The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-10-09

SuO o6Shlb ShSShAA5 LIN NSSSeA
"Can l give you a lift?'
I agreed that he could, and we
drove together. Father William met
us by the gate. In n hand he ex-
hibited a rat that he had just taken
from the spring trap at the gardens
Iettuces. He responded to the agents
greeting, but ignored mine, for I am
in disgrace.
"I've come about the repairs" said
the agent, cheerfully.
AN well We might" replied Faith
<er William, in acid and ~reproachful
tone. "Sixty-fve years I've lived
'ere an pide me rent regular, an tn
place tumbling' to pieces. I'm shamed
ON ye, an no mistake. Do We make
tn ole place fit FIR a man what's in
years fore we gifts another winter,
FIR 1 feels tn cold, an that's a fact"
"WeI," said the agent, cheerfully,
we'll soon make things right for you,
anyway" He took out his notebook.
":To begin with, we'd better have the
thatch stripped and put tiles or states
,on," he suggested. IT'S very ragged
up there"
do ye leave tn patch to bide
where it be-" interrupted Father
William, sharply. "It amt armed
we. as Pm An don't ye come
bringin' y'r nasty old tiles nor states
either, for l never couldn't >abide
they. Tn roof1l do, an it's me what
lives under it, an pies for ut
regular"
Certainly, if you wish" replied
the agent, crossing through the note
in his book. II don't want to ar
range for anything o don't want
done. May I eeme inside? The pony
will stand quiet"
do ye both come in" said Father
William, %depositing the rat on the
top of the close-clipped hedge, that
:all who passed down the road might
9 it. Il was jest a-comin' from
pickin' up tn greet ole rat out O. me
trap, an it's very many on 'em I
catches, an nobody can't deny ut.
There's folks" he continued, after
a brief pause to recover wind,
there's folks what says, DO ye don't
Leave they traps bout y'r garden,
Father William, COS they catches me
dogs AMI say to SIGH as they,
TITS the fault O. y'r dogs, or y'r greet
I. fool of a boy what don't look after
'em; it amt no concern O. mine, an
To- Ttl1 - mn fra-r r@ Lave nc fharnfc q
nasty greet rat left.'"
The old gentleman's fierce little
eyes were bent against me, but I
made no sign.
"Come in, both O. ye," he repeated.
"f amt got nothin' to 'ide an nothin'
to be shamed on. I'm open most all
tn time to rightfor'ard men, an
wimmin, too, though 1 don't take,
iNmuch count O. they, an that's the
truth. Ye can look into me parlor
an into me garden an see me wege-
bies CROWN, anne as these lettuces
what I've just cut and fine 'uns they
be. There amt no concealment bout
me, an never was"
We entered the cottage. Certain
( ly the ceiling was black, and Father
William had put hooks in every raft
81 and had hung household treas
ures from them. Here was the frame
of a butterfy-net, there was a piece
OF waterproof, and I saw scissors and
gardening tools and a crook that
looked twin brother to the one that
brought the old mans shepherding
staff to an end. The wall was deco
rated with pictures from various il
Illustrated journals presented by me
from time to time and pasted over the
paper.
Ceiling whitewashed?" queried
the agent.
"'Taint likely" snapped the right
forward man. II amt goin' to ave
all me things covered wi lime-wash.
I couldn't neve abide that, n 1 amt
goin' TO-"
."Walls repapered?" said my COM
panion, successfully hiding a smile
from the lawful tenant.
eye shan't touch they walls, an
don't We try ut" said Father William.
Like to scrape away all me pictures,
I doubt, an gle me suthin' what amt
as pretty. I'm s'prised on ye. Do We
leave me walls alone, an see to tn
t'cther things what wants doin' up"
"Well, let's so into the scullery
and upstairs" suggested the agent;
but before he could move more than
q couple of steps in that direction
Father Williams hand anticipated
him with surprising energy and
barred the way.
Don't We try ut" he cried; and
went on, with outsretched hand and
flashing eyes, DO We keep where ye
are, or go outside fore I makes ye."
He spared for wind.
Sixty years an more I've lived
'ere,' he cried, AN pide me rent, an
we'll We knows ut. An now ye come
ERE an want to walk all DER me
'ouse, same as it blongs to We, an go
into me scnllery an up into me bed
room, an that we shan't. Do We go
y'r ways now, fore I takes me crook
stick to We. There amt been no
body in me bedroom this forty years,
an shan't be, nor in me scullery nei-
ther."
"But, my good fellow, how can l
Sec to repairs if l don't see your
rooms?" cried the agent.
do ye don't call me a good Teller
O. y%ourn," snapped Father William,
"for 1 pies me rent an b'longs to
meself. An don't We asst me to teach
ye y'r business, for I ont do ut; l