The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-12

ation of big man for little one. He
 an't got no call ter, I guess. He's dread
 full poplar over ter tn meader. Yer
 cousin Emily Speary was tellin' me only
 yesterday he he'd 'movin ways
 "He don't move me! It's not any real
 man. Ambrose; it's just one I've made
 up in my head" q
 Now it was the man who looked away
 q know, dear" his voice was very low,
 ''hes more educated than I be, an he's
 got prettier ways O doin' things. an he
 ain't so kind O. stodgy about sayin out
 his feelin's. I ain't no ways worthy O
 we; I don't need to be told thet. But he
 can't love ye no more'n 1 do, honey, an
 always will, an he can't try no harder
 to be good ter ye, an ter take care O
 ye an make ye happy" His voice failed
 at the end.
 Saloam's heart gave a great beat. Her lover had never before humbled himself
 to her An impulse was upon her to
 throw her arms about -im and comfort
 him "If I ever do-care, who do you you
 think it will be?" She was gay to lift
 the strain. "It will be because you un-
 derstand thingo.%
 Things means you-dont it. dear?
 You don't think me queer?"
 The mans eyes held humor as well as
 tender ness "I thrk we're pretty nice.
 s'You're not queer Ambrose; I'd nate
 va
 time. and You plant the kind of things
 you ought. and your farms thriving, aud
 all the men come to you for advice. and
 everyone respects you. Oh, you're Just
 like smart. good folks everywhere help
 lessly struggling with definitions, put was born different from other folks,
 guess. Mother says I'm queer every day she lives, and Grandmother Judd ana
 Emily, and oh, everyone! sometimes I saclx-or-wicked."
 "How oueer?'' He was watching the color surge and ebb in her soft checks her big eyes burn and glow.
 "As if you didn't know! l don't want to do things other folks do, and think ,lp things they'd never want to-. And sometimes I'm just so glad I'm alive want to run and sing, and maybe there ain't the smallest reason for it, 'cept just the suns come out bright or Ive found whole bed O wind flowers; and> then I'll be down and discouraged, and no sense for that, either. I try to make folks un- derstand, but, my country! I can't un- derstand myself, and 1t ain't any wonder they don't"
 As she talked she laid hold of his arm with her eager little hands. Ambrose slipped them quietly down into his. She | did not notice.
 'I ain't goin' ter dispute your mother
 nor the Elder, neither. Yere ez queer ez Winlxin' Abel or Sammie Bramble over ter tn poor farm. but ye please me clear trough
 Saloam laughed sweetly. Then her eyes clouded What was he really, this big, good -humored man she had known all her life whose eyes seemed always full or some secret joke and whose easy going voice could utter such sharp truths? She , was happy whenever she was with him. with rest and security like that the woods gave her. That alluring, mysterl- ous, terrifying joy-sorrow that made lie for her seem, when she was with him, just simple and sweet Had he found some great explanation of 1t beyond her , ken or was he content because he only slipped over its surface? When the stress 1 came upon her. would he be kind and helpless, or would he understand? of I could just once be sure--' sne I panted, leaning toward him.
 "Saloam, Sal-oam! Ye come right in; l yell git yer death O danger out en them | night fogs. Don't yer peer round fer no greens an berries tsr-night- fur there