The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-12-16

eian went into the shop and engaged IN
friendly conversation with the newcomer.
His first remark was characteristic. Why
you amt much biggcr'n your name" h.
exclaimed.
ooh. some biGser-ycu think so?"
smilinglv replied Pierre BienvenuC.
name is Sanders-William II. Sand
ers." remarked the Georgian. by way OF
Introduction. some FOLKS odcr'n me go
so fur as TO call me Billy"
oh. yes. Billce-mc. I have some
frien' name Billec. l like it if I make
some shoes for those name
Mr.. Sanders smiled l~enient!~. "Woll.
vhcn l take q notion for to have my
name shod. be jigsercd ef I don't give
you the job he declared; an whilst
you're fIin' TO do that, maybe you'll ~
an tell me What your name mought DO.
seed it on the sign ont thar, but Ne
amt Twin in 'postolic times. an thar
fore I can't Law no claim 10 q gift Of ton
CUES" The shoemaker paused in his WORK
and looked irquirinely 1t Mr.. Sanlers.
puzzled. but sill smiling. How do You
call your Nance" The Georgian was per
sistent.
'Ow call my name, me-" Bienveruc
smiliingly replied Pierre Bienvenue.
you'll never git me our OF the bog
81 that gait" remarked Mr.. Sanders.
GIVE it to nc in plain Georgy talk"
The shoemaker paused again. scratched
his head with the point Of his awl, and
reelected. Finally he made reply. b&t
whether he answered peter Nclcoom'
or 'Vailcoom" cakes little differences.
What he tried to say was Peter Wei
come" but Mr.. Sanders didn't under
stand it that way, and when he issued
forth from the shop he carried in his
mind the name-NaliCombc-by which the
shoemaker and his descendants were to
be known in that region henccforth.
Now, the most interesting part CT this
recital. so far as ~ZepherlnC was con-
cerncd, was the fact that the French
man was still in the village, and that
he was from New Orleans. 1t was intcr-
|esting-yos, indeed. it was important-to
know that there was some one close at
hand who had been in the same city with
her father. and probably met him. or
passed him on the street. This was
sonething-oh. a great deal-and. fortu-
natelv. Nan thought so, too. Sarah Clop-
ton was not enthusiastic, but she said
nothing to east the cloud Of doubt over
Zepherine's hopes. AS for Mr.. Sanders.
he was OF the opinion, as nc expressed
It. that if there wasn't bet one chance
in a hundred, it w2s a mighty Big
chance.
In fine, Mr.. Sanders gave little Miss
Johns great cause to hope that Peter
| V~alicombe would be able to give her
yaluaDle Information of some sort. New
orthelcss. Nan Darlington was more en-
thusiastic than all of them put togoth-
er. She was perfectly sure that Mr..
Valicombo could tell Zephcrine something
about her father; and why not go to sec
| him at once? Nan had a pair Of shoes
| that needed now solcs, and she'd have
them fixed without delay.
| The case became very urgent. Nothing
would satisfy her but an immediate visit
TO the shop of Mr.. Valiconlbe, and of
course Zepherine must her.
! when this was all settled Mr.. Sanders
said he'd go along to keep Nan straight
| ana to prevent ncr from begging the
clerks IN the stores for candy,
Well. the trio went to Mr.. Nalicombe's
shop. and he was not there; his prosper
ity had reached such a point that he
{ was able to employ a journeyman or two,
: ard at this particular time he was on a
visit to his old home in New Orleans. But
he would soon be back-if nOI torror-
row, CCItalnlT the N-xr Gay.
Zcpherine WAS plainly disappointed, and
i Nan was really angry; but Mr.. Sanders
| remarked that it was Very lucky that
Peter had taken a notion to go back
home on 4 visit. 1t might be, he said,
| that ne would be able to give Miss Johns
the very latest information about her
rappy.
The next day and tho next Nan made
it her business to watch the old stage
coach as it came III from Malvern and
ca tho third day she noted that Mr.. Val
icCmbe arrived in it, being tho only pas
| 5Cngcr. lie nad no sooner a1ightcd at
the tavern tnan Nan bounced upon him,
and h~litiely informed him that 4 beauti-
ful young lady had boon trying to make
bis acquaintance. No she wouldn't tell
Who it was, but it was a young lady who
spoke French, and VINO intended to ask
Mr.. Nalicombe a very important question,
ami Ec must be sure to give her a favor
able answer.
The next day. whom Zcpnerinc and Nan
called 10 see NJ. Talicomhc, they were
told that he was i'll in bed and could
sec no ono. \ few days aftcrWar3, Nan
| having failed 70 put IN an appearance
word came to shady Dale that she. too.
was i'll; and this news was Immediately
| followed by the announcement that she
had the smallpox
Ito Be C~ontinuad.)
rnl o~r