The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-04
mssfmhsa Sy Lauren Sesus


fng. then reached for n third and n
fourth. From these she looked up,
startled. That date In her mother q
calendar called for cape Jessamines.
What was the fourteenth OF May to
herf
She bent a slow troubled gaze about
her. The room had been hers as a
Child. She seemed suddenly back In
that childhood. with her mother bend.
ang over her pillow and fondling her
rebellious hair. When the wind cried
Tor loneliness out In the dark she had
sung old songs to her. Sad songs!
Even In those pinafore years Shirley
Dad vaguely realized that pain lay be-
mind the bravo gay mask. Was there
something - some event - that had
caused that dull-colored life and un-
fulnlmentf And was today. perhaps,
fts anniversary?
John Valiant sat propped up on the
library couch, an open magazine un-
needed on his knee. The reading.
stand beside him was a litter of let
ters ard papers The bow-window
was open and the honeysuckle breeze
blew about HIM lifting his hair and
rufflfng the leaves OF the papers. In
tho garden three darkies were labor
Ing. under the supervision of Uncle
Jefferson. The unsiyhtly weeds and
aichen were gone from the graveled
paths. and from the fountain pool,
whose shaft now spodted q slender
bpray shivered by the breeze into a
million diamonds. which fell back into
fhe pool with q tintinabulant trlckle
Ind drip.
Tie master OF Damory Court closed
she magazine with sigh. "If could
only do II all at oncel" he muttered.
1T takee such confounded time.
Sour days they've been working now,
and they haven't done much more
than clean up" He laughed. and
Threw tho magazine at the dog who
bodsed IL with injured alacrity. After
Al Chum." he remarked. Its been
thirty years getting In this condition.
j guess we're doing pretty we'll"
He stretched luxuriously. 'Tn take
y hand at II myself tomorrow. I'm
es right az rain again now, thanks to
Aunt Daph and tho doctor. Some
thing OF crusty citizen, the doctor.
but he's all 70 the good"
heavy step came along the porch
and Uncle Jefferson appeared with
tray holding q covered dish with a
plate OF biscuit and round jam.pot.
Look here" said John Valiant. II
had my luncheon three hours ago, I'm
being stuffed like q milk-fed turkey"
The Old man smiled widely "Et's
5es' or III snack er BROTH" he said
~Reck'n et'll kinder float eroun' de
yuddah things. Dis yeah pots dat
applebuttah whut Miss Matte Sue
sen yo' by Hickey Snyder"
Valiant shifted with satisfaction
I'm getting so confoundedly spoiled"
'he said. that I'm tempted To stay sick
and do nothing but eat. BY the way.
Uncle Jefferson. where did Hickey
como from7 Does she belong here?"
No. sub. She come fom Helrs-
Half.Acre."
What's that9"
Oats dat ornery passle O. folks
yondah on do Dome" explained Cn-
Gle Jefferson. "Dey's been dab longs
An KIN recommembah-jes' er ram
shackle lot o. shirless po'-white trash
whut git erlong anyways Z ALL"
That's interesting" said Valiant.
80 Hickey belonged there?'
! Vas. sub: nebbah d a-come down
heah 'oep'in' To- Mis- Shirley. She de
ono whut fotch do iii gal outen dat
place. On put huh wild Ms Matte Sue.
three yeah ergo"
A sudden color came into John Va
1iant's cheeks. Tell me about It,"
His voice vibrated eagerly.
Well. suh." continued Uncle Jeffer-
son. "dey was one o. dem low-down
'Hell'sfIalfAcrers, name Greet King.
whut call hese'f do mayah OBJ de
Dome. en- no went on do rampage one
day. en- took ahtah his wife. She was
er po' sickly CONAN. wild or III gal
five yeah ol' by er fust husban' He
done beat huh heap o. times befo'. but
dis time no boun' ter finish huh. All
reck'n ho was too drunk 10 dat. en-
she got erway en- run down heah. Et
was wintah time en- dah's snow on dc
groun'. Dah's er road rom do Dome
dat hits do Red Road clost' ter Rose
wood--dat ar's do cambridge place
on she como dab. Rcck'n she wuz or
pitiful-lookln' obstacle. 'Peahs lax
she done put do iii gal up In do
cabin lof' en- hid dc laddah on she
mos crazy 10 fcah Greet git huh. She
lef no huntin' 70 do young 'un when
sho run erway. Dey vas on'y Mis-
Judith ON Mis- Shirley on do gal En-.
line at Rosewood Well. sub. dcy
want no time ter SEN 10 men Whut
yo' reck'n Mis- Shirley do? She ain
afeahd o. muffin or dis yerf. en- sha
on'y scbenteen yeah oil den too. She
don tell Mis- Judith-no. sub She
A 80 kttt