The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-01-28
MRS. PEPPERS
h(,Iu,N By
IAOItOC HARRIET
WHITNEY
Copyright, 1903, by T. c. Mcclure

1t was Z o'clock Monday morning.
and the smoke Of Louizy Cottonwood s
wash fire in the back yard was thread
ing its blue haze into the fresh, early
air.
Louizy's father, Lyman Cottonwood
striking out cross lots, Jagged little
while he started his after breakfast
cob pipe His gaze dwelt ruminatively
upon the big ash hopper few mo-
ments, then Travelled back to the form
Of his daughter just appearing from
the smokehouse with tub In her arms.
"Louizy!~
The young woman turned her head
around, set her tub upon backless
chair and came forward, her low, fat
shoes patting softly over the short
"goose grass" Her figure looked skmp
in its blue calico washing gown; her
locks were hempy in color and not too
plentiful; she had gathered them up
high and twisted them so tightly that
the outer corners of her eyes We're
drawn upward like those Of Chinese
woman.
"Louizy," said her father, leaning an
elbow on corner Of the hopper, II was
eotn to tell you an furgot the Whder
Peppers a-comiR up today fer basket
O windfau Spy apples to make dunn
plin's, an gotter be at Harris all day
helpiR thrash. You show 'er where
the good ones Is at, an don't you sass
'er none; y understandFS
II amt carin' how many Spy apples
she gathers. Reckon apples wasn't the
only thing you an her was settlin'
about yesday eTenin."
.Wun" Lyman looked off slantwise
scross the hopper, Il got 'er penned up
es ,:lost es you ever kin pen woman.
The darned contrary birds won't never
give you square out yes till after the
preachers sent fer. But you kin count
ca havtn stepma before pumpkins Is
rtpe"
II wouldn't think, then, paw"
Louizys voice became mildly reproach-
ful, "seein' bow happy you're a-gotn
to be, you'd begrutch -an'-aR-
Sam
Her father came up from his bung-
ing attitude with jerk.
"Louizy Jane Cottonwood, bow many
times gotter tell you that's diffrunt:
Now, listen yere"-he tcked of his
points with the forefnger Of his right
hand in the spread palm OF the left
told you the whutfors an whysos yes
day, an that's nuff said An DOW lis
ten at this: Ef I don't ind Sam Dor
ktns at Harris thrashin today It's
sign hes over yere, am ef be is you'll
see me back. am you'll see me bounce
Sam oves the fence into the bresh quick
enough to jolt his ears crooked. Now,
mind whut I'VE told you"
Louizy shed so many tears over her
wash that morning that when the fat
little Widow Pepper came with her
basket she cast many sharply inquist-
tive glanees at the red rims Of the for
horn maiden's eyes.
"Looky here, Louizy Cottonwood"
said she at length as the two trudged
up to the orchard, you amt been act
in the baby cause your paw wants to
marry agin, hev your
'Iouizy shook her head.
Il wouldn't care q speck II be mar
ried tomorrow if he'd have the man
ners to leave me an Sam Dorkins
alone"
"Humph," said the widow. "Whuts
be layin' up against Sam"
'Nothin' parhckler, but he lows
there's no sense Of me a-marryiH fer
half dozen years er so. He's count1n
ON takin' a lot of city folks to board OF
summers after you an him air married,
an be says two women II be needed to
cook fer 'em."
well sayr' Mrs Phebe Pepper
brought the exclamation out with
chop, Then she stepped in the path and
laughed with q heardness that threat
ened to break her apron strings. Mrs.
Pepper was short and wide, and her
little round, dark face expressed mix
ture Of good nature, shrewdness and
obstinacy.
Hes curious old plant, your paw
is" said she, "but I've jist got this to
say: Eff any man O mine ever takes
any summer boarders he'll do the cook
in er else he'll hire it done"
Louizy shook her head dissentingly.
you'll think different when paw gets
you"
He amt got me yit," said the widow
cheerfully. "Looky here, Louizy, how
old air you?"
''Thirty-three, confessed Louizy, with
a slight blush.
'The law me! An you're scared to
marry without your paw says you
kim
The blush. widened, taking in Loui-
zy's ears.
"You don't know paw" said she dis
mally.
Couldn't more than kill ye, could
he?"
"Some folks tongues is worse than
kiln"
The widow trudged forward in silent
self communion, which lasted until
orn1o