The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-11-14

~ In all the length and breadth
of it only one man dared to
make head against his benevolent des-
potism. He however, stood out so
stoutly his contumacy was the fly in
the ointment. He was the parsons
next neighbor and, like himself, owner
of big grass farm and breeder of
race horses.
Parson Gentry loved his horses next
to his God and his daughter Peggy.
In spite of his cloth he trained the best
of them and entered them impartially
for all the big events. He made you
see nice distinction with regard to
the sport of kings. A horse, he held,
might run for money as innocently as
plow for it. Sin came in with the bet
ting. That was distinctly among "di-
versions which could be used in the
name of the Lord"
Lawson Cooke, the contumacious one,
was painfully given to it. He would
bet indeed upon anything from the
speed of his best four miller to whether
the corners in Il given string of fence
would count odd or even. He was
handsome Fellowship, blond, well set
up, a dead shot, fine dancer, pos
sessed withal of u singularly winning
tongue. Half the caps in the county
had been set for him ever since he left
off runabouts, but he went scot free
until he saw Peggy Gentry, who was
as dark as gypsy and as dimpled as
Cupid.
The main line of social cleavage in
grass country society was religious.
The larger part of the Virginians and
Carolinians who had come across the
Blue Ridge to occupy and possess it
had been either devout churchmen or
shouting Methodists or Baptists or
Presbyterians A smaller moiety held
that there was no God and Tom Paine
a prophet. 1t fiddled and danced and
played cards as energetically as the
larger half prayed and sang. The race
course was q sort of neutral ground
where those who prayed and those who
played could meet without loss of
caste.
Peggy and Lawson, however, did not
meet there, but at one of the pious
Christian parties where old fashioned
kissing games were the only diversion.
When it came Peggy's turn, she chose
Lawson. 1t astounded her little that
he would not kiss her lips, but only her
hand. After that neither of them
played again. When they parted at
her fathers door-he had insisted upon
riding home beside the Gentry carriage
he took her hand and said impul-
sively. Promise me that you will nev-
er play again."
Peggy smiled at him saucily and
murmured: 81 can't promise. Sitting
out is so stupid-sometimes. Lawson
smiled too. "At least you'll promise
not to play until you see me again."
he said. Peggy nodded and dimpled.
She was sure in her own mind that
would not be half a week.
1t turned out to be half year. Law
son started next day for Virginia. His
grandfather's estate was to be distrib-
uted. and he made up his mind to stay
until everything was settled. Apart
from that. he wanted to be very sure
of himself before he adventured fur
ther In what he felt to be vital mat,
ter.
He pondered it all through his long
rideS-600 miles and back-for this was
In the good old days when there was
not even stagecoach across the Ap-
palachian chain. Yet when he got
home toward the end of June he was
no nearer decision than when he had
begun. He was perfectly sure he loved
Peggy as he would never love anybody
else. The point at issue was, Ought
he to try winning her? Her father, he
was certain, would never let him have
her unless he could bring himself to
accept religion. The parson had been
preaching at him hot and hard ever
since he came to mans estate.
Besides, there was the matter of the
bull calf. Lawson swore impatiently
when he thought of it. He must have
been an awful young idiot to set on
foot that foolish scheme But it had
not seemed foolish then. only exquisite
ly humorous. to tether a lusty year
ling In the pulpit whence Parson Gen
try was expected to preach. True, the
parson had turned the joke by making
the creature point the moral of fine
and moving discourse on 1.-The beasts
which perish" All the same Lawson
knew there was in his mind a sediment
of irritation so gritty it might provoke
an explosion.
Curiously he had no doubt whatever
as to Peggy herself, although she was
noted f1irt, who. it was well known,
might pick and choose among the best.
There had been that in her eyes, drop
ping before his own. in the fiutterlng
of her soft hand. the delicious under
tremor of her voice. which warmed his
heart and made his pulses leap when
ever he let himself recall it.
Parson Gentry had his own training
track and spent all the fine summer
mornings beside it, medtating on his
sermons and watching his horses. AS
Blue Bonnet, the pride of his heart,
pulled up at the end of four miles
fighting for her head and evidently
full of running he smiled ecstatically
and said to the boy who rode her:
my soul! Looks like she could lose
the best of 'em today, even if she had
church on her back and they only
the steeple. eh. Isham"
Hit do dat" Isham responded. 81
amt feared er none on 'em. 'ceptin'
tits dat dar Roxy Ann ober ter Cookies.
She de one Bonnet sho 'nough gut ter
beat but / bet my game rooster she
kin do hit"
Esn4f Al