The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-02-24


su'aii change from q portentous black
wallet that fastened with strap.
Good night" said the driver, pocket
Ing the money, with grunt and lin
gle. Like the boy, he had been very
careful not to step of the mat. Good
night, Miss Tempy. Shows lettin' up
little mite. Guess twill be clear by
mornin'. Good night, Brad"
The plump lady closed the door be-
hind him just In time to shut out the
opening notes of the Sweet By and
BY" Then she dropped the hook into
the staple. wound the leather strap
carefully about the wallet, placed the
latter In a. compartment Of tall chest
or drawers In the corner, turned the
key upon 1t and put the key under the
alabaster candlestick on the mantel.
Then she turned to the boy, who, hold
Ing his carpet bag with both hands.
still stood uneasily on the mat, while
the slim lady fdgeted in front of him.
Bradley" said the plump lady-she
was dressed In some sort of black ma
terlal that rustled and wore a lace col
lar. jet earrings and a breastpin with a
braided lock Of hair In the center of It
bradley, we're real glad to see YOU.
I'm Miss Priscilla; this is my sister,
Miss Temperance"
Eyes. Bradley" coincided "N[iss
Tempy." we're real glad to see you"
She was the younger of the two and
was gowned in what the boy learned
later was her "brown poplin." Her
hair was not worn plain, like her SIS
ters, but had q little bunch of curls
over each ear. She also wore q hair
breastpin, but her earrings were gold.
Bradley shook the extended hands,
Miss Prissy's red and dimpled and
Miss Tempy's thin and white, with
two old fashioned rings on the fingers.
Won't you-won't you set DOWN."
ventered Miss Tempy after a rather
awkward pause.
why, yes. of course" said Miss
Prissy. "and take your things right of
do"
Bradley placed the carpetbag on the
corner OF the mat and pulled of the
shabby overcoat. The jacket and
trousers beneath were also shabby. but
1t was at his shoes that Miss Prissy
glanced, and, oddly enough, their con-
dition served to break the formality.
My goodness me-" she calculated.
"Jest look at his poor feet, Tempy
Allen! Come right over to the stove
this minute and take of those shoes.
They're soppin' wet through"
mo. ma'am," protested the boy.
'They ain't, shonest. They only look
So"
Don't tell mer' commanded Miss
Prissy. go right over to the stove
this minute"
Bradley reluctantly obeyed. stepping
gingerly across the spotless oilcloth
and taking as long strides as possible.
1t did not add to his comfort to see
Miss Tempy shake the melting snow
into the center Of the rope mat, fold
the latter carefully together and dis
appear with it into the kitchen.
Miss Prissy piloted him to the chintz
covered rocker by the big "airtight'
stove. Then she proceeded to unlace
the patched brogans, commenting In an
undertone upon the condition of the
stockings beneath.
"1'm 'fraid," said Bradley fearfully.
that I've got some snow water on
your floor, ma'am."
Don't say word. Thank goodness
your feet amt so wet as I thought they
was. Put 'em right on the rail of the
stove there while l go up to the gar
ret and get those slippers Of fathers.
Ill be right back"
She hurried out Of the room lust as
her sister entered it by the other door.
"Now. set right STILL" said Miss Tem-
py, bustling about with the steaming
teakettle In her hand "I'm goin' to
make you some pepper tea. There's
nothin' In the world like pepper tea
when you're likely to catch cold"
Pepper tea" was new prescription
for the boy, and he watched with inter-
est while Miss Tempy turned some
milk into bowl, flooded it with boil
Ing water, added a spoonful of sugar
and vigorously shook the pepper box
over the mess.
"rhere" she said. "Now, drink that,
every drop. Amt you hungry?"
Bradley, with tears in his eyes. the
result OF the first swallow of pepper
tea. gasplngly protested that he wasn't
hungry not very. The sight and smell
OF the loaded supper table were so
tempting that the denial was rather
half hearted.
Not very! When did you have any.
thing to eat last?"
"Mr. Bartlett-he's the s'lectman at
Wellmouth-gave me sandwich at
the depot fore l started, ma'am, and
bought turnover at Harniss."
My sakes! Prissy'-to her sister,
who came rustling in-"he hasn't ct q
thing but sandwich and turnover
since morning. Now, come right over