Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-09-17
out dom Of II.

II told 'er I was at the fust Of Il. hi
Ia noticed how worried you've locke,
heer Of late, an so told 'er I'd boer
hfeerd some'n' had come betwixt yo,
Two. Then she put her head down or
me top rail o the fence an helt il tina,
1er good minute. After awhile sh,
looked up an told me oil about IL an
ended by akin me Of thought she wo,
10 blame In the matter. I told 'er no
nut her old skunk of daddv had cted
sech fool that couldn't hold in.
reckon | told 'er jest about what |
thought o i'm. an the more I raked
up agin I'm the better she seemed
pleased. tried to pin 'er down to what
she'd he willin' to do in a pinch Of 'er
pa continued to hold out arip YOU. but
she was too sharp to commit 'erse'f. II
Jest looked like she wanted to make I'M
with you an didn't want no row
nuther."
The horses stopped to drink at 4
clear stream Of water which ran across
the road on a bed OF brown pebbles.
The brides were too tight to allow
them to lower their heads, so Alan
went out on the heavy tongue between
the pair and unfa stoned the reins.
When he had regained his seat. he told
the old man in detail all that had hap
pened at the dance at the hotel, ending
with the advice he had received from
Rayburn Miller
Il don't know about that" Abner
said Maybe Miller could call a halt
like that an go on like nothin' had hap
pencd. l don't say he could nur
couldn't; but it's fool advice. You
mought miss it. an regret it to yore
dyin' day
Alan looked at him in some surprise.
He had hardly expected just that stand
on the part of confirmed old bachelor
like his uncle. The old mans glance
swept drea mily over the green fields
on either side Of the road across which
the red rays Of the setting sun were
streaming. Then he took a deep breath
and lowered the reins till they rested
on the backs Of the horses.
My boy" he began, I'm a good
mind TO tell you some'n' that I hain't
mentioned fer mighty nigh forty yeer.
| don't believe anything but my in.
trust in that town gal an you would
make me bring 1t up. Huh. Ray Mil
Ter says you kin pass or over jest az
eff you'd never seed 'er, does he? An
go on an pick an choose agin. Huh,
| wasn't as old as you are by We yeer
when the one I'm talkin' about passed
away Jest week after me an herd
come TO a understa ndin'. I've seed
women, women, women, sence | seed
or corpse that day AMONGST all that
pile o wild flowers that old an young
1etched from the woods whar me an
'er used to walk, but eff | live 10 be n
old as that thar hill I'll never forget
my feelin'. l kin see 'er right now a
plain as | did then. an sometimes nv
heart aches as bad. reckon YOU
know nov why never got married.
Folks has polted lots o. fun at me.
an l tuck it as II was intended but a
lots o times what they said made me |
suffer simply awful. They've picked /
out this un an that un, from spring
chickins to hays O. all ages. shapes an
sizes, hut the very thought O. givin'
anybody her place made me sick Thar
never was but one fer me. I may he a
TOOL. but | believe I WAS intended fer
ner Shucks. Sech skip abouts as
Miller may talk sech hosh as that. but
rs heca SO the Lord never give EN- the
glory O the other thing.
III lHrnt mo tho truth .bo,,t ,bo
'r lie. | know thar's time TO come.
IN blessed one. ur the Lord never
would a give me that taste OF il
she som er's ont O harms way. an
WIEN me n her meet III not have a
Wrinkle an I'll be able to walk as spry
IN hopeful as | did when she was
leer. Thar ort TO he punishment re-
erved fer hard headed fools that SEN
rate lovin' young folks heca'se one
II tother hain't jest so many dollars
led in a rag. Don't you listen to Mil.
'r' don't say you ort to plunge right
II an make the old man mad. but don't
ave up. Ell she's what think she is.
n she sees you amt a-goin' to run
fter no fresh face, she'll stick to Won
INV 'hS bdi N oll Il Tree. ne wait won
urt nuther one Of you either. NV
Iait amt a-hurtin NH an yore'n won't
on. | never seed young woman
ked better n do the one you select
H. an I've sent up many a petition
nat you'd both make it all right"
The old man raised his reins and
Tucked TO his horses
"Cncle Alb" said Alan, you've made
better man of me. I've had lot Of
'ouble over this, but you make me
ope I've tried to give her up, but l
imply cannot do it,
"She amt a-goin' to give you ND
luther" replied Abner; that's the pur-
' part about ii. Thar amt no give up .
'er. She amt that sort. She's goin :
give that daddy O. her'n tussle."
CHAPTER XI.