Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-04-22

T OHh
heart, "Ay, T'nowhead," to McQuh.
atty, and It's yerser," Sanders" te
his rival.
They were all sitting round the fire
T'nowhead, with his feet on the ribs
wondering why he felt SO warm, and
Bell darning a stocking, while Lisbetf
kept an eye on the goblet full Of po.
tatoes.
"Sit into the fire, SamI" said the
farmer, not, however, making way fol
him.
INA, na," said SamI; I'm to bide
nae time" Then he sat into the fire
His face was turned away from Bell
and when she spoke he answered hel
without looking round. sam'i felt 8
little anxious. Sanders Elshoiner
who had one leg shorter than the 9th.
er but looked well when sitting, seem.
ed suspiciously at home. He asked
, Bell questions out Of his own head
which was beyond Sam1, and once hi
said something to her in such low
voice that the others could not catch
, It. Tnowhead asked curiously what
1t was, and Sanders explained that he
had only said; "Ay. Bell. the morn's
the Sabbath" There was nothing
L III lhi6p ooI Soihi uAa ilo'
. like It, He began to wonder II he
were too late, and had he seen his
opportunity would have told Bell OF
a nasty rumor that Sanders intended
to 20 over to the Free Church II they
would make him kirk officer.
SamI had the good will Of T'now-
heads wife, who liked q polite man
Sanders did his best, but from want
Of practice he constantly made mis-
takes. Tonight, for instance, he wore
his hat in the house because he did
not like to put up his hand and take
II off, T'nowhead had not taken of
meant to go out by and by and lock
the byre door. It was impossible to
say which Of her lovers Bell preferred.
The proper course with an Auld LIGHT
lassie was to prefer the man who pro-
posed to her.
Yell bide a wee an hae something
to eat?" Lisbeth asked Sam'l, with her
eyes on the goblet.
mo, thank ye," said Sam'l, with
true gentility.
Yell better"
II danna think It."
"Hoots aye; what's to hender ye?'
"Weel, since ye're sac pressin', I'll
bide."
No one asked Sanders to stay. Bell
could not, for she was but the servant
and T'nowhead knew that the kick his
wife had given him meant that he was
not to do so either. Sanders whistled
to show that he was not uncomfort-
able. .
"Ay, then, I'll be steppin' over the
brae," he said at last.
He did not 60, however. There was
sufficient pride in him to get him of
his chair, but only slowly, for he had
to get accustomed to the notion OF go
ing. At intervals Of two or three
minutes he remarked that he must now
be going. In the same circumstances
Saml would have acted similarly. For
a Thrums man 1t is one Of the hardest
things In life to get away from any
where. r'
At last Lisbeth saw that something
must be done. The potatoes were
burning and T'nowhead had an invita-
ton on his tongue.
"Yes, I'll hae to be movin'," said
Sanders, hopelessly for the fifth time,
"Guid-night to ye, then, Sanders
said Lisbeth. "Gie the door fiing-to
ahent 'ye'
Sanders, with mighty effort, pulled
himself together. He looked boldly at
Bell and then took Off his hat care
fully. Sam'l saw with misgiving that
there was something In 1t which was
not a handkerchief. It was a paper
bag glittering with gold braid and con
tanned such an assortment OF sweets
as lads bought for their lassies on the
Muckle Friday.
. the bag to Bell In an offhand way as
In It were but a trifie. Nevertheless
he was q little excited. for he went of
. uithout saving good night
No one spoke. Bells face was Grim
, son. T'nowhead figeted on his chaiI
land Lsbeth looked at Saml. The
weaver was strangely calm and COL
lected, though he would have liked tc
know whether this was a proposal.
"Sit in by the table, SamI," said
Lisbeth trying to look as II things
were as they had been before.
She put a saucerful Of butter, salt
and pepper near the fire to melt, fol
melted butter is the shoeing horn thai
lhelps over q meal Of potatoes. Sam
however, saw what the hour required
and, jumping up, he seized his bon
net.
Hing the tatties higher UP the
joist, Lsbeth," he said with dignity
IFS be back In ten meenits."
He hurried out Of the house, leaving
the others looking at each other.
WndG Qo yS dohCu biobSsAA
81 dina KEN" faltered Bell.
"Thae tatties is long O. comm to the
|, BOIL" said T'nowhead.
, In some circles a lover who behaved
, like SamI would have been suspected
of intent upon his rivals life, bu
, neither Bell nor Lisbeth did the
, weaver that injustice. In case o
!, this kind 1t does not much mattel
' what T'nowhead thought.
> The ten minutes had barely passet
> when SamI was back In the farrI
kitchen. He was too Hurried to knoGi
, this time, and, indeed, Lisbeth dit
> not expect 1t Of him. -,
"Beli, hae!" he cried, handing hi
? sweetheart a tinsel bag twice TIT
3 size Of Sanders's gift -
"Losh preserve's!" exclaimed LIS
beth; Use warrant there's smiling
/ worth
"There's a. that, Lisbeth-an, mair,
r said Saml, firmly.
IT thank ye, Sam'l" said Bell, feel
ing an unwonted elation as she gazet
s at the two paper bags In her lap.
q "Ye're over extravegint, SamI.
i Lisbeth said.
3 mot at ALL" said Sam'l mot at all
n But vida advise we to eat thae 1.-THE
anes, Bell-they're second quality.
h Bell drew back a step from Sam1.
q How do We ken?" asked the farm
4 er shortly, for he liked Sanders.
h "I speired 4 the shop" said Saml.
= The goblet was placed on a broker
9 plate on the table with the saucer be
q side 1t, and Samr' like the others
helped himself. What he did was t
A take potatoes from the pot with nj
o fingers peel off their coats, and thel
dip them in the butter. Lisoetl
q would have liked to provide knives an
r forks, but she knew that beyond Ger
+ tain point T'nowhead was master Il
n his own house. AS for Samlr he Tel
q victory in his hands, and began Z
n think that he had gone too FAR. ..
4 In the meantime Sanders, little wit
> Ting that SamI had trumped nj
n trick, was sauntering along the kirk
v wynd with his hat on the side OF nj
2 head. Fortunately he did not meet tn
f minister.
y The counting of T'nowhead's Be
s reached it's crisis one Sabbath about
lmonth after the events above record
d ed. The minister was In great fore
d that day, but it is no part OF mine I
e tell how he bore himself. 1 was ther
q land am not likely to forget the scene