The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-07-18

HOKE RECOILING FEW STEPS, THE
STRANGER WAS NOW AT HEB SIDE.
the mud myself2 And did any man on
the mountain ever cut more fireplace
wood In one day than that2" rising
suddenly to her feet and fiinging out
one hand toward the days work
Hoke surveyed the wood critically,
appreciatingly.
Mono don't reckon / ever did see
so much cut in one day, Tirzy," he ac-
knowledged, though I amt sayin' but
lots Of men could If they set out"
Yes, that's just it," scornfully, 'if
they set out. But men folks round
here don't set out to do nothing but
hunt coons and drink still whisky and
smoke corncob pipes. It's the women
who work truck patches and chop
wood and milk cows and do every
thing else that's sure enoug6s work
But what's the use taIking?" dropping
her arms again listlessly There's no
difference between you men folks. !
think heap of you, Hoke, like l said
last week. You're big and good ma
tured and the handsomest man round,
but all you've got in the world is rife
and four dogs and tumbledown cab
In that's scarcely fit to live in, and I've
heard you say yourself that you could
drink more corn whisky than any man
on the mountain and not show it. And
you go barefoot too, Hoke. Maybe I'll
have to marry somebody some time.
h11< ca1 20 r3nlk bo%
never marry man who didn't wear
Shoes"
Hoke looked down at his feet re-
fectively II reckon there's but one
man on the mountain who wears shoes
steady" he observed sarcastically.
Maybe he'd marry you If you asked
him"
you mean Ground Hog" flashed
back the girl instantly We'll he
asked me last Tuesday, and l told him
like did you'd study it over a
spell"
Hoke looked at her incredulously for
a moment, then threw back his head
In a roar Of laughter that echoed
through the forest Told him you'd
study II over" he CALCULATED between
his bursts Of merriment. Told Ground
Hog that7 Ho, hol I'll sure have to let
MI the boys know" Then instantly he
became sober. why, Tirzy," be re-
monstrated, ITS scandalous! You're the
handsomest and peartest girl ON the
mountain and the best worker. Any
man would be glad to have you And
MISUNDERSTANDING just an out
side onstepper, coming here and fenc-
ing In land and digging in the dirt the
whole enduring day, and he totes his
truck stuff down into the valley on his
own back and peddles it round. HUH
He couldn't hit bear ten foot off with
a shotgun, and he don't chew and don't
know the taste Of whisky. Why, low
one spoonful would set him plumb era
zy. But he does wear shoes" pro
longing the word derisively, "Rnd
you're going to-study-' bout him"
Eyes, l am" quietly. HE knows
how to work and amt scared of It.
And up where he comes from women
folks don't milk and cut fireplace wood
up Luer9 tue men IOtkS look out Tor
the women. If Ground Hog-I mean
Mr.. Allen-marries me, 1t won't be Just
because he aims to be more comfort
able. But h'sh! Here he comes now"
A man had emerged suddenly from
the woods and was approaching them
rapidly. Hoke was still standing sew
eral yards away. AS the stranger
came to about the same distance an
idea seemed to strike the girl, for she
raised her hand warningly.
Don't come any closer, either Of
you" she called. 81 was down to
Back creek yesterday"
Back creekw echoed Hoke, recoiI-
ing few steps. why, that's where
they have the smallpox, and they do
say it's terrible this season. Everybody
catches it that goes nearl'
Yes, I've heard so," calmly.
"Oh, Tirzy, how could your" And
Hoke took few more involuntarily