Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-03-22
AND FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH %. 1907.
"A Good
Change
BY Martha McCulloch- Williams
Copyright, 1905, BY Ruby Douglas

"Billy Batson That settles 1t. l
don't hold with circuses no mighty
much anyway-not unless there's ami
mails and children that oughter know
about 'em. But you might "a went to
thisn In the wagon along with Uncle
Jim's folks, II that would "a done you.
Go with a Batson, indeed! Remember,
miss, your grandfather went to the
legislaturer' Mrs. Hicks said wither-
ingly to her daughter Amelia, who
puuteu ana answered suileniy:
II wish he'd died first. Then you
couldn't be always throwing him at
everybody until we're laughingstocks.
And Billy Batson has got the finest
horse and the incest buggy around
here. Any girl-Sophy Weldon even
would jump at the chance to ride in it.
You'd want me to jump, too, II 1t
wasn't for that sneaky preacher. |
tell you right now you needn't try to
make me marry him. won't do 1t! l
won'tI won'tp'
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 II amt fool-not If l
am your daughter" she retorted. II
know what 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 Hicks! l am ashamed of
you'll" Mrs. Hicks cried severely, then,
with sniffie: But maybe l deserve
1t. took your father rather N listen to
my missionary call. And this is what
get for it-a thankless tooth
sharper n 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-4so do I
and Billy Batson Is the best chance
I'll ever have In my life. He's going
to court me this trip-I know it-neyer
mind how. If you don't let me go. he'll
court somebody else"
Lord grant itl' Mrs. Hicks broke In
fervently. Amelia frowned you
think, then, might put up with your
Brother Gllam," she said bitterly.
But I'd dle-rd even be an old maid
first, the sourest, ugliest that ever
turned sweet milk"
''Oh, do hush" Mrs. Hick interrupt
ed fretfully, but turning away her
head to hide Pickering crafty smile.
"If nothin' will do you but to sink to
the level of the Batsons. why, 1 sup
pose, must let you. But you must let
me talk to Billy before you start"
what forW Amelia asked suspi-
ciously Her mother laughed sourly.
For no great matter" she said.
you may hear every word l say.
Does that satisfy you"
Looks like 1t ought to-" Amelia said
ungraclously. But, understand, you
aln't going to mention GillamW
"Of course not. Pearls amt to be
cast before swlnes," Mrs. Hicks said,
with toss of her head.
Amelia eyed her dlstrustfully for q
long minute, then walked off, mutter-
ing to herself "If only she sticks to
her word, she can't do any great
harm"
Amelia thought she knew her moth
err particularly as regarded the depths
Of her deceit, but she stared In dumb
amaZement at Billy BatsOn's reception.
No May morning ever smiled more en-
gagingly on him than Mrs. Hicks. She
shook hands with fervor and asked in
her suavest voice after the health Of
his family. She was also hearty In ad-
miration Of his spanking turnout and
wished him all sorts of good time
the full worth OF his money In pleas
ure. Then she added artlessly that she
herself had never seen a real circus. A
menagerle of one elephant power was
be sure! No. she had no scruples. 1t
just somehow never quite suited for
her to go when circus day came round.
Somebody had been sick or there was
work to do. Mr.. Hicks had gone-men
always went-but that didn't mean
stopping a pillow, 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
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 tlme--her nephew
Freddy Drawne was growing up so
fast
Then Billy said boldly, with a sheep
ish glance toward Amelia, "Oh, maybe
you'll have son-ln-law, and IL he
don't take you, why, ask me to thrash
him for you"
EFF you're willin' to do that for me,
maybe you won't mind dom some
thin easler-lettin' me go long with
you and Amelia today. It's dreadful
lonely stayln' at home and watchin'
all the neighborhood go by" Mrs.
Hicks said, with a plaintiye smile.
Billy gasped, but could not refuse.
Amelia stood thunderstruck. She
turned half about. meaning to say she
would not go, but glance at her
mothers face stopped her. Her mother
was counting upon rebellion In her
daughter. II Billy saw her fly into a
tantrum he might well be scared off.
30 she controlled herself and Chamber
ed up into the buggy, outwardly smil-
ing. but inwardly gritting her teeth.
The buggy was high and the seat 80
narrow 1t barely held two pefDoHst Bill
ly had to kneel upon the floor steady-
ing himself with the reins az best he
might. 1t was more than aggraVatiug
He had the fastest horse on the road
and had counted on giving dust to ov-
erythlng else there, no less than ON
having the nreffiaaf faca In fha county