The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-04-22
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ILLUSTRATED 81 LAUREN STOUT
LAUREN STOUT

trlHe dlmCultly. Il always have.
don't know why. Idiosyncrasy, ssr,~
pose. But I shouldn't caro- 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
mon do, too. But don't like to do it
myself"
Wouldn't that theory lead to q
Wholesale evasion Of responsibility!
Perhaps. Pm no philosopher. But
blackbird or a red fox is so pretty
even when he is tilievins, that I'd lot
him have the corn. Pm like tho
Lord High Exccutioner in THE MI
kado' who was so tender-hearted that
he couldn't execute anybody and
planned to begin with guinea pigs and
work up. Only Pm afraid couldn't
even manage tho 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 a 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 l was
from de Norf,' but he knowed 1t.
I've annexed i'm 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 1 like it?" cried John Valiant
do 1 like it,"
A quick pleasure glanced across her
face. ITS nice OF you to say 1t that
way. We ask that question so often
It's become mechanical. You see it's
our great show-place."
At that moment 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:
II wonder what they are up to-"
The pair came in whirl through
the bushes. The foremost was
seven-year-o!d 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
rs turkeys egg, with hair cropped
like a boys. She held carving
knife cut from a shingle, whose edge
had been deeply ensanguined by poke.
berry juice. The pursued one STUN.
bled over root and came to earth in
heap, while the other pounced upon
her like a wildcat.
Hold still, you limb of Satan," she
Bcolded. How can I do 1t 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 III put your liver
right back again"
Wait er minute. All jes remem-
bahs All fo'go: ter make nah will. Ah
leabs--"
"Nonsense!" objected the other .rri-
tably. You madejt yesterday. They
always % it beforehand"
mo. suh All done clean fergot ct.
All ieabs nah thimble ter de Metodle
church, en- nah black on w'ite kitten
ter Rickey Snyder, en-"
A twig snapped under Valiant's foot.
Both scrambled to their feet. the black
girl to look at them with a wide self
conscious grin. Hickey, tossing her
short hair back from her freckled
face, came toward them.
MY goodness Miss Shirley" she
said, I'VE didn't see you at ALL" She
looked at Valiant. Are you the man
that's going to fix up Damory CourtY'
she inquired, without any tedious for
malities.
YES" said Valiant.
Well" she said critically, you've
got your job cut out for you. But /
should say you're the kind to do it,
"Rickey" Shirley's voice tried to
be stern, but there was hint OF
laughter in 1t.
What did I say now?" inquired
Hickey. I'm sure | meant 1t to be
complimentary"
1T was" said Valiant. 'I shall try