Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-06-10

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wheels" she replied.
mo time for anything, it pears like.
He's taken the other rig today; tnat IL
be covered like the first isl
AN yaller mud is SO betrayin'.
Martens head nodded afirmatively
There's no sech mud this side OF
Oldtown, and everybody knows who
lives there" said he, wisely.
Mrs. Martens head followed his ex-
ample.
ben has drove there lots the past
weeks" OF a sudden she leaned for
ward, cycling her husband with keen'
contemplative gaze. "They say she's
mighty pretty; that folks all like her,
once they know her. But she amt
much where work is, they say, an sue
even says-but faint fair to tell all sue
says. You know Ben don't like her.
ben wants to do his own courtln,
smiled back the old farmer. Now that
other gal expects all the waitin on
sorter new game for Ben.
THE waitin' on, yes. He's been
spoiled considerable. All the girls
like Bentley can't help it, can they?
only now he seems so awful willin' to
go-to Oldtown,' faltered the mother.
"She's at the bottom of good deal
in the town, lately. Most every
youngster primps up to go past the
place. Her father died-left her
Confederate sword an his blessin, an
of course Dick had to take her IN.
Them two are the last of their family,
so Dick told me once-both prouder
lucifer, if they haven't money. Do you
s'pose she fetched them fine manners
and relic gee-gaws for our COWS an
chickens to look at?" scornfully. An
Ben has education; his eyes are quick
for pretty things. It's ruff1es an rib
bons an smiles as warm mans heart
not stormy day toggery with leather
faces above them. It's kinder natural
like that Ben should take the cleanest
carriage when he goes to Oldtown! I'm
not comPlainin' of it..
Silence followed; supper was ended
at the Marten farmhouse. The same
sun that fickered in the windows at
Springville, played hide and seek in
Dick Dunston's cherry tree. Under its
boughs stood Phyllis, her dark eyes
aglow, cheeks flushed, hair blown by
breezes from the flaming west.
Isn't that enough?" called a voice
from the very centre Of the tree. Ben
Marten glanced through the leaves, to
the figure below. Intervening space
nettled him.
Phyllis bit cherry after cherry, wait
ing for more to follow that first con-
signment thrown into the hat she
held.
You're having all the fun," said the
deep voice from the foliage above her.
An injured tone crept into it. The sun
was getting low; time was SO woefully
short for him.
You speak not truly" answered
Miss Dunston, calmly, munching away
at an especially luscious cherry. "Be-
side, you're learning to be chivalrous,
kind sir!"
"Chiv-be-"
''Ss-shi" she cautioned in quick in
terruption. "Of course you wish to say
something horrid. You aren't accustom-
ed to waiting on ladies, are you? They
generally wait on you, do they not? In
deed, l know all about 1t. No wonder
you look ashamed. You are so weighted
with self-importance and conceit that
it's strange the tree holds you"
ut won't hold me any longer, Phil
Dunston," he exclaimed.
A nd - l1o
told his intention. But he reckoned
without her wit. In twinkling the
ladder was jerked away. 1t fell with
a crash, while Phyllis sprang lightly to
one side, still holding the hat. Ben
was left suspended from the lowest
limb, yet one so high from mother
earth as to make the drop neither wise
nor easy.
''You see it does hold you, after all,
said Miss Dunston 1T is really strong
er than l thought. Just stay where you
are, please. The dominic is walking
past-Mabel, too-and declare if there
Isn't Sue. Then ripple of laughter
broke on the girls lips. The sound
told him of further rehabilitation and
mischief. "They can see that your legs
aren't quite straight-you thought
them just perfection, didn't you?-and
that your back is getting all bumped
up from work-you believed it the
finest back for miles around, didn't you
and that you're not one bit handsome
when you are learning chivalrous man
ners."
1.-THE ladder, Phil"
Ben's voice was stern that time.
''You should go south for true chiv-
airy. They get it from the titled Eng
lish ancestors of long, long ago. That
is what makes the south famed for its
manners. If were there and wanted
cherry, the gentlemen would rush to
climb the tree. They would never
dream of asking If few in a hat were
enough; they would pick and pick
until not one cherry remained on the
tree-that Is southern politeness.
"Wait until | get down" Ben eyed
the space between them once again.
Phyllis laughed.
You can't; it's dangerous. Are you
anxious for the ladder? Do you expect
me to wait on your! teas1ngly. I'm
not like the rest of the girls here If
you think that"
81 have never thought it."
Even as he spoke he dropped to terra
fIrma. Wrath was in his heart, deter
imitation also. Phyllis turned to fee,
but he was quicker than she. With
lightning swiftness an arm went out.
caught her neatly, effectually-and
held her fast. The blue eyes met the
dark ones; there was challenge in the
glance.
Its no use to tease me, Phil" he
said. doggedly. mo, you're not hurt
the least bit and never mind the hair
lit looks pretty that way"
tits perfectly hateful of you!" Phyl-
lis struggled to free herself, but in
vain.