The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-08-21

sltlOH jest az soon eZ yOu-ali see ner.
The two men watched the numbering
Plough rounding the bend OF the ridge
1t was hard steering and hard pulling,
but HI was an expert pIoughman, and
jim in the forward yoke and Virgy and
Merdy in the yokes behind her made
brave Roadway along the stony, tilted
field. AS they came in uIl sight Of the
apple tree they stopped, presenting a
spectacle that filled Len Strader, horse
dealer and lover, with bewilderment.
For there, under the three yokes were
Virgy, Merdy, and Jin-not the three
lie had expected to see-not the famous
mares for whose purchase he had an
unlimited commission but the Virgy,
Merdy and jim who comprised the "wo-
men-folkses'' of Squire Yokun's house
hold
The picture was striking one. Virgy.
tall and slender. barefooted. clad in a
loose, white calico, chatting and laugh
ing with her sister who stood next to
her, leaned upon the old yoke against
which sha had been pushing in the
rough journey along the deepening fur
row. She was breathless after her ex-
ertions, and a hot flush kindled and
wavered beneath her smooth brown
skin. Al few locks Of curling yellow
hair that danced in the breeze strayed
from under her dropping hood. The
spirit of the warm spring morning,
fro orc 1af with fIsa inonpca IF ,1rt,1rvod
earth and blossoming hillside, found
its aVatar in this youthful figure bend
ing at the plough.
No such idyl pervaded jim, the girls
mother. That strenuous dame, with
head and shoulders thrust through the
forward yoke of the plough, viewed her
recumbent lord and master with unre-
strained indignation and found vent in
no uncertain manner.
"Hyah, yo' Squar lokum," she called,
what you-all a-doin thar. Pears lake
they mout be wuk fer man en- this
hyah fahm somewhat Quit yo' trifin'
an yarnin', an feed tn hawgs an fotch
en- tn coal fun tn mountings. | de-
clar' ter goodness, you-all 'spect yo'
women-folkses ter do all tn wuk Git
off'n thar, squar Yokum, tole yo'."
The Squire arose with great solemn
ity, not deigning a reply to this attack
from the female g. the plough. Strader
was also on his feet, irresolute whether
to take refuge in flight or to yield to
the destinations of the girl before him
and stay indefinitely. Then he remem-
bered with horror that he had made an
offer to the Squire for his daughter in
the mercenary spirit of horse dealer.
Il didn't understand, Squire Yokum,'
he began, when made you that prop
osition. thought"
"You-all pears mighty conf1uscated!
Yo' mean ter say at you-all dom posi-
ton no mo- fer ma Virgy? Ve'y well,
sub. Hit KANT mex no diffunce ter
we-all."
you misunderstood me altogether,
Squire" interrupted Len eagerly. Il
apologize with all my heart for the
plumbers have been making"
Polergize? Look-a-hyah, sub; I'll
you-all 'splain wha' fo you-all kyars
ter 'polergize ter we-all? Yo' doan' wan
take ma daughter ter lexington"
ut isn't that, Squire, it isn't that"
answered Len, getting more hopelessly
entangled. Il would gladly take Virgy
to Lexington-or to the ends of the
earth-if she would go with me- But
the idea of offering seven thousand dol
lars"
"You-all think at the gyarl ez no
with seven thousand dollars?"
She's worth million to me,
Squirrel" said the young man, vehe-
mently. But the fact is, when made
you that offer | thought was bar
gaining for Virgy, your white mare"
It was the Squire's turn to be per-
picked, as he realized the series Of
misconceptions in which he and Strader
had been involved; and when he
thought of the danger that had men
aced his white mare his eyes rolled and
he scarcely trusted himself to talk
further with Len, fearing that the lat
ter might plan some new strategy to
deplete his beloved stables.
No, sub! No, Subj" he declared
with feeling. "You-aIl KANT buy that
thar white mar fer no mount O.
money You-all kin take tn gyarl ter
Lexington fer yo wife 'ithout payin'
ahry cent ter me. But amt givin' nor
sellin' tn mar ter no man. No, Subj!
Thet are shore!"
The Squire's voice was sufficiently
raised to include Hi and the three ''wo-
men-folkses" at the plough as wit
ness to this final decision. 1t was try
ing moment for Len, but he rose to the
occasion
DO you really mean 1t, Squire?" he