Cleveland County herald., 1919-05-15
Copyright, by Irving Bachellerl
CHAPTER xVIl-continued.

My heart beat fast when 1 saw the house and my uncle and Purvis coming In from the twenty-aere lot with 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 feller by the name O Bart BaynesF he demanded.
 Have your" I asked.
 "N0, sir, I ain't. Gosh almighty! Say what have ye done with that boy of our'n7'
 What have you done to our houseY" asked again.
 Built on an addition"
 That's what I've done to your boy" I answered
 Thunder an lightnin'! How you've raised the roof" he exclaimed as he grabbed my satchel. Dressed like statesman an bigger'n a bullmoose. can't 'rastie with you no more. But, say, fh run ye 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 cear osd head upon my breast. Uncle Peabody turned away. Then what a silencei Off in the edge of the wood- land l heard the fairy flute of wood thrush,
 ''Purvis, you drive that load on the floor an put up the hosses," Uncle Peabody shouted in moment If you don't like it you can hire mother man. I won't do no more till after dinner. This slave business is played out
 "An right" Purvis answered.
 "You bet it's all right. I'm fer abo- Iition an I've stood your domineerin', nigger-driver ways long enough fer one mornin'. If you don't like it you can Look for another man."
 Aunt Deei and I began to laugh at this good-natured, make-belieye scold- ing of Uncle Peabody and the emo- tional ssrain was over. They led me into the house, where delightful sur prise awaited me, for the rooms had been decorated with balsam boughs and sweet ferns. A glowing mass of violets, framed in moss, occupied the center Gf the table. The house was filled with the odors of the forest which, as they knew, were dear to me- I had written that they might expect me some time before noon, but begged them not to meet me in Can ton, as I wished to walk home after my long ride. So they were ready for me.
 I remember how they felt the cloth on my back and how proudly they sur yeyed it.
 Couldn't buy them goods round these parts" said Uncle Peabody. ''Nor nothin' like 'em-no, sir"
 Feels leetle bit like the butternut trousers" said Aunt Deel as she felt my coat.
 Ayes. but them butternut trousers ain't what they used to be when they was young and 1imber," Uncle Peabody remarked. "Seems so they was get
 
 like, specially where I set down."
 "Ayesl Wal I guess a man can't grow old without his pants growth old tOo-ayes !" said Aunt Deel. Eff 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-" rs Tho lnn fho 1opc tho borJo. the sermons-in them little seats over 't the schoolhouse-ayes! l" Aunt Deel added by way of justifying his com plaint. 'sThere wouldn't be so much | wear in ten-mile walk-nor' 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 viz lets-ayes !" said Aunt Deel, now busy with her work at the stove. Aunt you look as young as ever" remarked. She slapped my arm and said with l mock severity: "Stop that! Wy! You know better ayes" How vigorously she stirred the fire | then.
 ''I can't return the complimentary 1 soul how you've changed-ayes l" she | remarked. T hope you ain't fit no more, Bart. l l can't bear to think O you fyin' at l folks an poundin' of 'em. Don't seem | right-ne. 1t don't l" ''Why, Aunt Deel, what in the world | do you mean?" I asked.
 Its Purvis' brain that does the l poundin', I guess" said my uncle. | Its kind O got the habit. It's d reg lar beetle brain. To hear him talk ye'd think he an you could clean out the hull Mexican nation-barrin' acci- dents. Why, anybody would suppose that yer enemies go to climbin' trees 1