Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-09-09


49, surprising lull, considering it
was well toward ] o'clock of Christmas
eve. The morning had been April |
weather, full of fitful sunshine and
soft, fawy winds. Now the sky was
leaden. The wind sat northwest. Low !
er ragged clouds scudding before it let |
fall little spitefu snow spits or dashes
of hail.
The Murray outfit came wabbling up.
the loud crackings of Sonny's whip.
Lassaphine, at Sonny's elbow, scowled
and shivered impatiently at the noise
such useless noise! The crack of doom
could not have quickened the patient
amble at which Brandy, the red OK,
and jimmy, tile pale little donkey, drew
their Gathering load.
"By gonnys! Must be you've fetched
a feather bed alivep Storekeeper Wal
ker said, holding out both hands. Lassa-
phine overlooked them. Instead of get
ting out, she writhed down amid the
turkeys. They were fine big fellows,
white and copper yellow and glossy
greenish bronze. She had fed and tend
ed and talked to them since they came
out of the egg. A lump had come in
her threat as she boppled them III pairs
and laid them upon the scant straw at
the bottom of the wagon. The lump
was there still, though Lassaphine was
very far from sentimental person.
She could have sold her flock to the
turkey drover last week with the light
est heart in the world. 1t was quite
another matter to seize and bind them
treacherously as they fed from her
sport for an idle holiday crowd.
"Sa-ay, Jim Walker, amt you got
new frock an stick of red striped can
d.? They mought tole this yer gal of
mine inside!n Sonny said, stamping his
feet hard as he clambered down. "She
wants ter Spite our fun, Lassaphine
does; been a-beggin' me all the way not
ter have the turkey walk, though she
knows saved them bur-reds jest fer
nothin' else in the world"
Come, now, Miss Lassaphine. That
won't do-not never in the world,'
Walker said. .'Christmas comes but
once year, you know. Come in. Do.
I've got the very dress fer you; told
my wife SO last night, when the new
est goods come in"
Lassaphine shook her head decided
~. Il don't want no dress you've got,'
she said, .nothin' you've got, until the
money ter pay fer 1t is in my hand.
''That won't be long, Walker said,
rubbing his hands. Look at all them
fine gobbliers. call it jest great no.
ton of your pas, hayin' EN- walked
fer; stand you in twice whit the
drovers has been payin'. Ef you don't
wanter trade, though, femme take you
up ter the house
Il don't leave this wagin ill it starts
fer home" Lassaphine interrupted,
turning to pick up the rope reins her
father had dropped. He had vanished
inside the log storehouse. AS the team
crawled little from the steps to make
room for smart new buggy he came
out wiping his mouth with the back of
his hand, his eyes CLASSY with salts
faction.
so you ralely did come, Jack! Good
boy! Man of his word!' he shouted to
the buggy's driver. Lassaphine did
not turn her head, yet slow blush
gathered In her olive cheeks. She had
long, dusky eyes, with a spark at the
bottom; heavy, night black hair and
the poise and stature of Greek god
dess. Notwithstanding, most women
In the countryside reclSoned her ugly.
She was so unlike their standard of
pink and white prettiness that they
could not in the least comprehend why
50 many men Of so many minds and
= lost their heads over her
,hilders, for instance, a con-
.lans son, rich and fair looking,
though reputed wild; Len Haskell,
most driving and thriving of the young
farmers roundabout Doc Grant the
bachelor tobacco dealer, a catch for
any girl. to say nothing of Teeny
Walker, the storekeeper's bashful
young brother.
1t was certainly aggravating to good
women with girls of their own to settle
to have so many dangle after Lassa-
pline, who coquetted with all and ia
yored none. The Murray place was
poorer than poverty, the bare and I'M
understandable fragment of n wide plan
tation. Its starveling acres were either
CALLED and quilted or oyergrown with
vagrant briers, and the big weather
stained house was ruinous except in
two or three south looking rooms.
Still the Murrays managed to live by
it--Lassaphine and Sonny and Grand
pap Grandpap never forgot nor al
lowed the others to forget what was
due to Murray blood. Lassaphine, for
example, must learn to read and sign
her name, must wear shoes upon high
days and holidays and go to church at
least once month. He was the more
strenuous because Lassaphine's mother
had not been person of quality, but
hill girl, who had, however, been oblig-
ing enough to die while Lassaphine
was yet in arms.
"Drlve round. We're a-goin ter walk
in the back lot" Sonny called, shaking
hands right and left as he spoke. All
Lassaphine's worshipers We're in the
crowd on the porch. Besides, every.
body liked Sonny in spite of his weak.
ness for many glasses when one was
too much for his poor head.
That was the secret of Lassaphinc's
presence-she could not afford to have
him ROSTER away the price of her
feathered flock. For one thing, there
We're her church dues. Sonny argued
that the circuit rider, wifeless young
fellow, well clothed, well mounted, at
no expense for living, had much less
need of the So than themselves. Lassa-
phine listened, smiling obstinately. She
could put in action, not words, her feel
ing that it was due herself to pay re-
gardless Of anything else.
T The back lot was an acre of rough
turf stretching between the span new
Walker house. brave in gaudy paint,
and the Su,Int Naot harad ctoro ,,os+I;,,,