The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-09-20

aeat that wilted the fat mullen lea-es
:apd made the barefoot boy who passed
by skip gngerly through the burning
dust with anguished mouth and watery
ere. Little he knew. Of the katydid that
suddenly whirred its mills Of Shrlllness
In the maple tree ana sounded so bot
hot. hot; or that ether that rallied at the
country quiet from the dim, cool shade
around the brick house. or even the rain
crow that sat on the fence and swore TO
them in the face Of a sunny Sky that
they should see rain ere the day We're
done Little the young man recked OF
what he ate at Judge Brlscoe'S good
noon dinner chicken wing and young
roas'n ear, hot rolls as light as the fluff
OF a summer cloud1et, and honey and
milk. and apple butter favored like
spices Of Arabia and fragrant, faky
cherry pie and cool, rich, yellow cream.
Lige Willetts was lover, yet he said
he asked no better than to just so on
eating that cherry pie till a sweet
death overlook him; but railroad sand
.wiches and restaurant chops might
have been set before Harkless for all
the difference it would have made to
him.
At no other tine is a mans feeling Of
companionship with woman so strong
as when he sits at table with her. not
at decorated" and becatered and be-
Swaitered table, but at a homely, appe-
dzing, wholesome, home table like old
Judge Briscoe's. The very essence of
the thing is domesdcity, and the i'm
plicadon is utter confidence and liking.
There are few greater dangers for a
: bachelor. An insinuating imp perches
ON his shoulder and, softly tickling the
Bachelors ear with the feathers of an
arrow shaft. whispers: Pretty gay;
Isn't ii, eh? Rather pleasant to have
that girl sitting there, don't you think?
Enjoy having her notice your butter
plate was empty? Think It exhilarat-
Ing 10 hand her those rollss Looks nice,
doesn't she2 Says Thank you rather
prettiiy? Makes your lonely breakfast
seem mighty dull. doesn't 1t? How
would you like to have her pour your
:cQfee for ycu tomorrow, my boy? How
wpuld it seem to have such pleasant
company. all the rest Of your ife?
Pretty cheerful, eh? It's my conviction
that your one need In life is to pick her
up in your arms and run away with
Her, not anywhere In particular. but
3ust run and run and run away"
After dinner they went out to the
varanda. and the gentlemen smoked.
The judge set his chair down on the
ground. tilted back In it with his feet
ION the steps and blew wavery. DOM
ed city up in the air. He called it
solid comfort He liked to sit out from
under the porch roof, he said. He
wanted TO see more Of the sky. The
Others moved their chairs down to
ioin In the celestial vision. A feath-
cry thin cloud or two had been famed
across it, but save for these there was
nothing but glorious and tender bril-
liant blue. It seemed so clear and
close one maryeled the little church
spire in the distance did not pierce it.
Yet at the same time the eye ascended
miles and miles into warm. simmer
Ing ether. Far away two buzzards
swung slowly at anchor halfway to the
sun.
go bright. translucent cerulean hue.
Let my wide wings drift on in you.
HarkIess quoted. pointing them out to
Helen.
..You seem 10 get a good deal of fun
out of this kind of weather" observed
Lige as he wiped his brow and shifted
his chair into the shade.
81 expect you don't get such skies
as this up in Rouen." said the judge,
booking at the girl from between his
lazily half closed eyelids.
Its the same Indiana sky. think." /"
She answered
q guess maybe in the city you don't
see rs much OF it or think as much
about il. then Yes. they're the In
diana SKIES" the old man went On.
skies as blue
As the eyes OF children when they smile
ct you
There aren't aay others anywhere
4lsst eyer se> .neG much like them 20
sne. They've been COMPANY for NE all
any lie. dent think there are any
others half as beautiful, ard knew
There aren't any as sociabie, They
were always 50 he sighed gently
aad Miss Sherwood fancied bis VIE
EaEst have found the Indiana SKIES Is
,oxeiy as he had in tie days OF lone
ago. Seems 20 me they are the softes'
and blaest and kindest IN the worid.
~ think they are" said Helen, aiic
they are more beautiful than the l'ai
ian skies. though l doubt If many "l
as Eoss;ers realize it. and certainty h'
cne else does"
The old man leaned over and pattet
Ger land. Harkless gasped. u
Hoosiersr chuckled the judge y ou II
great Hoosier, young lady. ho"
,nuch of your life have you spent IN th'