The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-08-22

nam I you ldu lllS SludlipoA iHeSt' :
No" said I, Indignantly
"Oh, you hain't? I seed the sides
of yer face and Yer upper lip was
kinder broke out and dingy."
Broke out, indeed! and my mus
tache as respectable size as any
one could expect from three months
nursing. And only yesterday Ara
minta Jones had said it was divine,
and Just as "scratchy" as need be.
l was angry, but glance at the
sweet face of Bessie made me re-
strain my temper. What could I not
bear for her sake?
Il used to krow pretty near all
your folks" said old Blake, "and
there's heap of 'enl should like to
as: about if could only get my wits
to work. There was your Uncle
Joshua-you don't remember him, l
guess; he died afore your time
Il never had an Uncle Joshua y
said I.
Don't contradict me, my boy,
said he, testify. II guess I know.
'Tain't likely they ever told you any
thing about him. He was put in
the state prison for stealing sheep
or was it a pig?"
"Now, father" said the old lady,
"don't you so for to harrering up the
boys feelings. He can't help what
his uncle did,
"I hain't a harrering," said old
Blake, Grossly. You mind your own
bizness, Martha
And while the old people were dis
putting as to the real meaning of the
word "harrerin," I improved the
chance which offered, and kissed Bes-
sic.
Before this fact was accomplished,
a tall, red-whiskered man strobe into
the room, and, for an instant, stood
glaring at me like wild beast. Then
he dashed toward me, seized me by
the collar and planted his foot at
, that part of my body most convenient
to kick, and landed me at the other
side of the room.
Take that, you scoundrel!" he re-
marked, impressively; but I could
not oblige him. 1 had already taken
it.
rose to my fee; and prepared to
strike out.
What do you mean, sir?" de-
manded I, before striking.
What do you mean, sir?' de-
manded he. What do you mean by
kissing my wife,"
Your wife! Jupiter Jorum!'
cried I. Bessie Blake your wife,
BESSIE Blake?" said he. "Who
in thunder is Bessie Blake?"
Don't be profane, my son." said
old Mrs. Blake. "Scripter is agin it. ="
Are you not Bessie Blake?" said
| I, turning to the Venus.
"No," said she; "my name is Annie
Hall"
WELL" said I. "this is pretty
kettle of fish. Who are you, sir?"
to the -whiskered man.
II am Robert Hall, at your service
Mr.. Blake's step-son."
isn't this Mr.. Moses Blake's
house,"
"No; my name is jeremiah" said
old Blake.
And was going to Moses
Blake's," said 1.
why in the deuce didn't you go
there, them" cried Mr.. Hall.
Don't swear, Robert" expostu-
lated Mrs. Blake.
"How was 1 to tell one house from
another in this abominable village"
cried I, Indignantly, where every
house is just like every other one.'
my house cost twice as much as
Moses Blake's," said Mr.. Blake.
"Ain't your name Jeremiah?"
asked Mrs Blake.
mercy Forbid" said 7.
"Then," said she, Il guess things
is kinder mixed up. We are expect
ing our nephew, jeremiah Muggins,
for to pay us visit. He writ some
time ago to say he'd come. We hain't
seen him sence he was child, and
naterly we took you for him. And
the fact of it is you've got into the
wrong house"
I saw how It was, apologized, OBJ
tanned definite directions as to the
locality of Mr. Moses Blake's house,
and departed.
The less I say of my visit there
the better. Bessie weighed a couple
of hundred, to say the least, and was
red and healthy as a washerwoman.
4 fine girl, no doubt, but not to my
taste.
"recuperated" speedily, went
home and married Araminta Jones.
Good Literature.