The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-11-15

and 'tn1nSS, q Si1OhtIS po"i " ~
potatoes, the only contribution Caleb
was allowed to make under pains and
penalties, the mutton and the rest OF
the edibles. And there was n ma
jestic mother Of the pretty May seat
ed in state with the others grouped
around her gastrOnOn1ic throne. For
the occasion the majestic old soul
had adorned herself with a huge, high
cap and a pair of unrelenting gloves.
But let US be genteel or die! THY
SloWboy stared about her at theN dolls
and TOYS and at the company in state
of more than unusual bewilderment
and rapturous wonder at the prolific
ness of the good things afforded by
his transitory life.
All said Dot to May, as they
sat side by side at the table, Just
think of our school days together
Of you, are your" growled Tackleton,
who did not relish this turn in the
conversation. "Oh, but" said Dot,
I'VE had such dreams and visions then.
We planned to get married, Of course,
and we pictured to each other just
the sort Of a husband we would choose.
Not the least like my dear John here
was he May? And if anybody had
told me thaa you would be married
to Mr.. Tackle1on I would not have be-
lieved it. And you'd have slapped
me-wouldn't you May?" But" said
1aCktGtOu, 4u1Ic IOuoAS, AooA-
ing in fact, you could not help your
selves you see Here we are your
gay young backgrounds; where are
the others now?" Some are dead"
replied Dot, some real people that
we had picked out for ourselves, as
though if any one had told them that
they ever could be forgotten they
would not once have believed it. No,
not one word of it,
She had worked herself up to such
a pitch Of earnestness and fire that
the carrier was quite alarmed, and
cried out: why, Dot, my little woul-
AMI May sat with her eyes cast down,
silent, perturbed and pale. What was
she thinking Of? That good and state
ly lady her mother came to the rescue
Of the situation by uttering with great
authority the novel and startling prop
osition hat girls would be girls, and
two or three other propositions or a
like uncontrovertible sort AS to Mr..
Tackleton, she considered him, as a
s~On-in-laW, a person ito be desired,
though, Of course, if some things had
happened, or never a the least liheli-
hood of happening, things would be
different. But she would not torture
Mr.. Tackleton by referring to the past;
she hoped he had a becoming sense OF
the honor which was conferred upOn
him by being admitted into q family
which, he was we'll aware, was not
without pretensions to gentility. There
was more to the same effect, until
they choke the old lady off by Civ
ing her more veal and ham pie and
another glass Of the bottled beer. In
order that the bottled beer might not
be sighted, John Perrybingle, who had
to be off on his rounds and leave them
fer a time, proposed the toast, to-
rnor4o~-,ne weuolng day!' and call
ed upon them to drink a bumper TO
it. Dot and Bertha and May did but
scant justice to the toast Then
"Goodbye," cried John. I'm off-will
be back at the usual time"
Poor Bertha! How she suffered and
how she began In broken sentences
to reveal 40 her father and to May
Fielding the true state of her heart
Old TacIleton, Of course was not
aware OF what Bertha was saying
and would not have cared if he had
con1prehended. He had an idea that
the girl, because of the affection she
showed 'lim, an affection she could
not cone cal, was an idiot. and treat
ed her as such. But old Caleb be-
gan to see how matters stood and it
broke his heart. He had deceived
his daughter, in kindness, as he
thought, only to break her heart But
with wonderful presence Of mind,
took the precious baby from Miss
Tilly SloWboy and set Mrs. Fielding
going on a lecture regarding the
mfr Aities Of infants and the best way
OF doctoring them. After which. of
no other conversation was pos
sible. But Dot did really manage to
have a little whispering chat with
May. in which she must have revealed
to the prospective bride some astonish-
ing things, for after it May did not
seem to know whether she wanted to
laugh or cry.
Finally, as the day waned, there's
came a step on the threshold, and Dot.
up, cried out. Whose step is
that?' why, my step. of course"
answered John, entering, whose
should 1t be?" But that other step.'
said Dot. ooh, he is not so much Of
. stranger you have seen him before
and he brought in the deaf old
I'oarder whom he had brought along