The Tomahawk., 1903-05-14

the buggy. Suke turned one inquisitlve
glance over her shoulder, and then,
winking slowly to herself, consented to
be unhitched and to jog leisurely to-
ward the country roads. What Gabe
said to Anna Maria and what Anna
Maria said to Gabe on that drive is not
recorded. But it is evident that the
lover had been preparing his lady for
something momentous, for upon re-
turning late that afternoon he paused
as he helped her aHght, and whispered,
softly: II got sompin' mo- to say to
you
AS they entered the house, the smell
of baking biscuits and of frying pork
assailed their nostrils. Aunt Hannah
Moore also had recognized this as a
gala-day, and was putting herself out
to lay such feast for her daughters
suitor as he should remember for many
day to come. Gabe sat down in the
spick-and-span front room.
'.Ma's biscuits cert'n'y does smell
scanlous," Anna Maria commented,
agreeably.
Gabe's mind was too full of his mis-
sion to heed the remark. The mo-
mentous second had arrived-the sec
ond that held the fruition of all his
ambitions, all his dreams. He
pumped down on his knees at her
feet. "Oh, Anna Maria," he cried,
Gamma Maria, amt you gwine hab me
now?"
Anna Maria turned on him look full
~ TO-, !
to anger and disdain.. "Loolz hyeah,
Gabe," she said, wra athfully, whats de
mattah wild you? Is you done TUX leab
OBJ yo' senses? Amt you got no 'spect
TO- lady's feelin's? Heah Ise tiahed
and hongry, an you come 'roun' talk
in sich foolishness ez dat. No, amt
gwine hab you. Git up f'om daih, an
ac' sensible. Ise hongry, I is.''
Gabe got up sheepishly, dusting his
knees. Anna Maria turned to the win
dow. He took his hat, and let him
self out of the dor.
'Heyo, Brotha Gabe, wha you
gwine? You amt gwine way TO- sup
pah, am you? We got some monstous
fine middlin' daih fryin' speshly TO-
you,'' was the greeting from Anna
Maria's father.
''D'you want to buy Suke? Ise gwine
way f'om hyeah."
whats de mattah'd you?" was the
old mans quick question.
else done filled all de 'quirements
you tol' me, an axed Anna Maria gain,
an she won't hab me, an Ise gwine
way"
''No, y amt. Set down"
Gabe seated himself beside his ad-
wiser.
''W'en you ak Anna Maria?"
'sJes now"
''Oomph, oomph, oomph," said the
old man, reflectively; and he went on:
"Gabe, fo' a ha'd-wo'kin', money-sav-
in, long-haided man you sholy has got
less sense dan anybody know"
"What's done now?" said Gabe,
disconsolately. "Ain't filled all de
'quirements? Amt I satisfied huh
soul? Amt chawmed huh yeah?
Amt I pleased huh eye? Now wha'
mo'-oh, faint no use!"
"Hor on, hol' on, say; yo' done all
desc t'ings. You's satisfied huh soul,
you's chawmed huh yeah, you's
pleased huh eye, an she's jes ready
fo' you, but Lawd a massy 'pon me,
amt you got mo- sense dan to pop
de question to lady Wen she hungry?
Gabe, you got lots to Farm
':'Tain't no use, Unc' Ike; eff she eat
suppah an git satisfied, den she ain't
gwine need me-"
"You set down an wait till aftah
suppah, I say"
Just then the call for supper came,
and Gabe went in with the black Solo
mon. During the blessing Anna Maria
was cold and distant, but when the first
biscuit was passed to her her face
frightened. She half smiled as she
broke it open and filled it's hot interior
with rich yellow butter. The smile
was on full force when she had tasted
the brown, crisp "middlin'," and by the
time she had the Jackets" off two
steaming potatoes her face was beam
ing.
With wonder and joy Gabe watched
the metamorphosis take place, and
Uncle Ike had constantly to keep
mud ging or kicking him under the
table to keep from betraying him
self.
When the supper was done, and it
went on to a merry ending, Aunt Han
nah refused Anna Maria's help with
mock ierceness, and Uncle Ike went
out on the porch to smoke. Only the
front room was left for Anna Maria
and Gabe, and thither they went.
Gabe fingered for awhile on the
brink, and then plunged in: "Anna
Maria, Ise failed an failed, an Ise
waited an waited. Is you-is you
will YOU hab me now?"
"La, Gabe Hais, you is de beatness!'
But her hand slipped into his.
els you gwine hab me, Anna Maria? ?"
he repeated.
81 reckon I'll hab to-" she said.
Out on the porch Uncle Ike waited