The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-06-20
A Sociological
Exhibit.
BY MARTHA
M'CULLOCH- WILLIAMS.

MOTIFS nose, understand, was more
than feature-ratheF hall mark Of
sorts throughout Rabun county. Who
ever owned it was held bound not only
TO follow it, but to keep it going In the
social lines marked out by Great at-grand-
father Norris, gentleman whose spir-
1t had been as hign as his nose.
She was not high spirited, but In
stead meek and lowly in mind, as be-
came her very moderate fortune. Her
badly. At least the family thought SO
and had never scrupled to say that
poor Billy Clayton never did but one
sensible thing-namely, dying before
he had quite wasted his wife's dowry.
She had brought him land and money
and the land remained, only little
farm, to be sure, but big enough 10
maintain the widow and her child.
1t would take managing, of course.
but the widow Clayton, she that was
Anne Morris, was born manager.
That was exact truth. In proof take
cen she had been fairly educated, kept
always in wholesome comfort and had
had all along clothes quite as good as
any of her richer cousins. Moreover.
the house was trim and trig and the
small farm shipshape-ln much bet
ter condition than the ShiftleSs master
had left it.
What wonder then that Cousin Anne,
who never whined or asked for any
thing-advice least Of all-was well
liked and wholly respected throughout
the whole family connection.
What wonder either that Cousin
Maria Dalton. also born Morris. who
having no children, was chronic join
or and daughter of whatever came
along, took violent fancy to ,Iosefa.
Maria Dalton was mighty proud of the
Morris blood and dotted especially upon
great grandfather. She had copy of
his portrait over the mantel in her front
parlOr and had cOaXed Lemuel Morris,
his eldest grandson, into giving her his
commission in the Continental army,
hung up beside the portrait. Inevitably
the next thing was to entertain her
fellow daughters upon the occasion
when state chapters foregather, and
that meant having Cousin Anne and
.JOsefa help in the entertaining, not
withstanding neither of them belonged
to so much as one chapter There were
reasons, Mrs. Dalton was careful to eX-
plain to the vlsitors-COusin Anne was
the greatest home body and JOsefa,
staying with her dutifully, had no need
of belonging
"Yes; Josefa is going to be my heir
esS believe so in blood" she contid
ed to the lady president. That person
pricked up her ears. Mrs. Dalton was
rich, and the lady president had son.
a lawyer just starting to practice In
the county town. He needed wife
badly, especially one with expectations
and family influence, and he was right
on the spot, having come along with the
chapter not only by way Of escort, but
as speaker of the occasion. He had
seized upon it as chance to show his
enthusiasm for local history. His moth
er, Mrs. Melvin, was inclined to regard
the fact in the light Of a special prOvi-
dence. She managed to speak with
him quietly, little apart before he
read his paper and was delighted to
hear him throw into the reading solid
chunks of enthusiasm for Rabun COun-
ty and its glorious past
Before the assembly broke he had
met Josefa and talked with her good |
half hour Next week he called on her,
and the next, and the next Mrs. Dal- |
ton was early taken into his confidence |
and of course was his warm advocate |
"YeS, as you say, JOsefa is a Morris, |
out and out, all but the name, and Well |
change that" she said, smiling at him |
And, remember, you are going into |
politics. / want you to be senator at |
the very least. No matter how high |
you go, Josefa II do you credit She's |
going to make the finest sort of woman,
if she is so quiet. But don't you fool
yourself thinking you can get her just |
for asking. That is not the way with
girls of the Morris blood. Court her
like a man, and don't take NO II she
gives it to you the first time"
Jack Melvin listened, yearning to grit
his teeth. He was not the least bit in
love. JoSefa was not pretty for all she
was so fresh and wholesome, and he
craved beauty above everything. Be
sides, there was Amelia Ware, but he
dared not let himself think of her.
Since they could not marry he meant
to marry this IOsefa. 1t made him
laugh only to think Of her saying mo"
to him. How could she when she knew
nobody else save few awkward coun-
try fellows?
Imagine his state Of mind when JO-
sefa did say "No" the first time, the
second, the third, and each time more
and more as though she meant it. Aft
er the third rejection he went to Mrs.
Dalton. She laughed laugh of in
dulgent pride when he had finished, but
said emphatically: Il don't blame Josey
not a bit. You've got Ithe name Of
being dreadful fiirt Whether or no
you deserve it am not saying. Other
folks are saying Judge Wares girl is
crying her eyes out about you, and she
isn't the only one but that doesn't mat
ter. I'll so over and stay all night
with Cousin Anne tomorrow. You come
out the next day think you'll find
things changed bit"
Woman. dispOses; man proposes;
sometimes fate intervenes. Josefa
stood with fate in this particular wres-
tie. She said mo" again and in way
that told Jack Melvin at least the
game was up. But Mrs. Dalton held on
stoutly to her plan. Cousin Anne had
fallen In with 1t ardently. For all her