The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1906-09-26
A GOOD CHANGE.
BY Martha observation-disclosures.

BY Martina MctuuocM- w
BILLY Batsonl That settles II. /
don't hold with circuses no mighty
much anyway--not unless there's ami
mals--and children that oughter
know about EN-. But you might a.
went to this'n in the wagon, along
with Uncle Jim's folks If that would
a-done you. Go with Batson, in
deed! Remember miss, your grand
father went to the Legislature" Mrs.
Hicks said, witheringly to her daughter
Amelia, who pouted and answered sui
lenly:
Il wish he'd died hrst--then you
couldn't be always throwing him at
everybody until we're laughing stocks.
And Billy Batson has got the finest
horse and the incest buggy around here
Any philosophy Weldon, even--
would jump at the chance to ride in
it. You'd want me to jump. too, IL 1t
wasn't for that sneaky preacher. l
tell you right now, you needn't try to
make me marry him. I won't do IT..
L won't! ] WON'T
Hadn't you better wait till you're
asked?" Mrs. Hicks asked, with her
finest sarcasm.
Amelia laughed---a laugh not pleas
ant to hear. IT amt a fool--not If l
am your daughter she retorted Il
know that you're plotting-you two
and that you want him for a son-in-law
so you can boss the church. as you've
always bossed things here"
Amelia Hicksl am ashamed OF
you" Mrs. Hicks cried severely, then
with sniffie, but maybe l deserve 1t
1 took your father rather'n listen to my
missionary call And this is what l get
for it-a thankless tooth sharpen'r a
serpent's, child"
Amelia giggled. That's about the
way you commonly get things" she
said irreverently. Now you listen TO
me, Ma-you hate old maids-so do
/ land Billy Batson is the best chance
I'll ever have in my life. He's goin
to court me this trip--I know it--neveI
mind how. If you don't let me go, he'll
court somebody else
Lord grant itT Mrs Hicks broke
| in, fervently. Amelia frowned. You
think then I might put up with your
Brother Gilman" she said bitterly.
but ia die--Fd even be an old maid
frst--the sourest. ugliest that ever
turned sweet milk"
"Oh. do hush?' Mrs. Hicks inter
rupted, fretfully, but turning away
her head to hide a pickering crafty
smile. 1T nothin' will do you but to
sink to the level of the Batson's, why
/ suppose must let you. But you
must let me talk to Billy before you
start"
l. w nat IOT <AihCli1 SASENSN
"For no great matter, she SAID
.'You may hear every word I say. Does
that satisfy your
Looks like 1t ought to- Amelia
said ungraciouslyJ But understand
you amt going to mention GillamF
"of course not. Pearls amt to be
cast before swines," Mrs. Hicks salo
with a toss of her head
Amelia eyed her distrustfully for a
long minute, then walked of, NUT
tering to herself: eff only she sticks
to her word, she can't do any great
harm"
Amelia thought she knew her mo-
| thNr, particularly as regarded the
depths of her deceit, but she stared IN
dumb amazement at Billy Batson's re-
eeption. No May morning ever
smiled more engagingly on him than
Mrs. Hicks-she shocks hands with
fervor and asked in her sauvest voice
after the health of mis- family. She
was also hearty In admiration OF his
spanking turnout, and wished MIN
all sorts of a good time-the full
worth of his money in pleasure. Then
she added artlessly that she herselt
| had never seen real circus-a men
agerie of one elephant power was as
near as she had come. A pity! To
| be sure. No-she had no scruples-it
| had Just somehow never quite suited
| her to go when circus day came round.
Somebody had been sick or the crop
| in the grass. Mr. Hicks had gone-men
always went-but that didn't mean
stopping a plough, as would have been
| the case had she insisted-of course
she would have had to have the mules
and rockaway. Now that she was a
widow she had not felt it was just
the thing to do-a circus seemed
somehow to require having man
along Maybe she would go next time
her nephew Freddy Drawne was
growing up so fast.
There Billy said boldly with a
sheepish glance toward Amelia. "Oh.
maybe you'll have a son-in-law--and
If he don't take you--why, ask me
to thrash him for you"
IF you're willing to do that for me,
maybe you won't mind doing some
thing easier, lettin' me go long with
you and Amelia today. It's dreadful
| lonely stayin' at home and watchin' all
the neighborhood go Dy," Mrs. Hicks
said, with a plaintive smile.
Billy gasped. but could not refuse
Amelia stood thunderstruck. She
| turned half about, meaning to say
she would not go, but a glance at her
mothers face stopped her. Her mo-
| ther was counting upon rebellion in
| her daughter-if Billy saw her fly into
"a tantrum he might well be scared
off So she controlled herself and
clamoered up into the buggy, out
wardly smiling but inwardly gritting
her teeth.
The buggy was high ana the seat so