Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-04-04
your horses stall; it amt so warm an

she II want to know IL you think
you're doin' right an accordin' to what
you profess. Here, when we was
married, forty year ago, you promised
me faithful that we should have 8
new house built In that lot over In the
field before the year was out. You sait
you had money enough, an yol
place as this. 1t Is forty year now, an
you've been maxim more money, an
I've been savin' Of It for you evel
sence, an you amt built no hous
yet. You've built sheds an cow houses
an one new barn, an now you're goin
to build another. Father, / want +
know If you think It's right. Your
lodgin' your dumb beasts better thai
you are your own flesh an blood.
want to know If you think it's right"
Il amt got nothin' to say"
you can't say nothin' without own
in 1t amt right, father. An there
another thing- amt complained
I've got along forty year, an / s'pos'
should forty more, II 1t want foI
that-if we don't have another house
married. She'll have to go somewhere!
else to live away from us, an 1t dom
seem as If I could have 1t so, noways
father. She want ever strong. She's
got considerable color, but there
want never any backbone to her. I've
always took the heft of everything of
her, an she amt fit to keep house an
do everything herself. She'll be al
worn out inside Of year. Think of hel
doin' all the washin' an ironin' an
ba'kin with them soft white hands an
arms, an sweepin'! ! can't have II
so, noways, father"
Mrs. Penn's face was burning; heI
mild eyes cleaned. She had pleaded
her little cause like a Webster; she
had ranged from severity to pathos;
but her opponent enjoyed that obsti-
nate silence which makes eloquence
futile with mocking echoes. Adoniram
arose clumsily. ~ ..'."
Father, amt you got nothin' to
say?" said Mrs. Penn.
1--WE got to go off after that load
Of gravel. / can't STAN here talkin' all
day."
Father, won't you think it over, an
have a house built there instead Of a
barn?"
'I amt got nothin' to say"
Adoniram shuffied out. Mrs. Penn
went into her bedroom. When she
came out her eyes were red. She had
q roll of unbleached cotton cloth. She
spread 1t out on the kitchen table and
began cutting out some shirts for her
husband. The men out in the field
had a team to help them this after
noon; she could hear their halloos. She
had q scanty pattern for the shirts,
she had to plan and piece the sleeves.
Nanny came home with her en-
broidery and sat down with her
needlework. She had taken down her
curl papers, and there was a soft roll
Of fair hair like an aureole over her
forehead; her face was as delicately
fine and clear as porcelain. Suddenly
she looked up and the tender red
famed all over her face and neck.
Mother" said she. ... tf- "'-af
What say?" ~t
i've been thinking-I don't see how
we're goin' to have any-wedding In
this room. I'd be ashamed to have his
folks come If we didn't have anybody
else"
"Mebbe we can have some new pa
per before then; / can put 1t on. !
guess you won't have no call to be
ashamed Of your belongin's."
I'VE might have the wedding In the
new barn.. said Nanny, with gentle
pettishness. why, mother, what
makes you look so?"
Mrs. Penn had started and was star
ing at her with curious expression.
She turned again to her work and
spread out pattern carefully on the
cloth. "Nothin'," said she.
Presently Adoniram clattered out OF
the yard in his two-wheeled dump
cart, standing as proudly upright as a
Roman charioteer. Mrs. Penn opened
the door and stood there minute
looking out; the halloos Of the men
sounded louder.
1t seemed to her all through the
spring months that she heard nothing
but the halloos and the noises OF
saws and hammers. The new barn
grew fast. It was fine ediflce for this
little village. Men came on pleasant
Sundays, in their meeting suits and
clean shirt bosoms, and stood around
1t admiringly. Mrs. Penn did not
speak Of 1t, and Adoniram did not
mention it to her, although some
times, upon a return from inspecting
it, he bore himself with injured digni-
Its a strange thing how your
mother feels about the new barn." he
said confidentially to Sammy one day.
Sammy only grunted after an odd
fashion for a boy; he had learned 1t
from his father.
The barn was all completed ready
for use by the third week in July
Adoniram had planned to move his
stock in on Wednesday,; on Tuesday
he received a letter which changed his
plans. He came in with 1t early In the
morning. "Sammy's been to the post
office" said he, "and I've got a letter
from Hiram" Hiram was Mrs. Penn's
brother, who lived in Vermont.
We'll" said Mrs. Penn, what does
he say about the folks?"
81 guess they're all right. He says
he thinks If come up country righ'
off there's a chance to buy jest the
kind of a horse want" He stared re-
flectiyely out of the window at the
new barn.
Mrs. Penn was making pies. She
went on clapping the rolling pin into
the crust, although she was very pale
and her heart beat loudly.
81 dun know but what I'd better
60" said Adoniram. 81 hate to go OF
lest now, right in the midst OF hayin,
but the ten-acre lots cut, an guess
Rufus an the others can git along
without me three or four days. / can't
get a horse round here to suit me, no
how, an I've got to have another for
that wood haulin' in the fall. l told
Hiram to watch out, an II ne got vino
of a good horse to let me know.
guess I'd better co. '..
I'll get out your clean shirt an
collar" said Mrs. Penn calmly.
She laid out Adoniram's Sunday
suit and his clean clothes on the bed
in the little bedroom. She got his
shaving water and razor ready. Al
last she buttoned on his collar and
fastened his black cravat.
Adoniram never wore his collar and
crayat except on extra occasions. Ht
held his head high, with a rasped dig
nifty. When he was all ready, with
his coat and hat brushed and luncf
Of pie and cheese in paper bag, ne
hesitated on the threshold of the door
He looked at his wife and his manner
was defiantly apologetic. IF them
COWS come today, Sammy can drive
'em into the new barn." said he; an
when they bring the hay up, they car
pitch 1t in there"
WELL" replied Mrs. Penn.
Adoniram set his shaven face aheao
and started. When he had cleared the
doorsteps he turned and looked back
with a kind of nervous solemnity. v
shall be back by Saturday If nothin
happens" said he.
do be careful, father" returned his