The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-01

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Now. what air you sayin about
me?" Kansas Nebraska called Ian
guishingly. though she was ten yards
Oft
Joe dropped his head and answered
meekly: II wus jest. tellin this passed.
o. folks it mus sech hard work. tryin'
ter keep frum. courtin' you
20. go off with you!" Kansas-Ne-
braska said, giving him a coquettish
push. "Whyn't you behave nice like
Teepy? You plague more in a. minute
n he does in a week"
Joe put his hand beside his mouth.
I'll tell you-ef you're right shore you
can keep er secrit," he said. "Teeny is
so plagued his own self. he don't have
none ter spare ter nobody else"
Martyrs at the stake have possibly
suffered worse torment than Teeny en-
dured that June-meeting day, but none
of them ever faced their torrents with
a finer spirit. Patient, dogged, cheer
full. he stuck by Rachel Susan, STAYED
her with gourdfuls of cool spring
water, comforted her with apples, pro-
vided her at dinner with crisp barbe-
cue and plenteous pie, and after it let
her lead him tosa sequestred seat as
a lamb is led to slaughter. He was
certain she meant him to propose to
her there, yet though he did not see
how he could we'll yet around doing il,
he did not finch. Emotionally Rachel
Susan was built on such lines the
young man who talked at all to her
had to talk love. Notwithstanding
Tenny was sure he would get out ii
somewhow. Joe might come to his re-
lief-Joe, who had deftly put several
other fellows, one after another, into
his own place beside Kansas Nebras-
ka. In additions there were always
snakes-snakess which he could see, or
hear, or smell, in the nick of time.
He was almost grateful to Ractel-
Susan. She kept hisasurface conscious
ness so occupied he was. only dumbly
alive to the deep misery underneath
In spite of Miss Sarah, Cleve- Morton
continued to mopopolize Rowena
standing, walking, sitting beside her.
going with her in and out of church,
evidently anxious to parade his en-
thralment in the face of all the world.
What girl II years old could Withstand
man who was not only rich and a
gentleman but had way with him
that won all Women's hearts? Teeny
asked himself the question over and
over. The unvarying answer wrought
compassion for the buxom girl beside
him.
Suppose she loved, even as he loved!
Not himself, of course-but somebody
nameless, who passed her idly by!
What could she say or do?
Teeny was very young for his years.
He did not know that when woman
disposes, man usually proposes wheth-
er or no. Rachel7 Susan's chosen am
bush was low outcropping ledge sor1e
little way down the spring branch. The
Spring itself broke out from beneath
a sharp ramp, perhaps fifteen feet high,
from whose top the earth stretched
away, in long undulant reaches of vir-
gin woodland. The whole top of it was
free to the church crowds. Sweet
hearting couples, though, seldom went
into tit was the thing for them to
keep in sight, and out of hearing.
The rise was so sheer. Teeny and
Rachel-Susan leaned comfortably
against it, she for the time being obliv-
ious of ants, bugs and the soiling of
her white jaconets fluted rufies.
Shrubs and saplings had root in the
ramp all the way up. A favorite feat
with boys and tomboys was to swarm
up high-growing hickory sapling.
clutch it near the tip, hold with both
hands, then swing of and outward in
to clear space. Commonly the bending
sapling landed the swingers safe across
the branch. Sometimes they fell short,
and thereby got wet feet. Sometimes,
also, fLHe SdpllIB DIOhS. Dul ~ was
usually a sport of the latest afternoon,
when the crowd was on the edge of
breaking, so Rachel-Susan felt secure.
"Air you shore 'nough goin' ter Tex
as, Teeny?' she asked after tWy were
well settled. Teeny looked at the
: whispering leaves overhead, and an
swered, signing family: Il d'know yit.
but l sorter reckon So"
You oughter not go less'n you take
80 erok It'd Do al cas
energetically. Certain as you go sim
gle, it'll be norated up and down you
couldn't stay here cause Roweny Day
had give. We the sack" -
well! All I got ter say is, she
amt! Nobody amt: cause / amt new
er been bold enough ter court nobody.
Who would have sech er poor stick as
me ~ Teeny returned, edging a little
| away. RachelSusan held up both
hands. THE idear! How you do talk!''
she said. mo longer'p>~this mornin'
at breakfast par told everybody,
preachers and all, thar wusn't girl
| in the neighborhood but wus ready ter
marry you at the drap of err hat"
"Wisht l only thought sol You
wouldn't ketch me goin' ter Texas, ner
nowhars, er lone bachelor" Teeny
said, but that's how I'll have ter 60
'No-you can take-me! Only say
| Rachel-Susap asked. her voice break
| ing over the last word. The break in
| it took away Teeny's breath. Things
| had come to pass there was no laugh
| ing off. He must answer in hard earn
est. Yes, mean the breaking of his
own heart. No. the ~shaming of a wo-
man. Which should ii be? He shut
his eyes tight. Before he opened them
| Fate had decided for him.
Dinner was hardly over before Miss
Sarah gathered all her family together
and marshaled it into the high woods.
She could rest there. cuddling the baby,
and watching the younger fry run and
play unvexed. Ajax and Jim-P
could keep up with the girls. Addy
and Rowe had each gallan, too te-
acious to be shaken off, but since they
had come along with the rest, their
presence was no breach of the proprie-
ties though somewhat disquieting
Your mother hates the sight of me.
Let's go away" CleYe Morton said,
drawing Rowe's hand possessively
within his arm. Rowe laughed softly
AT our house we do most anything
for the sake of peace in the family"
she said, withdrawing her hand, but
walked at Morton's side Attacks
screwed his face into a picture of dis
content, but trailed on, obedient to his
mothers nod, at his sisters other hand.
They went aimlessly in and out among
the great tree boles. hating at last,
wholly by chance, at foot of big oak
with richly messed roots, which grew
within 20 yards of the ramp-side
Rowe leaned against the big stem
and iawlessly locked both arms around