Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-04-04
THE WAY OF
"A WOMAN ~ -
~ Paul lAuKISeI DUNBAR.

- n "
how hard II is to have his suit re-
pulsed time and time again. How
ever the eapricious one may smile
at times, one mo" upsets che mem.
DRY Of many days of smiles.
The structure of Gabe Harris
hopes nad fallen so often that he had
begun TO build il over again listless.
ly and mechanically enough, until
one momentous day, when II seemed
fallen for good.
He had come by, as usual, upon his
cart that evening after work, and
paused, as was his wont. for chat
with his desired one, Anna Maria
Moore. ~ had been hard at work
all day hauling from the clay-pits,
and SO was not thing of beauty as
to clothes. But IL Anna Maria loved
him-and he believed she did-love
was blind. which left him all right in
his own eyes and hers.
Perhaps he was right even thus far,
and all would have gone well had not
the plump, brown beauty of the girl
overcome him as he stood chatting
with her.
The realization Of her charm, OF
her desirableness, swept over him
with a rush OF emotion. Instinctively
he held out his arms TO her. They were
in the front yard, too. "We'n-w'en
you gwine may me, honey? Tell me.
with rush to her. They were in the
front yard, too. "We'n-w'en YOU
gwine may me. honey. Tell me-"
Anna Maria froze at once. She
grew as rigid as the seams in her
newly starehed calico.
"W'y-w'y, what's de mattah, Anna
Maria?" stammered the discounted
Gabe.
"Scuse me. Mistah Halls" said the
lady, with dignity, "but Ise not in de
habit oh bein' spoke to in dat man
nah"
"W'y, what's ] done, Anna Maria?"
"What's you done, sab? What's
you done? Wy you's scandalized me
TO de eyes oh de whole neighbo'-
hood" and the calico swished itself
as well as its stiffness would allow
into the house.
Gabe scratched his head. well,
I'll be dadburned!" he CALCULATED.
just then Uncle Ike, Anna Maria's
father, came up. He was Gabe's
friend and ally, and the young fell
lows bewilderment was not lost upon
him.
whats de mattah, Brothah Gabe?"
be questioned.
"W'y. Unc' Ike, | done axed Anna
Maria TO may, an she say lse insulted
an scandalized de neighbo'hood. Hue
come DATE"
"Tsch, tsch, tsch, Brothah Gabe; you
sholy doesn't know de pherloserphy oh
oomankin'."
II reckon / amt up on dat, Unc' Ike;
seems ain had de spe'ence dat hab fell
to yo' lot"
The present was Uncle Ike's fourth
matrimonial venture, and he was sup
posed to know many things. He went
on: Now, Brothah Gabe. in co'tin' a
CONAN, less'n she's widdah CONAN,
Sey's thee tings you got to do; you
got to satisfy huh soul, you got to
chawm huh yeah, an you got to please
huh eve. 'Tsin't no use dom one ner
tothah less'n you does all-dat is,
say, pervided it amt a widdah lady;
dey bein' easiah to please an mo- un-
nerstannin' laik. Well, you come
hyeah, aftah yo' days wo'k, an you
talk to Anna Maria. She know you
been a-wo'kin, anil max a good per-
WIDER; dat satisfy huh soul"
"Yes, sab; she smile wen / was a.
talkin' to huh. an dat what max me
fu'git myself"
"Uh-huh,' said the old man, waggine
his head sagely and stroking the strag
Cling beard upon his chin, "uh-huh, dat
mean dat you chawm huh yeah; but
hol' on, hor on, dey's one mo- ting
How in de name OBJ common sense yot
Ispec' to please huh eye a-comin' hyeaf
in SIGH toys ez desc? XII, vi, now yor
see"
| Again Gabe had recourse to his sig
nal of perplexity, and woolly head ant
grimy nails came together in half
hearted scratch.
"Unc' Ike, you sholy hab opened my
| eyes" he said, as he went slowly Out
to his cart.
| On the morrow he arrayed himself il
his best, and hitching his mare to {
buggy not yet too riekety to awe som'
of his less prosperous neighbors
started toward the home OF his inamo
rata. Old Suke, accustomed to moth
ing lighter than her cart on work
DAYS. first set her ears doubtfully a
the unaccustomed vacation, and then
seeming to realize that it was really
vacation, gala-day. she tossed hel
head and stepped OFT bravely.
In the heart of Gabe Harris similal
exultation was present. What nov
would check him in his quest of tn,
fair one? He had fulfilled all the re
ouirements laid down by Uncle Ike
and Uncle Ike knew. He had alread.
satisfied her soul; he had done his dut.
as to 'chawmin' huh yeah" now h
went forth potential conqueror TO
the last great feat-the pleasing o