The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-17


 tionT You see, my mother is a Qua keress. and when my father wishes to reprove me he uses the plain speech. Well, sir, I thought it over. and. for the most part. I dropped the other two and took up more farming"
 Your father is MT. John Cowles of Cowles' Farms?'
 ''The same"
 "These are troublous times," he ven tured. ''I mean in regard to this talk of secession of the southern states.''
 I was studying this man. What was he doing here in our quiet country community? What was his errand: What business had a julep drinking. horse riding parson speaking in a Vir- ginia pulpit where only the gospel was known. and that from opponents worth the name?
 You are from Washington" said at length.
 He nodded.
 ''The country is going into deep wa ter one way or the other.'' said I. Virginia is going to divide on slavery. It is not for me nor for any of us to hasten that time. Trouble will come fast enough without our help"
 
 of my little effort the other evening. I was simply looking at the matter from a logical standpoint. It is per fectIy clear that the old world must have cotton. that the southern states must supply that cotton and that slav cry alone makes cotton possible for the world. It is a question of geogra phy rather than of politics. yet your northern men make it a question of politics. Your congress is full of rot ten tariff legislation. which will make few of your northern men rich and which will bring on this war quite as much as anything the south may do Moreover, this tariff disgusts Eng land. very naturally Where will Eng land side when the break comes? And what will be the result when the south. plus England. fights these tariff makers over here? I have no doubt that you, sir. know the complexion of all these neighborhOod families in these matters. I should be most hap py if you could find it possible for me to meet your father and his neighbors. for in truth I am interested in these matters merely as a student, and, have heard much of the kindness of this country toward strangers" It WIZ; not our way in Virginia to al- low persons of any breeding to put up at public taverns. I had no hesitation in saying to MT. Orme that we should be glad to entertain him at Cowles' Farms
 We were sitting some paces from the room where Landlord Sanderson kept his bar. so that we heard only occasionally the sound of loud talk which came through the windows But now came footsteps and confused words in voices. one of which I seem ed to know. There staggered through the door a friend of mine, Harry Sin gleton, young planter.
 Hello. oI' felT'' be croaked at me "Hurrah for C'fedrate States of Amer icar'
 "very we'll" I said to him. suppose we do hurrah for the Confederate States of America. But let us wait until there is such a thing"
 He glowered at me. "Also.'' he said solemnly. ''Hurrah for Miss Grace Sheraton, the pretties' girl in whole C'federate States America!"
 "Harry," l cried. "stopI You're drunk, man. Come on. I'll take you home"
 He waved at me an uncertain hand. 'Go way, slight man. he muttered. "Grace Sheraton pretties' girl in whole C'federate States America
 According to our creed it was not permissible for gentleman. drunk or sober. to mention a lady's name in a place like that. | rose and put my hand across Harry's mouth. unwilling that a stranger should hear a girls name mentioned in the place. To my surprise Harry Singleton was just suf- fciently intoxicated to resent the act of his best friend. With no word of warning he drew back his hand and struck me in the face with all his force. the blow making a smart crack. which brought all the others running from within. Still. I reflected. this was not the act of Harry Singleton. but only that of a drunken man, who tomorrow would not remember what had been done.
 ''That will be quite enough. Harry said I. Come. now, I'll take you home. Sanderson. go get his horse or wagon or whatever brought him here.'
 "Not homer' cried Harry. First in- hict punishment on you for denyin' Miss Gracie Sheraton pretties' girl whole C'federate States America. Girls l1ke JOuU CCWl9S IOO ulucn. AtuSI ndSQ John Cowfes! Must mash John Cowles sake of Gracie Sheraton. pretties' gir in whole wide wOrl'!' He came toward me as best he might lis hands clinched. 1 cauC.1t hlm he wrist, and as he stun bled past urned and had his arm over my shot pr. 1 admit threw him rather crut hard. for I thought he needed 1t. By Jove"' I heard voice at my 1w. That was handsomely done Indsomely done all around" I turned to meet the outstretched han f my new friend, Gordon Orme.
 Where did you learn the trick ?' l. lsked.
 ''The trick of being a gentleman answered him slowly, my face red wit anger at Singleton's foolIshness. 50 never learned at all, but to toss a poo drunken fool like that over ones head