The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-09-17

llttie rolls OF paper. Meanwhile Miss
JOSie's machine clatterad intending
miles of pink calico and domestic. and
her energetic tones stirred the Alders
progeny to something ike Industry. so
that the cabin shone with unwoGted
/ cleanliness as Saturday afternoon
deeDened into twilight
The parson was TO spend the night.
| and Jake had gone to the station to
meet him. Miss Josie was preparing
to go home, having completed all the
| arrangements, even TO laying out the
finery in six little heaps on the bench
that ran along the wall. There were
rolls of light bread and a Jelly cake.
two roasted fowls and some of Miss
Josie's own pies, all destined to do
duty as the funeral baked meats.
Miss Josie started down to the gate,
trailing a torrent of minute inStrrc-
tons to the fOrlorn little group in the
| doorway. Away up the road she
| heard the clatter of hoofs and the rat
tie of the ancient buggy that Jake had
borrowed from the squire. and it was
coming faster than Jake Alders' old
mare mule had ever Travelled that road
before. Jake was leaning over the
dashboard i'll the effort to hurry Old
Mag along. He shouted something
nearer and Miss Josie stood stock
still. "The waters a-comin'! Levee's
broke at Carriers end, Bend Niger
Wool swamps plum full! She'll lie
here by daylight"
Jake tumbled out, and the parson. a
thin. active man, jumped to the ground
and began to unharncss the mule
Miss Josie started down the road in
a run. but Jake yelled after her: Don't
be skeered I'll be down there fore
mOrnin'. You amt got no men folks
| TO be a-naiin' and a-liftin' Them
shiflcSs niggers will be a-loollin' out
for their own fool necks. I'll put your
chickens an things in the loft an
Your stock on my mound an - Put
the dark had swallowed Miss Josie.
Jake was reused from his careless
ease. Other years had left their les
son. Aided by the parson. he drove
his cattle into the field where the old
Indian mound afforded a refuge \
dugout that had done duty as a trough
in front of the cabin was wrenched
from its posts and a pair of paddles
hastily rived out, From under the
cabin Jake dragged out an old bateau
that with a little patching was made
paSSably safe. Then a pile of rough
plankS was transferred to the front
gallery from the corner of the yard
whore Jake had lowed" to build a
crib in readiness for the building of a
false floor should the necessity arise
They piled frewood in every inch OF
I available space. even upon the fiat part
of the roof. shell be in the Barra-
claw by mornin," said Jake as he
toiled in with the last load
The hush Of dawn was in the air
when they ceased their labor The
parson Strengthened up. 1T is the
Sabbath morning. Brother Alders, but
/ truly the ON is in the ditch before Us
Sister Derr needs cur help"
"B'gosh!" Jake slapped his thigh.
If l didn't go and forget all about
/ that woman clear as a whistle. an me
( ''lillNlI 81 l.-- NbllAt On. IiaI>.y4l.
She was waiting for them her prep
aralions all made. She had collected
her cattle into the harnyard. tied the
chickens by the legs ready to be
! transferred to the barn loft, and her
trunk stood locked aud strapped.
How deep YOU reckon it viii COZ
she questioned
Jake scratched his chin. Cant say.
Miss Josie Last water | had TO put
false floor in my house. an they do
say thisll beat that boiler"
Miss Josie collapsed helpleSSly into
the spint bottomcd rocker If I'd the
sense God gave geese I'd stayed back
in them old red hills of Gcorgy stead
Of comm to live in frog pend"
The parson shook his head "Now.
my sister, you're tasking the Almighty
with shortcomings. Every country
has its Drawbacks but the Barraclaw
folks never failed a stranger in trou-
bic yet. Here's Brother AlGers willing
to take care of you and Jake cough
ed and looked at the parson. and the
parSon understood. He went to the
door and stood peering into the bright
ening east
Miss Josie'-Jake twired the rag
ged hat between his fingers and moved
step nearer to the sobbing woman in
the chair-'parson heah has ies' about
put into words what been a-tryin' to
say all this week. I'm a-needin you
terrible bad, me an the chiIlun, an,
though | low ! amt mucn to look at
Mandy was mighty fond of me. an
you know there never was nuthin' |
wouldn't do for Mandy Miss Josie.
this amt no time for a woman TO be
Twin alone with God A'mighty's ragin
floods, comm over her head Can't
you make up your mind to come along
with me?"
The sObs had hushed. but the apron
still sheltered Miss Josie. when the
parsOn turned. Brother Alders, |
would suggest that you send Lem to
the station as soon as he gets back
and telegraph the clerk to issue the
license. It's a little irregular, but |
can make the return next time | go to
Grayson. I'm here now. and it is not
time to stand on ceremony as to the
manner of doing things"