The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-09-06

S~SNN~ -
laid the garments upon his bed and
proceeded to shave himself carefully.
after which he donned the white trou-
sers. the gray coat and. rummaslng IN
the trunk again, found a gay pink era
vat. which ne fastened about his tall
collar (also a resurrection from the
trunk) with a pearl pin. he took long
time to arrange his hair with q pair OF
brushes. When at last it suited nm
and his dressing was complete, he sal
lied forth to breakfast
Xenophon stared after him as he went
out of the gate whistling heartily. The
old darky lifted his hands, palms out
ward
Ian name, who dat?' he exclaimed
aloud. ~"Who Cat in dem panjingeries!
He gone jine de circusp His. hands
fell upon his knees, and he got to his
feet rheumatically, shaking his head
with foreboding. Honey, honey, hit
bald luck, bald luck sing 'fo' breakfus'.
Trouble 'fo' de day be done. Trouble.
honey, great trouble. Bald luck, bald
luck!r'
Along the square the passing Of the
editor in his cool equipments was
progress, and wide were the eyes and
deep the gasps Of astonishment caused
by his festal appearance. Mr.. Tlbbs
and his sister rushed from the post
Office to stare after him.
..He looks just beautiful, Solomon"
said Miss Tibbs.,
Harkless usually ate his breakfast
alone, as he was the latest riser in
Plattville. There were days in the
winter when he did not reach the hotel
until 8 o'clock. This morning he found
a bunch Of white roses, still wet with
dew and so fragrant that the whole
room was fresh and sweet with their
odor, prettily arranged in bowl on
the table, and at his plate the largest
Of all with pin through the stem. He
looked up smilingly and nodded at the
red faced. red haired waitress who was
waving long fly brush over his head.
Thank you. Charmion," he said.
THAT'S very pretty"
sThat old Mr.. Windy was here" she
answered, aand lie left word for you to
look out. The whole possetucky Of
Jchnsons from the Crossroads passed
his house this mornin', comm this
way, and he see Bob Skillet on the
square when he got to town. He left
them flowers. Mrs. Windy sent 'em to
ye. 1 didn't bring 'em."
sThank you for arranging them"
She turned even redder than she al
ways was and answered nothing, Wig
orously darting her brush at an imag-
mary fly on the cloth. After several
minutes she said abruptly, You're vel
come"
There was silence, finally broken
BY a long, gasping sigh. Astonished.
he looked at the girl. Her eyes were
set unfathomably upon his pink tie.
The wand had dropped from her nerve
less hand, and she stood rapt and I'M
movable. She started violently from
her trance. "Ain't ye goin' to finish
yer conee?" she asked, plying her IN
strument again, and, bending slightly.
whispered, Say. Eph Watts is ovei
there behind ye."
At table in far corner Of the ROOF.
a large gentleman in a brown frocA
coat was quietly eating his break1as'
and reading the Herald. He was OF az:
ornate presence, though entirely neat
A sumptuous eXpanse Of linen exhibit
ed itself between the lapelS cf his low
cut waistcoat, and an inch Cd bedla
monded breastpin glittered there Gks
an ice ledge on snowy mountain side
He had steady blue eye and a dissl
pated iron gray mustache. This per
sonage was Mr.. Ephraim Watts, who.
following a calling more fashionable ii.
the eighteenth century than in the lat
ter decades Of the nineteenth. ha(
shaken the dust of Carlow from his
feet some three years previously at the
strong request Of the authorities Th;
:srra!d Fad been particularly insisten:
;....5cn his deportation. In the local
,,s,,rase. Earkless had run him out O
own" Perhaps it was because the
.-ara,d's opposition. as the editor had
.-:ii::ss.;.":al. at the time, had been mere
i slorai and impersonal." and the ed
.sc~ had confessed to liking for the
professional qualities Of Mr.. Watts.
lat there was but slight embarrass-
4: ,,:.t VIXEN the two gentlemen met to
x. lis breakfast finished, Harkles>
:s,s::..t over to the other and extended
d:s hand. Cynthia, the waitress, heiG
..cr breath and clutched the back of
.;;..*,ir. However. Mr.. Watts made nc
.i.oiion toward his we'll known hip
.locket. Instead he rose. flushing Slight
). and accepted the hand offered him.
I'm glad to see you. Mr.. Watts.
sid the journalist cordially. And
also. if you are running with the cir
ms and calculate on doing business
,lere today. III have you fired out OF
ON before noon. How are you:
You're ioOkin" extremely well"