Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-14

81 Lunt had signed a lien on the Duke
erop: therefore he rode toward the little
farm with the air of one in authority, III
not ownership. II he had not signed the
lien the Dukes might. have gone hungry
and their ground seedless.
Hot, Gee whiz!'
He slid off the back end of his mule into
the middle of the road, raising cloud of
yellow dust aboGt him as his feet struck
the ground Leaving his mule standing In
the road he walked over to the fence and
dropped his elbows upon the top rail. In
the field beyond was young woman chop
ping cotton with a heavy gooseneck hoe.
There were half thousand stones to every
square yard of soil, but the ring of the noe
blade did not strike out of 81 Lunt
thoughts the thing he had stopped there TO
say. The woman hoed on until 81 called her.
Hannah" he said, I've stopped here to
say word"
The woman faced about, pushed the split
bonnet back on her head and wiped the
dusty perspiration from her brow with the
sleeve of her shabby homespun waist.
I'm a-listenin''' she said.
Hannah's cheeks were glowing. There
was a rich beauty in her face, despite its
premature lines of care.
|
own brow
1.-The grounds so hard an there's so
many rocks" began Hannah, that dad an
me can't keep an edge on our hoes at all.
1t makes the chopin powerful hard.
'I reckon so. But what l wanted to talk
| to We about is that lien up yonder at town..
f"What about it. Mr.. Lunt?"
well, it's a-goin' leetle too fast to suit
me, that's ALL Ye see, / signed that lien as
landlord an 1 can't get cent o. my rents
out o. this crop till it's paid off. l don't
reckon ye're squeezin down quite tight
enough"
Hannah pulled the split bonnet back over
her face and looked toward the ground.
That liens for 49, Lunt went on, AN
that's s. month for seven months. guess
ye amt cuttin' your bacon thin enough,
somehow. An then see We got two whole
bushels O. corn at once. beginnin' this
month-an that's two out o them 50 right
There
I'VE had to get one O. them two bushels
| to swap for" Hannah paused and low
cred her chin again.
Swap 1t for what. 1 wonder?' 81 squint-
ed. 1t was his way of expressing relish for
a scent of trickery.
"For-for." stammered Hannah, why,
ma amt gettin any better, somehow, an
we've had to get some medicine for her,
some kind that cost dollar a bottle
pooh. that kind o. medicines about
what's the matter with her now. Don't
reckon she'll be able to help any at all in
the chopin, will she7'
az don't reckon she will. It's about all
she can do to fry the meat an turn the
pan" Hanrah's bosom heaved laboriously
and she looked toward a range of hills in
the distance.
Reckon ye haven't changed your mind
any lately, have we, Hannah" 81 asked
moment later. Because, ye see, II ye had
Itt wouldn't make 30 much difference about
1.-THE Hen up yonder." He was staring at
the back Of Hannah's head. for the girl
still held her face averted.
mo. haven't changed my mind Bit"
said Hannah presently, IAN don't reckon
there's any use to talk about that any
moro. As for the lien, it'll last It'll 1t gives
out, guess"
es, It'll last TIL 1t gives out. But l
- ye know how they wouldn't have
furnished Bill Dukes $40 worth on a lien If
] hadn't signed the paper, don't yer"
'Maybe mott don't know But the LIENS
made now. an we've got to make this
crop, haven't WEI"
Eyes, that's So I was thinkin', though,
II ye'd changed your mind any we might
put half-grown niger in your place an