The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-09-06
Copyright, by Irving Bachellerl
CHAPTER xVII-Continued.


In from the twenty-acre lot with a
load of hay. Aunt Deel stood on the
front steps looking down the road.
Now and then her waving handker-
chief went to her eyes. Uncle Pea
body came down the standard off his
load and walked toward me.
"Say, stranger, have you seen any
thing of Teller by the name O. Bart
Baynes?" he demanded.
slave your" I asked.
''No, sir, I amt. Gosh almighty !!
Say! what have We done with that boy
of our'nT
'What have you done to our houseT
I asked again.
Built on an addition"
"That's what I've done to your boy"
I answered.
Thunder an lightnin'l How you've
raised the roof!" he exclaimed as he
grabbed my satchel. Dressed like a
statesman an bigger'n a bullmoose.
can't 'rastle with you no more. But,
say, I'll run We race. I can beat ye
an carry the satchel, too"
We ran pell-mell up the lane to the
steps like pair of children.
Aunt Deel did not speak. She just
put her arms around me and laid her
Gear old head upon my breast. Uncle
Peabody turned away. Then what a
silence! Off in the edge Of the wood
land heard the fairy flute Of a wood
thrush,
"Purvis, you drive that load on the
floor an put up the hosses," Uncle
Peabody shouted in a moment. III
you don't like it you can hire mother
man. / won't do no more till after
dinner. This slave business Is played
out"
"All right" Purvis answered.
"You bet it's all right. I'm fer abo
Iition an I've stood Jour domineerin'
nigger-driver ways long enough fe
one mornin'. If you don't like it yol
can look for another man."
Aunt Deel and I began to laugh a
this good-natured, make-believe scold
ing of Uncle Peabody and the emo
tional strain was over. They led M
into the house, where a delightful sur
prise awaited me, for the rooms hat
been decorated with balsam bough
and sweet ferns. A glowing mass O
violets, framed In moss, occupied tn
center of the table. The house wa
filed with the odors of the forest
which, as they knew, were dear to me
had written that they might expec
me some time before noon, but
begged them not to meet me in Can
ton, as I wished to walk home afte
my long ride. So they were ready TO
me.
remember how they felt the clotl
on my back and how proudly they sur
veyed it.
Couldn't buy them goods 'rounc
these parts" said Uncle Peabody
"Nor nothin' like 'em-no, sir"
"Feels leetle bit like the butternu
trousers said Aunt Deel as she fel
my coat.
ayes, but them butternut trouser.
amt what they used to be when they
was young and limber," Uncle Peabody
remarked. Seems so they was get
tin kind o. wrinl1led an baldheaded
like, specially where set down."
"Ayesl Wal I guess man cam
grow old without his pants CROWN
old, too--ayes /" said Aunt Deel.
IF yer legs are in 'em ev'ry Sunday
they ketch it of ye," my uncle an.
swered. Long sermons are hard on
pants. seems to me-"
AN the longer the legs the harder
the sermons-in them little seats over
t the schoolhouse-ayes" Aunt Deel
added by way of justlfying his com.
plant. There wouldn't be so much
wear in ten-fnile walk-noP
The chicken pie was baking and the
strawberries were ready for the short
cake.
i've been wallerin' since the dew
was off gittin' them berries an VII
lets-ayasp said Aunt Deel, now busy
with Der work at the stove.
Aunt, you look as young as ever" I
remarked.
She slapped my arm and said with
mock severity:
"Stop thatl wy! You know better
ayes /"
How vigorously she stirred the fire
then.
II can't return the complimentary
soul how you've changed-ayesw she
remarked.
Il hope you amt fit no more, Bart.
can't bear to think o. you flyin' at
folks an poundin' of 'em. Don't seem
right-no. 1t don'tw
why, Aunt Deel, what In the world
do You meanp I asked.
tits Purvis' brain that does the
popndin', l guess" said my uncle.
IFS kind O. got the habit. It's a req
lar beetle brain. To hear him talk
ye'd think he an you could clean out
the hull Mexican nation-barrin' acct
dents. Why, anybody would suppose
that yer enemies 90 TO climhin, trees