scription: Pierre Bienvenue. Boot and
Shoe Maker" The name. with its alien
tang attracted the attention of Mr.. Sand
ers the very day the shoemaker began to
ply his trade in the town. Forthwith the
humor-loving Georgian went into the shop
and engaged in friendly conversation with
the newcomer. His first remark was
characteristic. ''why, you amt much
| biggern your name" he exclaimed.
oh, some bigger-you think SOP smll-
ingly replied Pierre Bienvenue
My name is Sanders-William H. Sand
PRODUCTION. Some folks older'n me go
so fur as to call me Billy"
oh. yes! Billee-me. have some frien'
name Billee. like 1t II make some
shoes for those name"
Mr.. Sanders smiled lenienty. well,
when I take notion for to have my name
| job" he declared; AN whilst you're
Akin to do that. maybe you'll UP an tell
me what your name mought be. / seed
1t on the sign out thar, but we amt Twin
in 'postollc times. an tharfore I can't
lay no claim to gift Of tongues" The
shoemaker paused in his work and looked
| inquiringly at Mr.. Sanders. puzzled but
| still smiling. How do you call your
name?' The Georgian was persistent.
Ow l call my name, mel? Bienvenue