Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-08-08

HN'N' SuM a CilCuSf libuttu DIu-
ella.
1T amt done We no harm so far as
en- see" commented her father crit
ically. II guess you're likely to get
your full growth without seem one"
i've got the egg money" put in
Mrs. Chesney. 81 can let her have
some of that, ST."
I'm gon' T. need that for the mort
gage he explained
Mrs. Chesney sighed. Some of the
women she knew really kept the egg
money. There was fiction to the
effect that she did, also. but Silas us
ually found some excuse for borrow
ing" the money before the sum grew
large. and Martha Chcsncy mcckly
submitted to his demands. She did
want Drucie to SEQ Il circus. though.
Half dollar would not he much.
I'll take her.
Slas wheeled angrily to confront
the last speaker. 1t was all very well
that Jim Peters. his hired man should
worship Drucilla. Silas paid Jim 81
month less than the prevailing wage
ON that very account. To pay her
open court was another ami very diff
fcrcnt matter Silhs had decided that
Drucic was to marry Hank Fcstis.
Hank was a little old (about co.. but
he had n fine farm adjoining the
Chesncy place and the match was an
ideal one from the fathers point Of
view
you won't take her nor YOURSELF"
he snared. II told you had job
for yon. You get every Sunday, don't
yous And | give YOU the Fourth o.
Julv without dock iu,. Npt''
"lm going To the circus" said Jim
coldly. III Drucic wants to come, she
can come with me I'll be glad 10
have her.
"You amt neither of We goin'," said
Silas as he stumpcd out of the ktch-
on. That settled it so far as lie was
concerned. He did not even trouble
TO stay home on circus day To see that
his commands were carried out He
was accustomed To being obeyed.
That there could he defiance of his
wishes was n thing not to be dreamed
OF. He had business at Center Mills
and he drove off early in the morning
with final negative to the fearful
Drucilla's appeals.
Jim watched him drive off, and
when. at last. the gray team disap-
pearcd over the hill. he came toward
the house. Martha Chcsncy was bust
ling about the Kitchen while Drucila
sat on the Lack porch pairing the pc.
tatocs.
Going to the circus?" Jim asked
cheerfully. cts about time we get
ready"
81 can't" Drucilla's face turned
grave at the suggestion of disobcdi-
cncc to the paternal command.
Look here, said Jim calmly drop
ping down upon the lowest step. Its
about time that something was done
to show your pa you've got some
rights. bet ola man Fcstis won't
take you to the circus when you mar
ry him."
who said she was goin to marry
Hank Fcstis?" demanded Mrs. Chcs-
ncy. coming to the door.
"Evorybody-and Mir. Chcsncy," was
the scornful answer.
she's not going to marry man
old enough to be her grandfather, even
II he's got Il farm MS big as this
whole county, declared Martha
'.lnst what say declared Jim am
iably we could so to the circus as
a sort of honeymoon"
Dtuclc ClaSpcu ncr hanuS. Long
ago she had confessed her love for
Jim, even while she told him her
father would never give his consent.
This suggestion of clopcmcnt fairly
took her breath away. A circus; her
first circus, and marriage on the
same day! 1t seemed too wonderful
to be true, yet Jim was talking about
1t MS calmly as though being married
were an everyday affair.
"Why not?" he demanded "It'n
take an hour to drive to town We
can sec the street parade to get mar
ried and see the afternoon show. Old
Martha will come over from the poor
farm to look after the house"
At tho end it was even as he had
planned. Silas Chosnoy came home
to find the house deserted save for
old Martha sitting on the porch. She
was very deaf and only by dint OF
much shouting did he learn that his
folks had gone off with Peters to the
circus.
He made n solitary meal and then
went out on the front stoop to await
the return of the runaways. Jim had