Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-04-23
CHAPTER Vl-Continued.

"Thars a-goin' ter be a dancin'
party over ter Vile McCager'S mill
come Saturday." he insinuatingly sug-
gested. Il reckon yell go over thar
with me- won't ye, Sally?"
He waited for her usual delighted
assent, but Sally only told him absent
ly and without enthusiasm that she
would study about it," At last, how
ever, her restraint broke, and, looking
up, she abruptly demanded
Air We a-goin' away, Samson?"
who's been a-talkin' ter YEP" de-
manded the boy, angrily.
For a moment, the girl sat silent.
Finally she spoke in grave voice:
Hit hain't nothin ter git mad about,
Samson. The artist man lowed as how
We had a right ter go down thar, an
git an eddication." She made weary
gesture toward the great beyond.
He hadn't ought to of told We,
Sally. If I'd been plumb sartin in my
mind, I'd a-told We myself-not but
what l knows he hastily amended,
"thet he meant hit friendly"
Air We a-goin'?"
I'm studyin' about hit"
He awaited objection, but none
came. Then, with a piquing of his
masculine vanity, be demanded:
"Hain't We a-keerin', Sally, whether
goes, or n0t?"
The girl grew rigid. Her fingers on
the crumbling plank Of the stiles top
Gightened and gripped hard, Her face
did not betray her nor her voice,
though she had to gulp down a rising
lump in her throat before she could
answer calmly.
q think We had ought to go, Sam
son"
The boy was astonished. He had
avoided the subject for fear of her op-
position-and tears.
Then, slowly, she went on:
There hain't nothin' in these here
mills fer We, Samson. Down thar, ye1l
zee lots of things thet's new-an' civil
tied an beautiful! Yell see lots of
gals tibet kin read an write, gals
dressed up in all kinds of fancy fix
ms" Her glib words ran out and
ended in sort of inward gasp.
Compliment cane hardly and awk-
,wardly to Samson's lips. He reached
for the girls hand. and whispered:
81 reckon | won't see no gals thet's
as purity as you be. Sally. l reckon We
knows, whether goes or stays, we're
a-goin ter git married"
She drew her hand away, and
laughed, little bitterly. In the last
day, she had ceased to be a child, and
become a woman with all the soul-ach-
ing possibilities of woman's intui-
lions
Samson" she said, 81 haint askin'
.ye ter make me no promises. When
ye sees them other gals-gals tibet kin
read an write--I reckon mebby yeJl
think different. can't hardly spell
out printin' in the fust reader
Her lovers voice was scornful of the
imagined dangers, as a recruit may be
of the battle terrOrs-before he has
been under fire. He slipped his arm
about her and drew her over to him.
Honey" he said, we needn't fret
about tibet. Readin' an writin' can't
make no difference fer woman.
Hits mighty important fer a man. but
you're gal"
You're a-goin ter think diffrent at.
her awhile" she insisted. when We
goes, hain't a-goin' ter be expectin'
ye ter come back But"-tha
resolution in her voice for a moment
1uavered as che added-"but God
knows I'm a-goin' ter be hopin'!"
Sally The boy rose and paced
up and down In the road. Air We
goin' ter be ag1nst me, too? Don't we
gee that wants ter have a chanst?
Cant We trust me? I'm Jest a-tryin'
10 amount to something. I'm plumb
sired OF bein' ornery an no count"
She nodded.
I've done told ye." she said YEARLY,
Ythet thinks 20 ought ter do hit"
Lescott and Samson discussed the
matter frequently. At times the boy
was obstinate in his determination to
femain at other times he gave way
TO the warnings for change and oppor.
6unity.
The dance on Saturday was to De
Gonething more portentous than a
mere frolic. 1t would be a clan gath.
ering to which the South adherents
would come riding up and down Mis-
sry and it's tributaries from nigh