Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-04-30

supposed to be utterly black, his
feelings underwent a sudden change.
The pitiful drunkard who had been
too weak to look after himself and
his boys, but whose better nature
had planned and provided so lavishly
for the girl and her future, even
while striving to keep from her the
knowledge of her fathers degrade
ton, suddenly became more of a man
to him. He could understand the
sacrifices and hardships that Booty
John must have gone through in or
der to provide for such an education.
Even he, with his orange grove and
truck farm, had never felt able to
do half as much for Cindy.
When they reached the CHEEKY cot
tage in front of his orange grove
he carried in the trunk and valise,
and presently called his wife aside
and made a whispered explanation.
Then he went to the barn to unhar-
ness his horse. But he made a much
longer job of it than was necessary,
and when it was finished he leaned
upon his fence and gazed with unob-
servant eyes at his fields of sweet
potatoes and p%ineapples and ba.
nanas. His wife came to him there.
did you tell her?" he asked.
YES" in a low voice. He noticed
that her lips trembled.
Take it hard?"
She's highstrung, Jim, an them
kind don't make no fuss. She
wouldn't believe me at first, an
when she did she jest turned white
an stared at nothin' till II burst
out cryin' myself. Seemed like L
never felt so sorry for anybody in
all my life. She didn't cry a bit, only
jest asked would l please go out a
while and leave her alone"
The two stood there nearly half
an hour; then the girl left the house
and passed down the road on the OPP
posite side of the fence. Williams
could scarcely recognize the white
faced, shrinking figure as the enthu-
siastic girl who had sat beside him
IN hour before.
She's goin' over to look at the house
now," said Mrs. Williams, in a low
voice. Il told her 'twa'n't fit to live
in, but she said they'd lived in it an
she could. An when l told her we
lowed on keepin' her a spell she jest
thanked me an shook her head"
When the girl came back they were
on the piazza. She went directly to
Williams.
when does my father come
home?" she asked.
"His times out-er-that is, he'll
come home in bout three months, l
reckon"
"And how much does he owe you?'
"Oh, nothin'-nothin' at ALL
hastily.
"How much does he owe you?" the
girl repeated, in a tone that he felt
could not be disregarded.
"Wall, $50. But you needn't bother
bout payin' it,"
81 cannot just at present; but
everything must be Strengthened out
before father comes home. There
must not be a single thing to worry
him. And now, can | get you to go
after my brothers? / shall fix up the
house, and we will live there until
father comes"
TITS quite a long drive" said Will
liams,N re effectively. II can go to.
morrow"
"That will do" She stood gazing
out at the vista of pines and pal
mettos afforded by an opening in the
trees, her face white and stricken,
but calm, with a strong, determined
purpose.
"What kind of employment is there
for girls?"
Williams looked dubious.
81 don't reckon there's any," he an
swered. "Stores centrally git men
clerks, an there's ten applicants to
one job. Folks round here don't hire
much help"
"No," agreed his wife; "housekeep-
ers mostly do their own work-cook-
in,' an servin' an everything. The
only work that's plenty an hard to
git help for is washin'; but only ne
groes do that. Mebbe you'n git a
job a. school teachin' this fall"
81 must have work now. Father
must not find anything against him
when he ONE home. Do you think
| can get washing?"
Mrs. Williams looked at her blank
ly. .
"It's negroes work." she Objected.
cts work that I will do gladly if
can get it." a sudden passionate sob
bringing the color back to her cheeks.
81 will scrub floors-anything that
will help father a little. He has
been working and making sacrifices
for years that I might remain at
school, and II never Suspected
ought to have been here, watching
him, and caring for him and the
boys"
1t was nearly two months later be-
fore Williams again encountered
IlOIllpoOD VII ule SldtloH pluliolll
"Wall, how dye make out with
Booty Johns fine darter" Thomp-
son asked.
Williams looked up from the box
he was marking.
"That's just what she is" he said.
"Boozy Johns fine darter. I've been
round with her considerable lately,
down to the prison twice to see her
paw, an took her to town several
times in my wagin. At first her paw
was all broke up-never wanted her
to know how low down he was, I
s'pose. But she brought him round,
an now he can't keep his eyes off
her when she's nigh. Soon's he's out
they're goin over an take up a home
stead in Hernandy county-20 miles
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