The Forrest City times., 1903-12-18
H Capfain ofIndoler1ce
By FRANK 1T. SWEET
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HABE was lying upon his back, his
 IT hands clasped under his head, gag ing unthinkingly at the sky. He was 25 years old. and barefooted.
 Overhead buzzard fioated upon mo- tionless wings, and Gabe's eyes followed it as far as they could without causing his head to move If he had any thought that was strong enough to be called an ambition. 1t was to be a buzZard, for buzzard was not forced to flap it's wings to fly.
 Times had been going somewhat hard with him of late. For one thing. he had had 10 think, and the prospect was that before long he might have to do. Coon CTS daughter was now of age, and the understanding between the families had been that some time after Mary Bet was old enough these two should marry, in order to save the seven acres on one side of the slope being separated from the nine acres which joined and crept over and down the other side. Cooner was arbitrary, and Gabe's father. un- der the influence of Cooner. would be just as despotic. Then Mary bet was pretty, there was no denying that, and more than once Gabe's heart had thumped tiresomely in her presence. In that state he had even looked about her cabin critically. it may be hopefully.
 But Mary Bet did not like work her self. He had found the ax lying beside three or four uncut branches which her father had dragged in, and the seven or eight chickens pecking about without a sign of coop or shelter By that time his heart was again beating tranquily and he had viewed the scene with dis passionate forethought. Married to Mary Bet, he would have to cut wood and perhaps make chicken coops, and it might be would even have to plant corn and potato patch. The thought, made permanent by the persistent hints of Cooner and his father had haras sed him for days past. and this morning, feeling the need for absolute. unthink- ing rest. he had come out to this sunny spot where he could lie in his favorite attitude. with his hands clasped under his head
 But, alas for plans As the buzzard foated slowly beyond view, and the un- thinking eyes following it began to grow dreamy and heavy. there came a sudden rasping interruption. It was Cooner ad- monishing his father.
 "l tell ye, the strident voice was say fns, this things goin' on too slow Fust we know somebody be steppin' in, an then where1l our two estates be? Di- vided. There's that Bill Tanner, already eomin' up to see Bet an she 'lowin him. Pshaw, He'd be for carryin' her way down to his cabin in the valley an likely s not they'd be for sellin' my seven acres some day. 1 tell ye. Nose. ye must be stirrin' up Gabe He's a good boy. an won't never be goin' off; an if he's got single. wicked habit. I've never heered on 1t. I'll see the preach CT this very day, an have him come up fin two weeks. We'll have 'em ready by that time. I'll have to git Bet some new shoes, an you must see bout Gabe's gettin' his hair cut. It's pretty toler'ble long an untidy for a weddin' An we'd better be askin all the folks 10 come"
 Gabe had forced himself as deep as possible into the leaves and he lay with bated breath until the voices and foot steps had died away toward Cooner's cabin. Then he groaned and removed his hands slowly and despairingly from beneath his head. He must think. and think quickly and hard, or he would De lost
 Bill Tanner was peeling bark in the valley He was a worker-not in the or dinary acceptance of the word, perhaps, but from the slope point of view Gabe went to him there
 "Hullo. Bill" he began, affably. ~Gettin' quite a heap. ain't ye?"
 Bill nodded gruffiy He had no obiec- ton to Gabe personally, only that he was welcome at the Cooner cabin. And that was enough.
 "Hullo." he responded: but I Tow yed better come some other day. I'm too busy to talk now"
 That's all right" graciously. "I sont mind seein' folks work. Comin' up so-night?"
 "Where?"
 "Cooner's. of course" with a grin. But there's no need to git mad. Bill" at the look on the others face; 'I aint Here 10 plague ye. l come down to sell ny tater patch. Whatll ye give?''
 It was Bills turn to grin.
 I've heered bout that tater patch" '" Ae said. ''Ie's two acres, an old Coon