The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-01-10

the earth. 1t was a fine paintin' all
right an ye corld see it a mile. An
standin' in front of that there sign
was Emeline's cows. all eight Of EN-,
gain at that bull fer all they was
worth.
We'll, I'll be gosh swiggered.' SEE
I. them cows is in love- They couldn't
get away from In front OF that durn
sign to save EN-. an every once In a
while n of 'em would start friskin'
an prancin'. tryin' to attract his at.
t%ention. One would lope past loofin'
over her shoulder to e II he was
%follerin, then another would go up
to him, NOON kinder low till she
would get right under him. Then of
course he wouldn't look like a bull
any more an she would back out till
she could catch sight of him again,
an then would do it right over again.
They was the saddest lookin' bunch
Of cattle we ever see. Didn't have time
to eat nothin', jest lived on love fer a
splash of red paint. l was pretty naag
Dustin laughin', when all at once
Emeline jumped up from her bush.
They can't eat, seq she TO herself,
out loud. an they can't sleep, an
why / do believe they are In love. The
poor things An then somethin' seems
to strike her, fer she put her hand up
to her face quick. Cant eat, she mut.
tered again, an then she looked kind
Of wild fer a minute. 'Why-why.-
SEE she, that amt a sign board. It's
it's Saml,' an she covered her face
with her two hands. Gosh, | didn't
know whether to laugh or cry, fer it's
kind of solemn to be a-lookin' at q
young gals love when its all naked
thataway.
Il went over to see her that night.
'Emeline,' SEE |, why don't you go
away fer a spell? A change would do
you good
"I couldn't get away, Uncle JOEL
seq she, I couldn't leave the farm
Course you could, SEE I, Jest as
easy as not. | can take car of your
stock an the rest can take care OF
1T
"'But, | don't need a change, seq
she, likin' to hear arguments fer her
side.
Ives We do seq |, an ye're goin'
to get it, She shook her head, but |
could see she was thinkin' it over an
likin' the idee better an better, so |
left her pretty soon an hunted up
Sam'l. He was mendin' harness in the
barn. Hello, Saml,' SEE /, I was just
passin' an see your light. Got some
new straps, hain't ye? Too bad Eme'
lines goin' away SEE l, tiddlin' with
the bride an watchin' Sam'l outer the
corner of my eye. Saml Strengthened
up like he'd been stung. Coin away,
seq he. where Is she goin'?
Don't know SEE I. Tired of farm.
in | guess, an goin' to the city to
live. Got a new check rein, hain't ye?
But Sam'l never answers a word and
sat starin' out of the door into the
night. | slipt out an he never knew
I'd gone. Next time | saw Emeline she
told me all about it.
"Sam'l came to call next night;
all slicked up with a collar on, an
his Sunday suit. Good evenin',' seq
he. blushin' purple, I've come to set
with ye.' Emeline was happy an
scared. Come in sez she. It's a nice
day
Yes SEE Sam'l, settin' on the
edge of his chair an turnin' his hat
around In his hands. Yes he seq
again, an put his hat down on the
floor beside the chair an then picks 1t
up again. He was Just tongue-tied he
was so nervous an she want much
better.
Got a new harness to your buggy,
hain't ye.' SEE Emeline at last.
Yes SEE he, I'd er-like to have
ye go ridin' sometime
I'D like to- Emeline seq, both on
'em actin all the time as If they was
in the middle Of a swarm of bees
afraid they was goin' to get stung.
"'Will We go to-night?' SEE Sam'l,
jumpin' at a chance to get away fer
a minute to get his nerve back. I'll be
hitched in a jify.' They started out as
solemn an silent as owls an | guess
they didn't say a word the whole
drive, leastwise Emeline didn't say
SO, till they come around by the GEM
etery on the way home. The moon was
shinin' bright an the tombstuns
looked awful ghostly In the light, Eme.
line SEE. an especially in the corner
nearest town where the Hardy lot
was. All of SAINTS family had been
buried in that lot under the shadder
of the big stun fer generations, an
there was a lot of room left. Sam'i
stopped the horse an sat there fghtin'
fer breath like, an kinder chokin' over
it. 'Emeline,' he SEE at last, an his
voice was all thickened up, 'Emeline--
how'd-how'd you like to be buried
there an he pointed to his lot with
the whip"
Uncle Joel let down the front legs
Of his chair with a bang. AN she will
be, when the time comes" he said.