The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-02-20

Ill mistress was petulant; mere
was no sunshine In the bright
August day as it appeared to her. To
ward dawn, after she had counted
many millions Of black sheep jumping
backward over a fence, she had fallen
as;eep. Aunt Fanny obeyeo her usual
instructions on this iuckless morning.
It was BeFerly's rule TO be called eY-
ery morning at o'clock. But now
was her attendant TO know that the
graceful young creature, who had kick
ed the counterpane TO the foot Of the
bed and had mauled the pillow out OF
all shape, had slept for less than thirty
minutes9 How was she to know that
the flushed face and frown were born
In TIE course Of a night Of distressing
perplexities?? She knew only that the
sleeping beauty who lay before her
was the fairest creature in all the uni
verse. For some minutes Aunt Fanny
stood off and admired the rich youthful
glory Of the sleeper, propheticaIly re-
Iuctant to disturb her happiness. Then
she obeyed the impulse Of duty and
spoke the summoning words.
seWha-what time is it," demanded
the newcomer from the land Of Nod,
stretching her fine young body with
splendid but discontented yawn.
.sSeben, Miss Bev'ly. VIVA time do
ye' s'pose hit is? Hits d reglah time,
Q, eo'se. Did yo' all have nice sleep.
honeyy and Aunt Fanny went bliss
fully about the business of the hour.
81 didn't sleep a wink, confound 1t,
{ wmbled Beverly, rubbing her eyes
and turning on her back to glare up at
the tapestry above the couch.
aYo' WASH winkin' any when An
fust come into de room, lenme tell
yo," cackled Aunt Fanny, with caus-
lie freedom.
ssee here, now, Aunt Fanny, I'm not
going to stand any lecture from you
this morning. When a fellow hasn't
slept az
aWho's a-lecturin' anybody, Aid lax
ito know? Ah'm jes' tellin' yo' what
yo' was a-doiR when All came into de
5-oom. yo' was a-sleepin' petty dog
gone tight, lemme tell yo'- Is 30 goin'
out fo yo' walk befo' b'eakfus', honey?
Cause if yo' is, yo' all II De obleeged
TO climb out'n dat bald maghty quick
like. Yo baf is ready, Miss BeV'iy
Beverly splashed the water with un-
reasonable ferocity for a few minutes,
trying to enjoy diversion that had
not failed her until this morning.
.sAunt Fanny" she announced after
looking darkly through her window
into the mountains above, IF you
cart brush my hair-ouchLany easier
than this I'll have some one else do
It, that's all. You're regular Old
bear"
= sPo' LIP honey" was the COM
placent bear SAID in repl, without al
tering her methods in the least.
sWell,1 said Beverly threateningly,
with a shake of her head, ''be careful,
that's all. Have you heard the news|
Wha' news, Miss Bev'ly?
4We're going back to Washin'ton."
tThank de Lawd! When?"
eT don't know. I've just this instant
made up my mind. I think We'll start
lets see, this is the 9th Of August,
isn't it? Well, look and see if you
don't know, stupid! The 10Th? My
goodness. Where has the time gone,
anyway? Well, wen start some time
between the 11th and the 18th
"Of dis monf, Miss Bev'ly?"
esNo. September. want you to
look up time table for me today. We
must see about the trains
..Dey's on'y one leayin' heah daily, an
hit goes at 6 in de mo'nin'. One train
day. Ain dat scan'lous:"
.Tm sure, Aunt Fanny, it is their
business. not ours said Beverly Sc
verely.
@P'raps dey mought be runnin' a
exclusion roun' bout September, Miss
Bevly,e speculated Aunt Fanny con-
solingly. "Dey gently has 'em in Sep
tembeh''
~you old goose" cried Beverly in
spite of herself.
Ain yo haDln er Good uIne,
honey"
40, am not
go de Ian sake. All wouldn'
s'picioned hit fo' a minnit- Hits de
gayest place All mos eyeh saw -cept
Wash'ton an Lex'ton an Ficksbu'g u'g."
''Well, you don't know everything
said Beverly GROSSLY. Il wish you'd
take that red feather out Of my hat
right away"
ashan Al frow hit away, Miss
Bev'lyw
swell, no. You needn't do that"
said Beverly. "Put it on my dressing
table. I'll attend to it."
"Wha's become o de gemman at wo'
hit in de fust place? All aim seen him
fo' two-three days
-7sTm sure don't know. Hes proba-
bly, asleep. That class Of people never
lose sleep over anything"
"'Es er pow'ful good lookin' pus-
son. suggested Aunt Fanny. Beverly's