The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-05-25
A Bit ST
Progress
BY KATHERINE BATES

per Syndicate.)
The sunlight fell 80 holly on the pile
of guano bags crOwding the little wharf
that the man leaning against the heap
ed-up sacks could hardly believe that
1t was May, and not July. He drew
bis eyelidS together and through his
lashes looked down the cleaning river
toward Norfolk, three miles away. On
either side of the river truck farms
stretched away toward the pine forests
farther inland; just now the farms
were at their greenest strawberry
fields, cabbage patches. acres of spin
och, al i'll yerdant strife. The river
ducked in here and there. flinging clear,
shimmering streams a little way back
into the country, and the marshes
around these inlets gave a rank, vel
low tinge to the green outlook. Now
and then a pine grove not yet cleared
away led the green's to the other ex-
IRENE, to the dark somber hue which
had little but name in common with
the brightness Of the water-grasS. The
man on the wharf sighed as he noted
these varying shades.
1T would take me to make this pay,
he said Eyes, sir, what this here fer
tile patch of old Virginia needs is nm
Iowa mani. Archibald Jernigan could
make his pile here, but none Of these
lazy Southern truckers will make
their salt"
The cool sound OF the incoming tide
swishing against the wharf turned his
thoughts from the farms. There would
be shade on the other side of the guano
bags; he sprang upon them and
dropped down into the shadow,
dropped down beside Ianthe Var
brough, who lolled in placid ease
against the bags.
BEG pardon, MISS said Mr.. Jerni-
gan, startled into a stammer, although
his was by no means q hesitating ma
ture.
Don't mind me-" said the girl calm
ly. 81 heard you talkin' to yo'self,
but I reckon I'd let you come over II
you wanted to-"
She smiled at him with indolent in
terest and Mr.. Jernigan smiled back.
Daughter Of the gentleman over
theref' he asked. politely, waving his
hand toward a clump Of pines around
q small white house.
"Yes, this is pas place. From Nor
folkr'
He swelled with the importance of
the man who comes from a distance.
Prom Wellsville. Iowa. Fine state,
Iowa"
you are a long ways from home,
she observed.
Mr.. Jernigan drew down his mus
| tnche.
IAN aunt Just died down there
| in Norfolk-consumption. Doctors
sent her here, no money spared, none
whatever, but I come on and buried
her a week ago tomorrow. Aunt that
brought me up
I'm certnly sorry she died" Ianthe
said softly.
"Iamentable, lamentable, but we
must all die, and she was past sixty
Pretty country you've got round here
Mss-er-Miss?
"Did you walk down yonder road?
she asked with q sudden increase oil
interest. Sweet honeysuckles Is al
In bloom over there, gullies on eacf
side the road Jus filled with 1t, ant
yalluh Jasmine climhin' over every
thing It can lay vines on-smelled a.
sweet as it looked. didn't it?"
"Very nice smell, very nice, indeed,
agreed Mr.. Jernigan. "but amt yor'
pa goin' to be a little late with hi:
kale for the Boston and New Yorl
markets."
81 reckon" she answered. "Mos
folks round here are too late for thu
markets" She laughed little as sh'
added: pres Lewis. who has tn
truck patch next our, never does &c
anything to market in time"
"I infer he don't prosper" said Mr.
Jernigan. I'D like to give him few
notions about trucking"
She turned TO him quickly. "Woul'
you? Oh, do-for pa can't put up witt
his bein' so way behind; pad like t
be-be progressive, and Pres fret
him. You see. Pres don't get on, nc
he don't prosper, JUS as you say"
as there any-any special reasol
why he'd better be prospecting" MI
Jernigan asked. looking delicatel
away toward Norfolk.
Ianthe picked up long pole lying o.
the wharf near her: she bent back. an
looked around the corner Of the whar
prodded with the pole the mu
where the tide still left upcovere
oyster shells and various bits Of debris
"Well," she at last said frankly
''there's me-"
"Quite a reason" he said gallantl!
He looked at her attentively. and r.
peated. "quite a reason"
Eyes, I reckon I am" she agreet
.S'pose you do give Pres some ne'
ideas. don't know as he could carr
them out, but he could talk them {
pa, and after all talk does about a
well as goin' with pa. You tell m
them, and I'll tell Pres"
"Well, there's English walnuts-thi
sorter land and yore climate orter b
lust the thing for Them" he began. /