The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1922-06-24


10 court Diantha Bowman, the rosy
checked, golden-haired idol Of his boy-
hood. Diantha's cheeks were not ROSY
now, and her hair was more silver than
gold, but she was not yet his wife.
And he had tried SO hard to win
her. Year after year the rosiest ap-
pies from his orchard and the choicest
honey from his apiary had found their
way to Diantha's table; and year
after year the county fair and village
picnic had found him at Diantha's door
with his old mare and his buggy.
ready to be her devoted slave for the
day. Nor was Diantha unmindful OF
all these attentions. She ate the ap-
Piles and the honey. and spent long
1 contented hours in the buggy; but she
! still answered his pleadings with her
gentle: Il hain't no call to marry yet,
Phineas,' and nothing he could do
seemed to hasten her decision in the
least 1t was the mare and the buggy.
however. that proved to be responsible
for what was the beginning Of the
end.
They were on their way home from
the county fair. The mare, head
hanging, was plodding through the
dust when around the curve of the
road shot the one automobile that the
town boosted. The next moment the
whizzing thing had passed, and left
superannuated old mare looming
through a cloud Of dust and dancing
on two wabbly hind legs.
'Plague take them autymobiles !"
snarled Phineas through set teeth, as
he sawed at the reins. II az pardon,
I'm sure, Dianthy," he added shame
facedly, when the mare had dropped
to a position more nearly normal; "but
hain't no use fur them ere contrap-
tions!'
| Diantha frOwned. She was fright
ened-and because she was frightened
she was angry. She said the first
thing that came into her head-and
never had she spoken to Phineas so
sharply.
IF you'd have some use for 'em,
Phineas Hopkins, you wouldn't be
crawlin' along in shiftless old rig
like this; you'd have one yourself an
be somebody! For my part, l like
'em, an I'm jest achin' ter ride in 'em,
tool"
Phineas almost dropped the reins
In his amazement. "Achin' ter ride
In 'em," she had said-and all that he
could give her was this "shiftless old
rig" that she so scorned. He remem-
bered something else. too. and his face
famed suddenly red. 1t was Colonel
Smith who owned and drove that au-
tomobile, and Colonel Smith, too, was
bachelor. What if Instantly in
Phineas' soul rose fierce jealousy
II like boss, myself" he said, with
some dignity. II want somethin' that's
alive!"
Diantha laughed slyly. The dan
ger was past, and she could afford to
be merry.
"Well, It strikes me that you come
pretty near havin' sOmethin' that
want alive jest cause you had some
thin that wasr' she retorted Really,
Phineas, didn't s'pose Dolly could
move so fast! -
Phineas brindled.
"Do11y knew how ter move once"
he rejoined grimly. "'Cause nobody
pretends ter say she's young now. any
more'n we be-" he finished with some
defiance. But he dropped visibly at
Diantha's next words.
"Why, l don't feel old. Phineas, an
amt old, either. Look at Colonel
Smith; he's jest my age, an he's got
Z autymobile. Mebbe I'll have one
some day."
To Phineas It seemed that a cold
hand clutched his heart.
"Dianthy. you wouldn't really-ride
In one!" he faltered.
Until that moment Diantha had not
been sure that she would. but the
Quaver in Phineas' voice decided her.
Wouldn't 1? You Jest wait an
seei"
And Phineas did wait-and he did
see. He saw Diantha. not week
later, pink-cheeked and bright-eyed,
sitting by the side of Colonel Smith
in that hated automobile. Nor did he
stop to consider that Diantha was only
one Of dozen upon whom Colonel
Smith, in the enthusiasm Of his new
possession. was pleased to bestow that
attention. To Phineas 1t could mean
but one thing, and he did not change
his opinion when he heard Diantha's
account Of the ride.
1T was perfectly lovely" she
hreathed. "Oh, Phineas, 1t was jest
like fyin'!"
"'Flyinr" Phineas could say no
more. He felt as II he were choking
choking with the dust raised by
Dolly's plOdding hoofs.
AN the trees an the houses swept |
BY like ghosts" continued Diantha.
why, Phineas, l could a rode on an
on fureverr
Before the ecstatic rapture In d.
antha's face Phineas went down in de- |
feat. Without one word he turned |
away-but in his heart he registered
solemn vow: he. too. would have an
automobile; he. too. would make d.
antha wish to ride on and on for
ever!
Arduous DAYS came then to Phineas.
Pfineas was not rich man. He had
enough for his modest wants, but un-