The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1919-04-16
CHAPTER VIII
THE PROGRESS OF THE
COUNTRY OF OLD

Samantha began trying to make
an excuse. "Oh, we were just
--~er-'
Dancing"
"'Well, no just playing. Does
the noise bother you, mother?"
Eyes, Samantha, you know 1t
did. And 1 am sorry you disobey-
ed your father You know what
he told you about dancing"
Eyes, l know" said Samantha
snappishly; but l am tired of be-
ing bossed around just like l was
a little child. l am getting old en-
ough to know how to give parties
and have fun without fathers
direction. He is just an old fool,
that's what he isl" Her eyes
flashed.
wait, Samantha, don't speak
so disrespectfully of your father. 1
won't allow it," Then to the
guests: my young friends, 1 am
sorry 1 interrupted your pleasure,
DuJ tueTS lluSl NC uO hlOiO uohNih6
here tonight. Understand"
Eyes, we understand" said
Samantha angrily.
AS her mother left the room and
disappeared down the walk toward
Devondale, she turned to her
guests: IL am sorry we had to
make a scene," she said, "but l
am determined that the old folks
shan't spoil all our fun. We will
not dance any more, as | have
promised, but we will play the old
fashioned games which will furn-
ish just as much pleasure"
The years had added another
trait to her character. She had
acquired enough polish to allow
her to disobey and affront her par
ents and spurn their counsel.
The games were entered into
with zest. All present joined
heartily in the old play, "Skip-to-
my LOU" and romped until they
were GREATNESS. Then some of
them Joined hands and danced
around in a circle, singing:
''Oh, don't you want to go,
Oh, don't you want to go
Way down in Alabama where
the orange blossoms grow;
Where the boys reap and NOW,
And the girls knit and sew,
Well rally round the canebrake
and csase the buffalo"
At last they grew tired of this
and started a quieter game called,
PLEASED or Displeased?" in which
one had to salty the wishes of the
displeased person. 1t fell to Os-
cars lot to be the servitor and to
Bill, who possessed "A propensity
for joking, to be the displeased
one. what will please you then?
Bill, knowing what would please
Oscar, if it did not him, and see
ing an opportunity to play joke,
said, For you to kiss Samantha
Then he laughed loud laugh.
But it was not such a joke with
Oscar. 1t was up to him to please
Bill and he was determined to do
SO. So he went over to Samantha
and put his arm arohnd her. She
again said mo" when she meant
yes" but to no avail. He drown
ed her protestatiOns in resounding
smack that set all the crowd to
roaring with laughter.
Just then Samanthas father en-
tered the room. He saw her lean
ingi in Oscars arms, stood still
and stared.
Samantha, what does this
mean?" he asked angrily. She did
not answer. Then turning to Os-
car, he said:
Brown, come out in the yard
with me. l want a word with you.
Oscar followed obediently.
When they reached the terrace
below the lawn he said, Brown,
I've forbade you coming here and
you insist on doing SO. Samantha
has become so she will lie for you
or do most anything else since you
helped her across the creek that
night. And now | find you kissing
her! You certainly are making
progress. Brown, you see that
road down there. You take it alc
i don't want to see you back here
agsin." With that he lifted Os-
can coat-tail and delivered a lusly
lok into the L6st available part
of his pants.
This accomplished, he turned
and went back into the house
where he found Samantha weep
ing. The guests had departed in
hot haste withOut the customary