The state herald., 1915-06-25
CHAPTER VI-Contlnued.

"Thar's a-goin ter be dancin'
party over ter Vile McCagers mill
come Saturday" he insinuatingly sug-
gested. 81 reckon yen 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 1t" At last, how
ever. her restraint broke, and. looking
up. she abruptly demanded:
Air ye a-goin' away. Samson?"
Who's been a-talkin' ter ye?" de-
manded the boy. angrily.
For 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
ye had right ter go down thar, an
git an eddicatton." She made weary
gesture toward the great beyonA.
He hadn't ought to of told ye.
Sally. If I'D been plumb sartin in my
mind. I'd a-told ye myself-not but
what l knows" he hastily amended.
"thet he meant hit friendly"
Air ye a-goin'?"
I'm studyin' about hit"
He awaited objection. but none
came. Then, with a piquing of his
masculine vanity, he demanded:
'Hain't ye a-keerin'. Sally. whether
goes, or not7"
The girl grew rigid. Her fingers on
the crumbling plank Of the stiles top
frightened and gripped hard. Her face
did not betray her. nor her voice.
though she had TO gulp down rising
hump in her throat before she could
answer calmly.
J think ye had ought to 80. 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
hills fer ye. Samson. Down thar, yen
see lots Of things thet's new-an' civil.
lied an beautiful Yen see lots Of
gals thet kin read an write, gals
dressed up In all kinds OF fancy hr.
in's." Her glib words ran out and
ended in q sort Of inward gasp.
Compliment came hardly and awk.
wardly to Samson's lips. He reached
70: the girls hand. and whispered:
\ reckon ! won't see no gals thets
as purity as you be. Sally. l reckon ys
knows. whether goes or stays. we're
a.goin' ter git married"
She drew her hand away, and
laughed. = little bitterly. In tho last
day. she had ceased to be n child, and
become 4 woman with all the soul.ach.
ing possibilities OF q woman'a intui.
tons.
Samson" she said. Il haint askin'
ye ter make me no promises. When
ye sees them other gais-gals thet kin
read an write-l reckon mebby yell
think dif'rent. can't hardly spell
out printin' In the fust reader
Her lovers voice was scornfui OF the
imagined dangers. as a recruit may be
Of the battle terrors-bcfore he has
been under are. He slipped his urSn
about her and drew her over to him.
Honey" be said. ''ye needn't fret
about thet. Readlh' an writin' can't
make no difference fer woman.
Hits mighty important fer a man. but
you're gal"
You're a-Eoin' ter think d.frent at.
ter awhile." she insisted. when ".
goes. I haint a-goin' tor oo espeetin'
70 ter come back But"-the
resolution In her yolrs for a moment
quavered AZ she addcd-"but God
knows I'm a.goln' tcr be hopln'i"
-snllyi" Tho boy rose. and paced
up and down In the road. Air y.
Goin' ter be aginnt mo. ,oo1 Don't ye
SEQ that wants ter have ohAnst
Can't ye trust moi I'm lost a.tryIn'
10 amount 10 something. I'm plumb
tired OF bcin ornery an no count"
She nodded
i've done told ye." she said. woarily.
",het ! thinks ye ought ter do hit"
Lesoot, and Samson discussed tho
matter frequently. A. times tho boy
~aH obstinate In hin determination to
remain. at other timen ha gave way
TO the yearninsn for onanEo and oppor.
tunity.
The dance on Saturday was 10 ps
something more portontous than a
mere froiie. II would be a clan gath.
airing 10 which The South Adhersnts
sooid eo~s riding W. and iown NJ.
~ sAS ~ otbstariss frsa 'pist