The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-03-29
CHAPTER IL.
Continued.

sAS
looking down upon the two men.
,"And how do yer find yourself, Mr..
Dexter"
In bis confusion Thomas Dexter re-
piled:
I'm as we'll as can be expected,
Polly"
An answer which sent her into fits Of
laughter.
Now this laughter vas sweet music
in Thomas Dexter's ears, and Polly
Cleayer a vision Of loneliness in his
eyes.
Her hair was hanging loose, her
boots were down at heel, and she was
in a general state of u~ntidiness, but
Venus herself in negiigee could not
have more completely enthralled him.
Polly continued to laugh, holding her
sides, and presently tottered down a
step or two, and cried:
"Ketch me, Mr.. Dexter, or 1 shall
fall"
He nothing loatb, caught her to his
heart, which went a thousand a min
ute.
Polly had not laid in his arms as
long as she could count three before
she knew what was the matter with
him. These inspirations Of knowledge
are woman's peculiar gift. ...
II thought" she simpered, looking up
into Thomas Dexter's face, without at
tempting to release herself from his
embrace, that yer might be going to
ask me to go to church with yer"
''"That's just what l should like to ask
yer, Polly" said Thomas Dexter.
"Well, then,'' exclaimed Mr.. Cleaver,
while Polly laughed immoderately,
@arsk her, and well get the wedding
dress made-if you give US the money
for it."
: Something like matchmaking, this.
Striking the nail on the head; 20 shiily-
s%hallying.
Sudden as it was, it accorded with
Thomas Dexter's humoT. ,
II don't mind doing that" he re-
sponded, holding Polly tight. What
do you say, Polly"
What do you say, Mr. Dexter"
asked Polly, fencing.
She was inclined to look upon the
whole affair as a joke, though the pros
pect of the present Of the wedding
dress had caught her fancy.
Il say, will yer have me, Polly"
Il don't mind" answered Polly, gaz-
ing in wonder at her ardent lover, add
ing quickly, IF you're not joking with
me-"
He'd better not" said Mr.. Cleaver,
splitting in the palm Of his right hand
and rubbing that and the palm of his
left together-ar action which every
Briton understands. IF he makes a
fool of my, Polly I'll have it out of
him"
You shut up, father" exclaimed
Polly. Pm old enough to take care
of myself"
"Whatw cried Thomas Dexter, point
ing to Polly, who had released herself
and was now standing a little apart
from him. Make a fool of a gal like
that! What do you take me for?"
'"Wait a Bit" said Polly; I'm con-
sidering."
There was the new dress; there was
the excitement Of a wedding; there was
the novelty Of getting married.
Although she had had eny number Of
lovers, not one had ever asked her to
marry him.
do you mean" inquired she, plant
ing her two fists in her sides, without
any CANNON, that yer want ter marry
me?"
That's the way to put it," said MI.
CleaVer, with approving mods.
its exactly what 1 do mean," said
Thomas Dexter, in an imploring tone,
as though scarcely daring to hope that
such bliss could fall to his share. IF
you say yes l shall be the happiest
man in Clare Market"
"I'd like to See the man as'd dispute
it, said Mr.. Cleaver. Whoever gets
Iuy IOllS SSlS q tlSdsulS.
You needn't shove your spoke in,
father. Mr.. Dexter knows all about
me; he wasn't born yesterday"
That's true, Polly" said Thomas
Dexter, somewhat ruefully. I'm a
good bit older than you"
"Oh, that don't make no difference"
said Polly, scratching her head. Yer
won't cry off, will yer? You'll give me
a dress"
"Ill give yer two" said Thomas Dex-
ter, eagerly.
'Ill take 'em; I amt proud. And as
you're serious as all that about it I'll
have yer. Give us q kiss"
He gave her a dozen, and while this
was going on Nj. Cleaver sat on the
stairs and shed tears, which he con-
sidered to be the regulation duty of a
father, especially of the father of such
a girl as Polly.
There, that's enough" said Polly,
pushing Thomas Dexter away. You're
rumpled me all over. You'd best make
yourself scarce, you and father, while
/ tidy myself a bit"
"Son-in-iaw," said Mr.. Cleaver, dab
bling his eyes with a colored handker-
chief, you've got the price of a pint
about yer. The proper thing to do is
10 wet the match"
I've no objection" said infatuated
Thomas Dexter.
Come along, then" said Mr.. Cleaver,
Selling Thomas Dexter and hurryins
lin downstairs; well drink Polly's
healtb.'