The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-12-28
wan E D.,
A MAN
BY MCr7ba
McCuiiocb- williams

orssres Magin stood twirling his red
.n,stache his eyes downcast. his heart
hooting like trip hammer. Well
uiobt il beat fast. He had just asked
Sonre Malcolm for his daughter. The
.ouire was choleric person ut the
h.st of times. but this morning his
sumor was fieudsh. Orestes, of course.
Aid not know that.
There was a reason for the mood,
slight. to be sure. but any reason was
efficient when the time came for one
If the old gentleman's RACES. He was
nearly as proud of his melon patch as
If his daughter and felt it personal
insult if anybody else presumed to
have melons earlier Yet here were
those miserable Dawsons. outlanders,
city bred at that. sending him a melon
hly ripe with their compliments and
al because he had laughed at Dawson
and his gardener when they had talked
10 him about certain extra early
kind
Now, it would be quite ten days be-
fore he could return the sending
Want my girl, Ell? Isn't there
something else? Don't be mealy
mouthed. Ask for my eyeteeth or the
farm and all the money I've got in
bank" he reared at poor 0restes, who
stood nervously shifting his feet by
George, sir I'm amazed at your mod
eation. OF course I've raised Edith
lust a-purpOSe to see her throw herself
away Don't interrupt me- sir! l
know all you're going to say--you love
her and don't care a bit that she'll
have more money than any other girl
around I've heard that from better
mel than you are. | tell you, as I've
told them. she's not for any such cat
tie. | want her myself yet awhile.
When | give her up it's going to be to
man Be of with you now, sir, and
don't let me see you here again-not
unless you're willing to swear there
shall he no more of this nonsense"
I'm going" Orestes said hoarsely,
turning half about. But what you
call this nonsense is going to last
With me and with Edith, too, | believe.
Well wait year to let you come to
better temper But I'm going to see
her across your gate every little while
won't ever set foot on your land
again, though. unless you ask it"
DO you think I'll have such scandal
Gus behavior?" the squire shouted. A
hand fell over his lips. Edith had
eept up behind him.
Unless you will have it l shall go
with Restes right straight off, she
said, with a set of the mouth and
lowering of the brow that made of her
her fathers daughter In suffocating
anger that forbade speech the squire
waved the pair away. Edith would
not 90 She held out her hand to Ores
ties saying ''I'll he at the gate tonight.
Well settle things there. Then as
the young fellow strobe off she fetched
cool water to battle the squire's head.
famed him and made him sit under
the grapevines. saying no word to him
until he had come to Semblance of
reason. When she saw his head droop
thou htfully and his cane make faint
pMngeS into the turf she whispered:
Don't fret rourself sick, father. You
know you can't really say anything
against Restes. He's as good as he's
ugly
Hes a molly coddle, brought up at
bis sranuy's apron strings" the squire
Interrupted.
Then | like molly coddles. and I've
beer brought up TO know men, she
SAID running away to see about din
ner The squire looked after her with
scowl that softened at last to a sigh.
He thought the world of her Love was
indeed at the bottom of his 5corn for
poor Orestes.
Fate had hard lines ahead OF the
squire. Edith went duly to the gate
every Wednesday evening at shutdown
and spent an hour there in earnest
talk with her sweetheart. Even the
squire could not bring himself to ig
more Orestes completely when they
HSt bul ne never went beA Gnu the
grui1 nod all the three Sundays before
ne was laid Ivy the heels Obstinacy-
|Ol man and brought that about
ohcky the buggy mare, took occasion
10 balk Just at the top of the lane
MIL, and, instead Of hunoring her by
walking up what remained of the rise,
her master sat tight and tried TO make
ner pull him. The result was much
packing. kicking and at last an upset
'ehcie and broken leg for the squire
WIN the prospect of spending month
|at least fat on his back
ne roared and ragged IL by any chance
PUN was out OF his sight For two
weeks she did not see OresteS, but
Thcn the third Wednesday came she
Pun on her bonnet with the air OF per
Foh not to he gainsaid.. At-the door Of
ne sources room she paused 70 say:
IH Won want anything. father. ring
your bell it's right there at hand-and
fally viii come in. you'd better ring
\ every little while, else she'll go TO |
peep. | hate going. but there is no
pther way not unless you"
she stopDed tentatively. her eyes