The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-12-20

Lima and Frances and james," ex.
claimed his aunt What do you know
about them, William"
The child's face flushed. 81 seen
'em this mornin'," he acknowledged.
Miss Minerva put a hand on either
shoulder and looked straight into his
eyes.
William, who started that sprink-
ling this morning." she questioned.
sharply.
Billy flushed guiltily and lowered
his lids; bat only for an instant. Quick
ly recovering his composure he re-
turned her gaze steadily and ignored
her question.
II see yo' beau too, Aunt Minerva" 4"
he remarked TRANQUILITY.
1t was Miss Minerva this time who
lost her composure, for her thin, sal
low face became perfectly crimson.
my beau?" she asked confusedly.
Who put that nonsense into your
head?"
Jimmy show him to me" he re-
piled jauntily, once mere master of
the situation and in fl,Il ra9liza tioI
OF the fact. why dos rc'- nlar,-Y
him, Aunt Minervs ECis We
right here with US? An could learn
him how to churn. 1 spec he'd make
beautiful churner. He sho' is pref
fof ,, L
teringly. "An' dress? That beau was
jest dressed plumb up to the top
notch. / sho' would marry him If rs
you an not turn up my nose at him
cause he wears pants an you can
learn him how to talk properer'n what
he do an I betcher he'd jest nachelly
take to broom, an l spec he amt
got nobody t all to show him how to
sew. An yo' all could get the doctor
to fetch you little baby so he
wouldn't halter to play with no doll
sho' wisht We had him here" ended
selfish Billy, "he could save me a
lot of steps. An l sho' would like to
hear bout all them Injuns an Yam
KEGS what he's killed"
Billy's aunt was visibly en-
barrassed.
The persistent admiration OF this,
her one lover, had been pleasing to
her, yet she had never been willing
to sacrifice her independ ence for the
cares and trials of matrimony. The
existing state Of affairs between the
two was known to every one in the
small town, but such was Miss
, Minerals dignifled aloofness that Bill
ly was the first person who had ever
dared to broach the subject to her.
sit down here, William" she COM
manded, "and l will read to YOU"
Tell me tale" he said, looking up
at her with his bright, sweet smile.
The doll lay neglected on q chair near
by and Billy wanted her to forget it.
Tell me bout Piljerk Peter"
"Piljerk Peter?" there was an inter.
! rogation In her voice.
"Yas'm. Amt you never hear tell
bout Piljerk Peter? He had fifteen
chillens an one time the las one of
'em an his ole oman was down with
the fever an he amt got but one
pill an they so sick they mos bout
to die an amt nobody in the fiel' fer
to pick the cotton an he can't git no
doctor an he amt got but jest that
one. Fill; Sc he tie that pill to string
an let the bigges' chile swaller 1t an
draw 1t back up an let the mex chile
swaller It an jerk it back up an let
the mex chile swaller 1t an jerk it
back up an let the mex"
Il don't believe in telling tales to
children" Interrupted his aunt, IT will
tell you biographical and historical
stories and stories from the Bible.
Now listen, while read to you"
AN the mex chile swaller it an he
jerk it back up," continued Billy Sc
renely, "an' the mex chile swaller it
an he jerk it back up tell finely ev'y
single one of 'em, plumb down to the
baby, swaller that pill an the las one
of EN- got we'll an that one pill it done
the work. Then he tuck the pill and
give 1t to his ole oman an she swaller
it an he jerk it back up but didn't
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