The Elbert County tribune., 1908-06-11

usual, was his own. He stepped I,
the adjoining field, and, selecting .
clod with the steely polish OF the plou
share upon 1t, threw 1t at the mare
1t struck her on the flank. She gather
ed her feet under her in sudden alarm
| then slowly relaxed, looked slyly fol
the old man. found him, and under
standing. suddenly wheeled and am
bled on home. leaving Sefy prone OF
the ground as her part Of the Joke.
The old man brought SeYy in tri
umph to the store-porcn.
"Chust stopped you afore you goi
to be a anchel" he was saying. 1--WE
couldn't bear to sink about you being
anchel-an' wiss the anchels stand
"a harp upon your forehead, crown
within your hand. expect-when it's
complaining time"
Seffy grinned cheerfully. brushed of
the dust and contemplated his fathers
watch-held accusingly against him.
Old Baumgartner went on gaily.
About an inch and a half apast
tenl Seffy. I'm glad you amt break
ing your reputation for being fast
nachlch. Chust about a quarter OF an
inch too late for the prize wiss -four
on its hair and arms and its frock
Uhu! II had such a nice petit
coat he initiated the lady in ques-
ton. to the tremendous delight OF the
gentle loafers.
Seffy stared little and rubbed
some dust out of his eyes. He was
pleasant but dull.
"Yassir. Sef, II you'd a-got yere at a
got her. Down in the cellar a-licking
moiasses together! Doggone II Sam
don't git eferysing-except his due
bills. He don't want to be no anchel
tell he dies. He's got fun enough yere
but Seffy-you're like the flow of
molasses in January-at courting.'
This oblique suasion made no i'm
preston on Seffy. II is doubtful II he
understood 1t at all. The loafers be
man checked him with a threat of per-
sonal harm.
Hold on there, Jefferson Dafis Bus
by" he child II don't allow no one
to laugh at my Seffy-except chust me
account I'm his daddy. It's fight
word the next time you do it."
Mr.. Busby Strengthened his coun-
tenance.
HE don't seem to notice-nor keer
bout gals-do he?"
No one spoke.
mo, durn him, he amt no good
Say-what'll you give for him. hah?
Yere he goes to the highest bidder
for richer. for poorer. for better, for
worser up and down, in and out,
swing your partners-what's bid? He
ken plow as crooked as a mules hind
time. eat like snake, git left efery
time-but he ken ketch fish. They
wait on him. What's bid?"
No one would hazard bid.
"Yit minute" shouted the old fel-
low. pulling out his bulps-eye watch.
again. whats bid? Going-going- all
done-going--"
"a dollar!"
The bid came from behind him. and
the voice was beautiful to hear. A
sleam came into the old mans eyes az
he heard it. He deliberately put the
watch back in its pocket. put on his
spectacles, and turned. as If she wero
a stranger.
"Gone!" he announced then. who's
take away you property. What's the
name. please?" Then he pretended to
recognize her. "Oach! Sally Well,
that's lucky! He goes In good hands.
He's sound and kind, but needs the
whip" He held out his hand for the
dollar.
1t was the girl of whom he had
spoken accurately as a prize. Her
sleeves were turned up as far as they
would go, revealing some soft lace
trimmed whiteness. and there was
-four on her arms. Some patches of
1t on her face gave a petal-like effect
to her otherwise aggressive color. The
pretty dress was pinned far enough
back to reveal the prettier petticoat---
plus a pair of trimly-clad ankles.
Perhaps these we're neither the gar
hShtS uoi tHe dlrS III WHICH every
farmer-maiden did her baking. But
then. Sally was no ordinary farmer
maiden. She was all this, 1t is true,
but she was, besides. grace and color
and charm itself And IL she chose to
bake In such attire-or, even. If abe
chose to pretend to do SO, where was
the churl to say her nay. even though
the flour was part of a deliberate
"make-up?" Certainly he was not
at the store that summer morning.
And Seffy was there. Her hair es-
capped redness by only little. But
that little was just the difference be-
tween ugliness and beauty. For.
whether Sally were beautiful or not.
about which we might contend bit
her hair was, and perhaps that is