The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-12-27
CHAPTER XII.
(Con tinued.D

"Angelica's run on and married that
trifiin' Sim Birdsong," she spoke, her
tone ominous She's just fool enough
TO do IL. shuttin' her eyes TO better
chance. That's IL, amt IL, Colonel
Todhunter?"
The Colonel swallowed. "Yes'nf,
she's married Sim Birdsong." he con.
fessed "But-maybe it's all for the
best, Mrs. Exall. Young folks some
times see clearer than us old folks.
ma'am."
Mrs, Exall bridled perceptibly. II
may be old and ] may not, Colonel
| Todhunter," she retorted icily. But
II amt for you TO remind me OF IL IL
IL am. However that's neither here
nor there It's my poor, misguided
daughter I'm thinkin or now. Tell
| me, sir. where they were married, and
who married them
The abrupt question startled the
Colonel. why. ma'am-why, Mrs.
Exall." he stammered "Where-who
l-why-of course, yes. ma'am! They
they were married at the preach
er's own house. Mrs. Exall. and the
Reverend Mr.. Lipscombe, he-yes m
Mr.. Lipscombe himself married EN-,
ma am
Mrs. Exalls steely eyes gimleted the
speaker. How does II happen,
Colonel Todhunter." she asked. thai
| it's you who comes 10 me with this
news"
Colonel Todhunter felt his blood
4 running chill. Me-" he repeated
How do I-why, Mrs. Exall, II just
so happened. was-well. me and
Mrs. Todhunter and Mary just hap
pened TO be spendin' IN evening with
Mr.. and Mrs. Lipscombe when-when
! Sim and Miss Angelica came there "a
get married. ma'am'
Mrs. Exall smiled. her eyes snap
ping. "Oh, yes. | see. she spoke, DIT
ing her words of with blade-like lips
j"How nice that was, You and Mrs
Todhunter and Mary were all there &c
help 'em through Well, sir. between
YOU. you've ruined my child's lie
that's what you've done, And YOU
fought TO be ashamed OF yourselves, al
OF you!'
"My dear madam" cried the Colonel
Yes. sir that's what you've done
ruined her life. She could have mar
ried Pointer Scruggs. rich man, JUS
by crookin her little finger at him
But no-you and Mrs. Todhunter nave
encouraged her into marryin' that con
temptible Sim Birdsong, who ain
worth the salt TO save him" Here
she tossed her head TO dash the tears
aside.
! The Colonel fdgeted in anguish o
soul
That's the plain truth. Colonel Tod
hunter and it's making you squirm. too
I can see through the whole thing
Angelica's been confidin' In you ant
Mrs. Todhunter, and you-all have sidet
with her and advised her to marry Sin
Birdsong. 1t was mighty easy for Mrs
Todhunter, with her own daughte
Mary courted by Tom Strickland. whom
lyou-all like. But I'll tell her exactl'
what think OF It all, the very mex
time I lay eyes on her. And she ca
like II or lump It
, What was left of Colonel Todhur
: ter's courage revived at the wrongru
blaming OF Mrs Todhunter-
Mrs. Exall." he said, Mrs. Toe
hunter had no more TO do with tina
there weddin than the babe unborn
ma'am. She didn't know thin
about II till 1t was all ready to tax
place. She was rakin' me over tn
Goals no more'n fifteen minutes ag
for putin my own fingers into IN
r pie" Here the Colonel pulled up, hol
Ior-stricken.
= Mrs. Exall's look was whitening
So" she cried. 1T was. you VIII
!? did the meddlin' And the plottin'
And the contrivin'! 1t was yoI
Colonel. Todhunter' You and tina
worthless Sim Birdsong put you
heads together and laid out your plan
4 to rob poor widow-woman OF he
! only child"
Madam" expostulated Colonel Too
i hunter. That amt fair! I'm so
Try
: You're sorry?" scoffed Mrs. Exa
bitterly. You're sorry? And NEAR
!. time my poor daughter Is married b.
yond redemption. I'd like to kno'
: what good your bein' sorry is goil
: TO do me. sir. And I'd like TO kno'
{ what business you had meddlin' ]
3 the affair at all, sir"
Madam said Colonel Iodhunte
g desperately, II was honestly tryiI
i 10 make them two young people hal
!. DIV. Miss Angelica loved Sim. Sh
y tdidn't love Pointer Seruggs. And III
l. money wouldn't ha' brought happines
y TO her. she a-lovin' Sim Birdsong II
:, stead o. lovin' him. And | come her'
ma'am. to ask you TO forgive tnei