Sharp County record., 1903-05-15

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Elmer entered the doorway sec
ond after the old maid had escaped
into the adjoining room and was re-
cciycd by Eva, who directed him to
the rocking chair.
An embarrassed pause followed,
which was soon broken by the en-
trance of the old maid with buckes
Of fresh water and gourd.
Eva paled and then Redeemed at the
sight OF the gourd and arose, crying;
Don't drink out of that Let me
get you goblet"
"No, indeed No goblet for me
when | can get u gourd TO drink
from! The Lord made the gourd and
man made the goblet. Ah-e-m! The
gourd gives cold water n nectarine
flavor that makes the tongue quiNer
with ecstacy, and all the senses re-
joice together"
Though this was the first time
Elmer had ever tasted water from
gourd, his little eulogy spread com
mon ground on which he and those
ladies could sympathetically meet.
what a brilliant rs well as hand
some gentleman he is" thought Eva,
who had gone to the high school at
Salyersyille.
81 like that fellow" thought the
old maid, as she carried the bucket
of water into the cook room. "Ef he
has got on fine duds, he amt no high
ferlootin' fool"
A little later, sounds were heard on
the outside like the alternate lift
ing and dropping of mauls on wet
sod.
Dads comm" spoke the old maid.
"Yes. papa thinks it's about his
dinner hour" Eva supplemented.
4 second later something struck
the edge of the veranda and made
planks quiver from one end OF 1t to
the other. Then the doorway dark
ened and Elmer looked up to behold
a great, tall, broad man with grim
81 amt got no objections ter yer
stayin' all summer, ef yo can put up
with our grub-'twon't cost ye moth
in'-but, by gum, | can't see how ye
cud be tired and wore out teachin'
school-sottin' in the house an dom
nuthin'! Shoh! Serpose ye had ter
work? Serpose ye had ter plow er
mule in the new ground with roots ever
few steps, knockin' feaks of hide from
yer shins as big as dollar bills?"
"Why, papa" cried Eva, laughing
through scarlet face.
Never yo' mind bout me" returned
the old fellow, affecting anger, you
skin out in that kitchen an go ter
mobilizin' the eaterbils-I'm hungry.
"Now here is character for my
novel" thought Elmer as he lay i'm
mersed in fat feather bed that night,
"oddest, strangest character l ever
knew, in or out of fiction"
And he began vaguely to group
characters and incidents around this
central figure. But, alas, every time
this character would 60 out for sub
ordinate character, it would come
home leading sweet Eva McElroy.
Every incident was the meeting of
himself and Eva beneath great
spreading oak and exchanging vows Of
everlasting love.
sat beneath a big oak near the house
in signing perplexty.
Elmer had asked the old fellow for
his daughters hand, and had been re>
pulsed with thunderous threats. He
had said: "No bandy-shanked, eder-
Gated. no count cuss gifts gal of
mine! What could you do at a plow,
clearin' ground, or raisin' terbacker,
Don't try ter steal her nuther; don't
want to be bothered by bein' arrested
an payin' fines for shootin' man in
harvest time!"
"Is your father superstitious?'
asked Elmer, the light of great dis
covery in his eyes.
Every" returned the girl
Then I'll fix him!" cried the young
man, rising with enthusiasm. 1--WE
got graphaphone at home and | will
send for it,"
a week later, as the old man lay
tossing in his bed, he heard sound
that made his bones quake and the
cold sweat break out all over him:
Hear We, oh, McElroy and heed
what say this night" The voice was
in the room He arose, hastily lit a
match, but saw nothing. He lay down
again shiyering Then the unearthly
voice sounded again.
Hear ye, oh, McElroy, and heed
what say this night. Let thy daugh-
ter, named Evahne, and the young man
who tarries in thine house be married
on the morrow. And give them thy
blessing, and your hotel property in
the place called Salyersville. Do you
heed?"
81 do. oh Lord" cried the trembling
old sinner. And he arose early in the
morning and went forth and brought
parsnp CnpI,p' xyhn parfnr,nal a.,