Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-07-02


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. ooh, Anna Maria" he cried,
"Anna Maria, amt you gwine hab me
now?"
Anna Maria turned on him look full
of startled surprise, which soon turned
to anger and disdain. Look hyeah,
Gabe," she said, wrathfully, whats de
mattah wild you? Is you done tux Leah
OBJ yo' senses? Amt you got no 'spect
TO- lady's feelin's? Heah Use tiahed
and hongry, an you come 'roun' talk
in SIGH foolishness ez dat. No, I amt
gwine hab you. Git up f'om daih, an
ac' sensible. Use hongry, 1 is"
Gabe got up sheepishly, busting 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."
"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, " amt. Set down"
Gabe seated himself beside his adj
WISER.
Gwen you ak Anna Maria?"
"Jes now"
"Oomph. oomph, oomph," said the
old man, refectively; 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 I know"
whats l done now?" said Gabe,
disconsolately. -"Ain't filled all de
'quirements? Amt I satisfied huh
soul? Amt I chawmed huh yeah?
Amt l pleased huh eye? Now wha
mo'-oh. faint no use!"
"Hol' on, hoI on, 1 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
TO- you, but Lawd "a massy pom me,
amt You got mo- sense dan to pop
lie question to a lady wen she hungry?
Gabe, you got lots to Farm"
""Tain't no use, Unc' Ike; eff she eat
suprah an git satisfied, den she aint
| gwine need me-"
"You set down an wait till aftah
suppah, / 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
| brjghtened. She half smiled as she
broke it open and filled its 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
nudging 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 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
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?"
ia, Gabe Halls, you is de beatness!"
But her hand slipped into his.
as you gwine hab me, Anna Maria?"
be repeated.
81 reckon I'll hab to-" she said.
Out on the porch Uncle Ike waited
long in the silence; then he said:
"Well, OATS a moughty good sign, a
mough$y good sign, but it shOly time
TO- it. Oomph, oomph, oomph, oomen
an colts, an which is de wus, I dom
w."-Woman's Home Companion.