The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-11-04

tie man. "I came from down South
| an we don't think much of stoves
there. Not fer bein' sociable. You've
got to see the flames to be real friend
ly."
81 am going to make you a cup OF
tea" Miss Frazier said lutteringly,
and when it was ready she brought
it in on a dainty tray, lanked by q
half dozen stale crackers. Il wish
had something nicer to Offer she
said. but it is so hard to get things
The little man smiled, and as lie
took in the details of the poor room,
some knowledge of her plight seemed
to come to him. and he found a way
to help her. ,
81 bet you don't know what good
things you kin cook over a fireplace
he said eagerly.
81 never hear o. such a thing she
said. What could I COOKE"
"Well. Brunswick stew is fine
it's got squirrels and corn and onions
and tomatoes-you JUS let me show
you" :.
But + cant get those things"
her face famed.
"Of course you can't-'taint to be
expected that a woman kin kill a
squirrel. But I'm goin' hunting to-
morrow-and I'll bring the thing
He left her later, and when he had
gone Miss Frazier stood for a long
time locking into the glowing Goals.
"Oh, pussy cat. pussy cat she SAID
when at last the two of them were
curled up for the night, The uses
dreadful grammar, but he is the kind
est man I have ever known
The little man came the next day
and made the stew, and all that af-
ternoon the savory food simmered
and dubbed, and the black cat
watched it with eager eyes. Miss
Frazier in her best blue gown set
the table for two, fitting from one
room to the other with all the gayety
of a young girl.
The little mans table manners
proved to be much better than his
grammar, and it was at the end OF
the feast that he told Miss Frazier
the story of his life, and as he talked
his hostess weighed his dignity, his
m%anliness, against his defects, and
found grammar losing its relative i'm
p~ortance.
He came often after that, and the
black cat learned to know his foot
steps, and to meet him at the door.
and to curl up on his knee as he sat
in front of the fireplace, while the
two good friends basked and chatted
in the golden glow.
And then came the beginning of
the new quarter and with it Miss Fra
zier's remittance.
"And next week I must CO." she
told the little man when he came that
evening. He looked at her calmly.
"You amt goin'," he said.
Miss Frazier, thrilling at his mas
terfulness, asked family, "why not?'
because I can't git along without
you" said he; II can't Annabel."
How did you know nv first
name?" Miss Frazier demanded. e
81 seen it in n Of your books"
he said, "an it's a pretty name"
Then he reached out and took her
hands in his. You're such a lonely
little thing" he said, IAN I jes' can't
live without you. I think it's settin'
around this hearthstone that gave
me the feeling that I wanted to mar
ry you. And you'll never wait for
nothin', honey, not so long as I kin
give it."
With a little impulsive movement,
she slipped on her knees beside his
chair and hid her face against the
roughness of his coat. 1--WE been so
lonely all my life," she sobbed.
There, there, honey" he whis-
pered, with his kindly hand against
her cheek, you amt goin' to be
lonesome any MORE" and with that
vista OF rest and peace and happiness,
poor, tired Miss Frazier vas content.
philadelphia Bulletin.