Alma record., 1914-02-12

GUS hounds they said, and dozen
galloping horses. And look what
poor shivering little red-brown NOR
sci ami"
For just an instant the bronZe-gold
head gave a quick imperious toss. like
high-mettled pony under the flick
of the whip. But as suddenly the
shadow of resentment passed; the
mobile face under the bent hatbrim
turned thoughtful. She looked again
at him. do you think it's wrong to
kill things?" she asked gravely.
"Oh, dear. no." he smiled. II
haven't a single ism. I'm not even
vegetarian"
But you would be If you had to kill
your own meat?"
Perhaps. So many of us would.
AS a matter of fact. don't hunt my
self, but I'm no reformer."
why don't you hunt?"
Il don't enjoy it." He flushed
slightly Il hate firearms" he said.
trfie difficulty 81 always have. l
don't know why. Idiosyncrasy, | sup
pose But | shouldn't care for hunt
ing, even with bows and arrows. l
would kill tiger or poisonous rep
tile, or anything else. in case of neces-
sity. But even then | should hardly
enjoy it. | know some animals are
pests and have to be killed Some
/ men do, too But don't like to do it
myself"
Wouldn't that theory lead to a
wholesale evasion of responsibility
Perhaps. I'm no philosopher But
a blackbird or red fox is so pretty,
even when he is thieving, that I'd let
him have the corn. I'm like the
( Lord High Executioner in The Mi
kado' who was so tender-hearted that
he couldn't execute anybody and
planned to begin with guineapigs and
work up. Only I'm afraid l couldn't
even manage the guinea-pigs."
She laughed. "You wouldn't find
many to practice on here. Do you
raise guinea-pigs up North?"
"Ah," he said ruefully. "you tag me,
too Have by chance large letter
N tattooed upon my manly brow? But
suppose it's the accent. Uncle JEFF
ferson catalogued me In five minutes.
He said he didn't know why I was
from de Norf, but he knowed' it..
I've annexed him and his wife, by the
way"
You're lucky to have them. Unc'
Jefferson and Aunt Daph might have
slipped out of plantation of the last
century They're absolutely ante-bel-
lum Most of the negroes are more
or less spoiled, as you'll find. I'm
afraid" She turned the conversation
bluntly. Had you seen Damory
Court before?"
mo, never"
do you like the general plan of the
placer"
do l like it?" cried John Valiant.
DO l like it!'
A quick pleasure glanced across her
face. tits nice of you to say it that
way. We ask that question so often
it's become mechanical. You see, it's
our great show-place."
At that moment a patter Of foot
steps and shrill shrieks came flying
over the last-year's leaves beyond the
lilac bushes. It's Hickey Snyder" she
said, peering out smilingly as two
children, pursued and pursuer burst
into view "Hush!" she whispered; !;
Il wonder what they are up to-"
The pair came in a whirl through
the bushes The foremost was a
seven-year-old negro girl, in single
short cottonade garment, wizened,
barelegged and bareheaded, her black
wool parted in little angular patches
and tightly wrapped with bits of cord.
The other was white and as freckled
as a turkeys egg, with hair cropped
like a boys. She held a carving
knife cut from shingle. whose edge
had been deeply ensanguined by poke
berry juice The pursued one stun
bled over a root and came to earth In
heap while the other pounced upon
her like a wildcat.
Hold still, you limb of Satan" she
scolded How can l do it when you
won't stay still?"
"Oh, lawd," moaned the PROSTATE
one, in simulated terror; "oh, Doctah,
good Doctah Snydah, has All gotter
hab dat operation? Is yo' sho' gwine-
ter twitter aroun' nah insides wild
dem knives en- saws en- things?"
1T won't hurt" reassured the would
be operator; mo more than it did Mis-
Poly Clifford And I'll put your liver
right back again"
wait er minute. All jes' remem-
bahs All fo'got ter make nah will. Ah
leabs-"
Nonsense" objected the other irri-
tably. You made it yesterday. They
always do it beforehand"
mo, sub; All done clean fergot ct.
All leabs NAH thimble ter de Mefodis'