The Forrest City times., 1914-08-21


 Darby wore a wig designed for a larger man, and that the visage be- meath was gnarled and weather beaten, marked with the signs of stubborn and unreasonable will.
 Even now the aged belle could hear ter pop agfn. Ready ter hitch?"
 Samuers inelegant English had al ways been a source of distress to Blossy; yet still she stared long at the picture.
 Six months had passed since his last his winter advent.
 Should she give the old unvarying answer 10 his tlreless formula?
 She glanced around the tiny room. Ashamed though she was to admit it even to herself, she missed that ample and cozy chamber which she had so freely surrendered to Abraham and his wife. She missed it, as she felt they must crave their very own fire side; and the thought that they missed the old homestead made her yearn for the home that she might have had the home that she still might have.
 Again she brought her eyes back to the portrait; and now she saw, not the characteristics which had always made it seem impossible for her and Samuel to jog together down life's road but the great truth that the face was hon est and wholesome while the eyes looked back into hers with the prom lse of an answering care and affec- ton.
 The next morning found Blossy kneeling before plump little leather bound, time-worn trunk which she kept under the caves of the kitchen cham Der. The trunk was packed hard with bundles of old letters. Some her younger fingers had tied with violet ribbon; some they had bound with pink; others she had fastened togeth CT with white silk cord, and there were more and more bundles, both slim and stout, which Blossy had distinguished by some special hue of ribbon in the long ago, each tint marking a different suitor's missives.
 To her still sentimental eye the col ors remained unfaded, and each would bring to her mind instantly the pie ture of the writer as he had been in the golden days. But save to Blossy's eye alone there were no longer any rainbow tints in the little old trunk; for every ribbon and every cord had faded into that musty, yellow brown which is dyed by the passing of many years
 Abraham discovered her there, too old letters to have needed his creak- ing steps upon the stairs.
 Didn't see yer, till I most stumbled on yer" he began apologetically q come fer the apple-picker Thar's a handful of russets in the orchard yit, that's calc'latin ter spend Christmas up close ter heaven; but Say. Blossy,' he added more loudly, since she did not raise her head. 'yew seen anythin' O that air picker?"
 Blossy glanced up from her ragged edged, crackly billet-doux with a start, and dropped the envelope to the floor.
 For the moment, so deep in reminis- cence was she. she thought Captain Darby himself had surprised her i: then, recognizing Abe and recalling that Samuel's winter visits were inva- riably paid in the afternoon, she broke into shamefaced laugh.
 "Oh. Is that you. Brother Abe ? Don't tell the others what you found me doing. These" with wave of her delicate blue-veined hards over old love letters of mine. Do you think I'm silly old goose to keep them cluttering around so long?"
 "Wa'al" with an equally dep recatory gesture indicated Angy's horsehair trunk in the far corner oi the loft-"yew ain't no more foolisher I guess, over yer old trash n me an Angy be a-keepin' that air mlnin stock of mine, One lot is wuth 'bou, as much as t'other."
 Recovering the envelope that she haC dropped, he squinted at the superscrip l ton. Not meanin' ter be inquisitive or personal, Sister Blossy." teasins | twinkle appearing in his eye. but thi. 1 looks dretful familiarity. this here 1 handwritin' does. When l run the ] beach-yew've heard me tell of tht | time l was on the life-savin' crew over ter Bleak Hill fer a spell-my | cap'n he had a fist jest like that Useter make out the spickest, span nest reports. Lemme see" the twinkle deepening, didn't the gals say yev was 'spectin somebody terday? Law aint saw Cap'n Sam1 fer ten year or more. l guess on these here pop pin trips O hisn he haint wastin time on no menfolks, But. Blossy yew better give me a chance ter tall to him this afternoon. an mebbe IT speak a good word fer yer"
 Blossy. not always keen to see ; joke. and with her vanity now in tn, ascendent, felt the color rise into he withered cheek.
 "Oh, you needn't take the troubl, to speak a good word for me- An,