The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-18

DAY MORNING, JANUI
she seed you on de street. you wuz 30
fur. she couldn't holia at you. an time
she call me outer de gyarden. you was
done gone. I was at de fur cen'er de
drap ever thing"
do you pick raspberries with your
MOUTH" inquired Mr.. Sanders. with a
solemn air.
us my mouf dat red7' inquired Lar
ceeny. with an alarmed expression on
her face. She seized her gingham apron
by the hem, and, using the underside,
proceeded to remove the discriminating
stains, remarking. 'Pm mighty glad you
toll me kaze ef OILS Miss Polly had seed
dat--well. she done preach my funer'l
once. an / don't want ter hear 1t no
mo-"
Mr.. Sanders proceeded to the Gather
Place, and was ushered into the parlor.
where, to his surprise, he found Judge
vardeman, of Rockville one of the most
distinguished lawyers Of the state. Mr.
Sanders knew the Judge well. They
greeted each other very cordially. and
were beginning to discuss the situation
lit was the one topic that never grew
stale during that sad time-when Mrs.
Claiborne came in"
I'm very glad 10 see you. Mr.. San
ders,r she said. II have sent for you at
the suggestion Of Judge Vardeman, who
Is a kinsman Of mine by marriage. He
Is surprised that you and / are not well
acquainted.
Mr.. Sanders made some fitting re-
Spouse. and as soon as he could do 30
II.
countenance of the lady. There was a
vivacity. q saiety. an archness in her
manner that he found very charming.
Her features were not regular. but when
abe laughed or smiled, her face was
beautiful.
'I have sent for you. Mr.. Sanders"
said the lady, laughing lightly. to ask
II you will undertake to be my drum
mer."
Your drummer exclaimed Mr.. San
ders. well. I've been told that have
way OF blowin' my own horn. but as for
drummin'. RELY hain't got the knack
on it,
''oh only want you to DO little talk
ing here and there. and give out various
hints and intimations-you know what /
mean. am anxious to even up matters
with friend of yours. who, am afraid,
isn't any better than he should be-"
While the lady was talking, Mr.. SAN
ders was staring at a couple of crayon
portraits on the wall. He rose from his
seat walked across the room, and atten-
lively studied one OF the portraits. It
depicted a man between twenty-five and
thirty-five.
well I'll be jiggedr' he exclaimed as
he resumed his seat. EFF that Amt Sklas
Tomlin, I'm q Dutchman."
'Well. / shouldn't think you would
recognize him after all these years the
lady said smiling brightly. Don't you
think the portrait fiatters him?"
quite a considerable" replied Mr..
Sanders: but sfias has got pints about
his countenance that a coat Of tar
wouldn't hide. Trim his eyebrows an
give him clean, close shave. an he's
cen about the same as he was then. An
eff l amt mighty much mistaken the
pictur by his side was intended TO be took
for you. The Teller that took 1t forgot to
put the right kind of a sparkle in the
eye, an he didn't ketch the laugh that
oughter be hov'rin' round the mouth; but
all In all, it's a mighty good likeness"
Now. don't you think / should thank
Mr.. Sanders7' said the lady, turning to
Judge Vardeman. ut has been many a
day since i have had such a compliment.
she was.
Thereupon Judge Vardeman suggested
to Mrs. Claiborne that she begin at the
beginning, and place Mr.. Sanders In
possession of all the facts necessary to
the successful carrying out of the plan
she had In view. 1t was a plan, the
Judge went on to say, that he did not
wholly indorse, bordering, as It did, on
frivolity, but as the lady was determined
on it. he would not advise against It, as
the results babe fair to be harmless.
1t must have been quite a story the
lady had to tell Mr.. Sanders for the sun
was nearly down when he came from
the house; and 1t must have been some-
what amusing. too. for he came down
the steps laughing heartily. When he
reached the sidewalk. he paused, looked
back at the closed door, shook his head,
and threw up his hands, exclaiming to
himself, BLESS Katy! I'm powerful glad
l amt got no oman on my trail. 'Spe-
cially one like her. Be jigged eff she don't
shake this old town up"
He heard voices behind him. and turn
ed to see Eugenia Claiborne and Paul
Tomlin walking slowly along. engaged in
a very engrossing conversation. Mr..
Sanders looked at the couple long enough
to make sure that he was not mistaken
as to their identity. and then he went
on his way.
He had intended to go straight home,
but, yielding to a sudden within or i'm
pulse, he went to the tavern instead
During the spring and summer months,
there was no pleasanter place than the
long, low veranda of Mr.. Woodruff's tav-
ern. and It was very popular with those
who had an idle hour atNtheir disposal
This veranda was much patronized by
Mr.. Silas Tomlin who, after the death of
his wife, had no home-life worthy of the
name. Silas was not socially inclined;
he took no. part in the gossip and title
tattle that flowed up and down the YER
anda. Nevertheless, nothing seemed to
please him better than to draw a chair
some distance away from the group OF
loungers, yet not out of earshot, lean
back against one of the supporting pillars,
close his eyes and listen to all that was
said, or dream his own dreams, such as
they might be.
Mr.. Sanders was we'll aware OF Silas
Tomlin's tavern habits, and this was what
induced him TO turn his feet in that d.
rectlon. He expected to find Silas there
at this particular hour, and he was not
disappointed. Silas was sitting aloof
from the crowd. his chair leaning against
one OF the columns, his legs crossed,
his eyes closed, and his hands folded in
his lap.
The crowd of loungers was somewhat
larger than usual. Lawyer Tidwell was
taking advantage OF the occasion to ex-
pound and explain several very delicate
and intricate constitutional problems. He
L. L.. olfC ~