Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-01

A0Soidco' buU It Is eV1uenJ JnaG the lover had been preparing his lady for something momentous, for upon re- turning late that afternoon he paused as he helped her alight, and whispered, softly: T got sompin' mo- to say to you" As they entered the house, the smell of baking biscuits and of frying pork assa1led their nostrils. Aunt Hannah Moore also had recognized this as 1 gala-day, and was putting herself out to lay such a feast for her daughters su1tor as he should remem Der for many day to come. Gabe sat down in the sp1ck-and-spen front room. Mas biscuits cert'n'y does smell scan'lous," 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, "Anna Maria, ain't you gwine hab me now?" Anna Maria turned on him look full or startled surprise, which soon turned to anger and disdain. Look hyeah, Gabe," she said, wrathfully, "what's de mattah wid you? Is you done tux leab ob yo' senses? Ain't you got no 'spect { fo' a lady's feelin's? Heah Ise tiahed and hongry. an you come 'roun' talk in' sich foolishness ez dat. No, I ain't gwine hab you. Git up Tom daih, an ac' sensible. Ise hongry, Lis" .--
 Gabe got up sheepishly, dusting his knees. Anna Maria turned to the win dow. He took his hat, and let him 1 self out of the dor
 'Heyo, Brotha Gabe, wha you gwine? You ain't gwine 'way :fo' sup pah, am you? We,g got some monstous fine middlin' daih fryin' speshly fo' you," was the greeting from Anna Maria's father
 "D'you want to buy suke? Ise gwine way f'om hyeab."
 | What's de mattah'd you?" was the / old mans quick question.
 "Ise 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 ain t. Set down." l Gabe seated himself beside his ad- v7ser.
 "W'en you ax Anna Maria?"
 "Jes now"
 "Oomph, oomph, oomph,' said the old man, refectively; and he went on: 1 "Gabe, fo' a ha 'd-w kin, money-sav- in, long-haided man you sfoly has got less sense dan anybody I know"
 What's done now?" said Gabe, 1 'quirements? Ain't I satisfied huh soul? Ain.t I chawmed huh yeah? Ain't I pleased huh eye? Now whs' mo'-oh. 'tain't no use!" 1 "Hor on, hol' on, l say; yo' done all l desc t'ings. You's satisfied huh soul, ! you's -chawmed huh l. yeah, you's 1 pleased huh eye, an she's jes ready fo' you, but Lawd a massy 'pon me, 1 ain't you got mo- sense dan to pop de question to lady wen she hungry :? 1 Gabe, you got lots to larn.'' 1 '''Tain't no use, Unc' Ike; eff she eat l suppah an git satisfied, den she ain't , irvine need me"
 ! You set down an wait till aftah i suppah, say. Es $.
 Just then the call for supper came, i and Gabe went in with the black SoIo- mon. During the blessing Anna Maria l was cold anddistant, but when the first biscuit was passed to her her face I brightened. She half smiled as she broke it open and filled it's hot interior with rich yellow butter. The smile l was on full force when she had tasted the brown, crisp |'middlin'," and by the ! time she had the jackets" off two l steaming potatoes her face was beam 1 ing.
 With wonder and joy Gabe watched the metamorphosis take place, and Uncle Ike had constantly to keep table to keep from betraying him. : self. ~
 When the supper was done, and it went on to merry ending, Aunt Han nah refused Anna Maria's help with { mock ferceness, 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 1 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 Ha'is, you is de beatness!" But her hand slipped into his.
 ''Is you gwine hab me, Anna Maria ?'' he repeated.
 "I reckon I'll hab to-" she said.
 Out on the porch Uncle Ike waited long in the silence; then he said:
 "Well, dat's moughty good sign, a moughty good sign, but it sholy time fo' it. Oomph, oomph, oomph, oomen
 an colts, an which is de wus, dom
 w."-Woman Home Companion.