The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-09-27
Hustling
Zebediah.
ey LUCY STEWART.
sy LUCY STEWART.


| shis thing another day!'
"Shoo. ma. how you talkv'
"And you've got to help me-"
The cows had been MIXED, the hogs
fed, and Jabez Strong. farmer. had
taken his seat beside his wife on the
veranda. He didn't ask what II was
she would not stand, for the matter
had been the subject Of numerous con-
versations before. He had always as
sumed neutral position and argued
that things would come out all right
IL left alone, but now he realized that
crisis had arrived.
EFF she had a mother 1t would be
different" continued the good wife as
she famed away the mosquitoes with
folded paper. "but she hasn't one.
She's only got father, and he's the
biggest old poke in six counties. Jest
the last thing Melvina Williams said to
me on her dying bed was to be moth
er to Emeline. and now I'm going to
be or know the reason why. I'm going
to call her over here tomorrow for a
talk. and I'm going to have talk with
Zebediah. 1t hain't right and you
can't make it right"
"It allus makes things wuss to mix
in" answered her husband after a
minute.
at might If EmelIne had a mother,
but she hain't got. I've let II go on
and on. thinking mebbe hadn't better
say nothing but shan't lot ii so an
other day. may want you to help
me. II do. you've got to pitch right
In"
Across the highway from Farmer
| StronS's was the farmhouse Of Farmer
Williams. The two families had been
neighbors for fifteen years. Farmer
Williams was good man, but il was
also true that lie was poke" That
Is. he worked from morning till night.
and then after reading his county pa
per for half al hour he wound up the
clock end went 10 bed. When his wife
had died. she left daughter Emeiine
eighteen years old. That was two
| years before the opening Of this story
Just about taat tili.e Zebediah Hender.
son had been tlhea on as hired man
Zeb was twenty three years old and
well thought Of. hut he was slow and
conservative by nature.
Some hired men would have fallen
In love with Emeline inside of a week,
for she was a bright, attractive coun.
try maiden. but Zeb waited three
months. II came to be a case Of love
on both sides. and three months later
he proposed and was accepted. II
stopped short at that, so far as Zeh
was concerned. He meant 10 marry
some day. but that day was indefinite
Farmer Williams came TO know OF the
/ engagement. but he had no opinion to
express He went on with his plowing
and eating boiled dinners and left mat
tiers TO fate.
II was this state Of affairs that had
provoked the indignation OF Mrs
Strong. She didn't think II right or
the part OF Zebediah TO keep Eneline
"on the hooks" rs she expressed L.
While all other young men were driv'
en- away by knowledge Of the engage
ment. ZebedIah continued TO poke
around as II he had fifty years TO gel
married In. On one or two occasions
when he had come over 10 borrow q
hoe or sit on the veranda and discuss
crops with her husband. she had spok
en- her m!ud pretty plainly. She had
I L. H.. - %
who were looking about for wives aud
that there were more windmill and
wirp fence men coming along than
she could shake n stick ut. but Zcbe
dIah was uumove,l. She had made
Emclinc owu up 10 the engagement
and she hal advised her not to make 4
long engagement 0f II. hut when the
! girl Ilush; ,ly asked her what she
could do Mrs. Strong had no plan al
h2nd and didn't know where she was
TO get one.
FORTUNE f1yOrs the cOnspirntor Us
we'll as ,hc brave Two ar three day
after hrr talk With her husband on the
veranda Mrs. Strong's brother came OF
Hst#& i4hi+t +lstttbiSs lAt ~ as u Johid5
hus;llrc yolng man. II l3c hadn't hat
a sweetheart hack home he wOul1
have fallcu In love with EmclIne vii
lsar,s. II was while he was rraIsing
her that Mrs. Strong got hrr plan. Il
was a. simple as sliding down cellar
don@. SIZE crDwvi and Eigglcd over Il
for half 40 hour and was still Growing
aud gl@gi1rs when the girl from ncros,
the road came ovcr 10 borrow draw
Ing Of tea. Mrs. Strong brought on
the tea aul then motloned her prett!
uc.ghhor 70 take a chair and hogan:
"Eiucilue Williams. you have M
mother"
"Nof"
"Your mother asked ire 10 be Z
mother To you after she was gone"
II knew II. aud you've been awfu
gooi to me"
"Emcllnc. us n dreadful thing FOL
a girl To 10 In love and have no moth
or and an old poke Of a father. aud
can't stand Il any longer. rye got &
10 your mother and advise with you"
"T,ut father II kind and good. ant
Zcb ISIS
"2cb II what? Hecn engaged for
scar and half. and he hain't askct
you 20 set tho day yet. lie may 81
another year aud half. lie may e