The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-05-14

That afternoon a number Of older
people In the county called and Miss
Ellen served tea on the shady side of
the house under the porch. Later Bud
and i rode on horseback. He took me
to see the camping ground Of Gen.
sherman. which Miss Ellen had point.
ed out to me on the night of my ar
rival. and from there we took a cir
cuitous route home. He told me many
or the difficulties of farming in the
county. We passed a number Of farmers
apd.sfrom each learned something
and stored up in my mind many a
quaint anecdote for my letters from
these simple country folk. One time
when Bud had ridden forward to con-
suit some one about getting extra
hands ] rode up to a stolid looking in
dividual whom saw sitting on a rail
fence near by whiting a stick. His
beard and hair were unkempt and his
whole attitude was one of supreme
indifference to his surroundings.
Good morning" said. =. g..
Same to you," he answered without
looking up to see who had addressed
him.
How are your crops this Year, I
asked.
Poor" was his monosyllabic reply.
Good last year?'
"Nup." With maddening indifference.
Il hope your crops will be better
next year." I ventured again
Doubt It," was all he would answer.
The field back Of him did not look en-
couraging. Despairing finally Of get
ting any information from him. drew
rein. preparing to Join Bud. adding,
however. before leaving:
'Well. that's too bad"
av.ts H.
whiting for a moment to look up and
remark:
"'Tain't as bad as you think, my
friend; I don't own this land"
rode off laughing at this quaint
conception OF the value OF land He
had not intended to be either witty or
humorous. but was sincere in trying
to disabuse my mind of n false i'm
preston ! might have OF the extent of
his troubles. When Bud rode UP he
explained to me that the man only
farmed on shares, and had he owned
the land he would have been held re-
sponsible for the interest on the mort
gage. Indeed. he said that to own
certain OF the land around that sec
ton was regarded as a calamity.
That ride with Bud gave me much
material for a letter. and when went
to my room ] wrote until after mid
night. ] touched only on the general
condition OF the planters and petty
farmers and made use of such apt
comments as had CHANGED to pick up
away from the Pines. read and re-
read my letter to make sure It could
mediate vicinity.
l was satixfisd that II would de-
scribe many of the older counties in
the State. but looking back now II
seems to me that I was too general in
my deductions and that the ,illustra-
lions, while unique. did not give q
proper conception either OF the man.
ners of the people or of the conditions
of the country, save In the exceptional
case
But my work that week was done.
and I arose the next morning with
the feeling that I could DO with my
time as / wished without trying to
remember incidents or conversations
which might make interesting reading
matter In Boston. ! rode to the sta
ton and mailed my letter. and on my
return I found Miss Ellen engaged. as
she said. in putting the house TO rights.
"for II We leave all until the last day.
very little will be done" she said and so
I spent the day lending a hand here or
lifting a piece Of furniture there. Miss
tain that day. while would sit, pipe
in mouth. watching her fingers move
backward and forward.
i was ON the point several times of
telling her why I had come South, and
to confess that there was no kinship
possibly with the Kentucky Palmers.
but after several efforts which really
got no further than planning them. !
would forego aid determine ton to play a
strictly honorable role. and then too
feared It might put Col. Turpin in a
false position as weN as myself. OF 80
chose then to think. That evening Miss
Ellen played more beautifully than I
had ever heard her play before, and she
sang some old-time melodies for us too.
Her voice was sweet and she sang simply
and without effort. Before bedtime we
had gathered around the plano and sung
glees, even the Colonel remembering
enough from his old Princeton days to
lend dlscord occasionally. 1t was an
uneventful but happy day. and II swept
me many leagues nearer the goal to
which had been drifting unconsciously
since the first minute ! had seen Miss
Ellen and looked into her honest brown
eyes.
Go Be Continusd%