Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1903-10-29
:. AN :.
EXTORTIONER
By MARTHA
OCH-WiLLIAMS
2 Copy right, 1903, by T. c. Mcclure.
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janet sang as she spun, because ner
heart was in the spinning. 1t was so
shady out under the big oak she had
flung Off her sunbonnet. The winds
played tricksily with her soft hair and
wisped shiny tendrils Of 1t around neck
and forehead Her blue frock was low
enough to show enchanting glilnpses of
d white neck. Not wild rose of all
those blooming beside the house wall
was finer clear pink than showed in
her cheeks. 1t is small wonder young
Rushton looked at her twice and barred
his head before hailing.
Major Weakley is away, but may be
home any minute Will you light and
wait for him." Janet flung back to him,
pausing, with her left hand held high
above her head, thus keeping taut the
length of new thread.
Rushton had never seen anything SO
lightly deft as her motion in running
the thread even on the breach In spite
of the classics he had thought vaguely
of spinning as clumsy drudgery. Now
1t was suddenly borne in upon him that
nymphs and goddesses had joyously
piled the distaff.
He had been in hot haste. Judge, then,
of his establishment to find himself dis
mounted and sitting upon the piazza
watching Janet spin. He had come in
the field way. cutting straight across
his own plantation, full of contentious
wrath
Oaklands lay broadside on to his
fields, That, of course, meant line
fences and potentially, trouble over
breachy stock 1t was his factors com
plant of trespassinC by Wcakley cat
tie that had brought Rushton precipi-
lately on the scene. He had arrived Mt
dusk the night before; he meant to
leave before shutdown next day - at
least until he saw Janet.
Presently, finding her father still
truant, she took the band from her
wheel, slid the full breach off the spin
die, flung it in basket half full Of
other breaches and went sedately with
in by the end door. \ minute later
she came out to Rushton bearing fresh
well water, cool and sparkling, also a
glass dish overrunning with luscious
red cherries.
I'VE had as well eat these" she said
a little regretfully, setting the dish up
on the Tat piazza rail between them.
II wanted to make a cherry cobber for
dinner - that's why / climbed up In
the very tiptop after these ripe ones
but Nanny Liza locked up every dust
of sugar and -four before she went to
Aunt Why's funeral"
why did you let her go?" Rushton
asked.
Janet looked at him in amaze and
said. cherry between her lips Let
her. You don't know Aunt Liza! We
| have to ask her about doing things,
daddy and l."
IF you did not mind her, what would
happen" Rushton asked, laughing i'll
spite of himself
Janet looked thoughtful. Il don't
really know" she said, pickering her
forehead. aunt Liza is the best cook
in the county. Loads of people want
her-would pay her double what we
can afford But all she Will ever say
to them is: Shoo turkey. knows when
Ize we'll off, an eff Marse Taum Weak
ley don't den Tzc DIES bound ter stay
yere tell | larns him."
Such things are all riddles to me-
Rushton said. Il have spent so little
time here. My parents were northern.
That reminds me, l am taking it for
granted that you know me-
"Oh, do-and why you came.' Janet
interrupted, flushing family. THE last
thing Aunt Liza said was that you'd
be here this morning TO say you'd shoot
our cows next time they were caught
ravaging in your corntieldS She had
heard it from the hands on your place
Whatever one negro knows all the 9TH
ers within miles roundabout will hear
| before morning"
Yes, sir! We had warning" Major
Weakley said coming out behind Janet
then offering his hand. Mr. Rushton,
you're quite justifablc. If you do shoot
my beasts shan't say a word"
why, II shall not think Of such Il
thing Rushton gasped. all taken
aback. Il was a bit provoked. but /
dare say the matter has been greatly
exaggerated
ut cannot very well have been"
Major Weakley said penitentIv. "To
tell you the truth. young man. nv
cows are hardly worth the corn they
have destroyed for YOU They're only
n lot of scrubs, but Janet and would
not swap them for registered Jerseys.
We're foolishly fond of old things"
IF they did not jump 50 they'd be
angels-that Is, Supnoeing angels ever
I ilaC four legs ana horns and tailr