The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, November 11, 1915, Image 24
“Martha,” caid Fanner Holt doo
•renlng to bla wife when the wma
wuhlnf the dUbee, “John Coroj waa
talkin’ to me tbia afternoon. He aaya
he wanta to git married.”
"Well, why don’t heT”
“He aaya there ain’t no one to
marry."
“There'a lota o’ wlnunln would like
to get John. He’a paaaed out o’ onaartln
youth Into ahore middle age. He’a got
a good farm, and If a well atocked, and
he haln’t got nO bad hablta fixed on to
him. I could name half a dozen gala
about yere that would be glad to get
him.”
“He aaya he couldn't make up bla
mind to do the courtin’."
“What’a be want to do any courtin’
fort Courtin'* for younkera. Johns
too old for that, and If be marries a
woman of suitable age—some'rs about
thirty—1 reckon she won't set store by
the courtin’ part of It neither.”
“How can a man get married without
doin’ any courtin'?”
“He kin Jist ask the woman be wants
to marry, and If abe aaya yes they kin
be married.”
“But John says be don't know any
particular woman be wants to marry.”
Mra. Holt finished doing her dlsbea.
put them away and, taking up a has
ket of stockings, began to darn them.
Her husband turned to the Farmer s
Helper and began to read.
“I’m thlnkln',” said tbe wife, whose
mind bad got set op tbs matrimonial
question, “that Handy Sellers would be
about what John wants. She's a first
rate cook and keeps tbs bouse lookin'
neat and clean all the Urns. Sbe'a al
ways workln' at somethin'.”
“Reckon bar father and mother need
her.”
“There's tbe younger slater, Susan.
8be could take Handy's place. Besides,
a gal has got to look out for a home of
her own.”
“How d’ye know Handy would bars
John?”
“Humph! She'd Jump at the chance.
The farmer turned to hie paper. Ho
waa mors Intsreeted In an article on
the feeding of hogs than In presiding
John Corey with a wife But tbe Idea
of making the poor aua comfortable
and obtaining at the same time a boms
for Handy Sellers had got Into Hra
Hoil's bead, and she couldn't get It out
Hlae Seller* oecnptod the adjoining
farm to the Holts, end presently leer
lag her bus bend Immersed In tbe bog
feeding problem tbe good woman slip
pod out and Interrlawed Handy, tell
ing ber thi^ John Corey wanted e wife
8be did not ask Handy If sbs would
Ilka tbs position; aba almply stated the
fact But a few days later when Hnn
dy asked If John bad got a wife yet
Mrs Holt suggested that Handy would
be about the kind of wlfs be ebould
bare Handy simpered and said be
“wouldn't look at her."
One day John waa at work at tbe
cider preea when be beard Mra. Holt
call him from tbe road. He went to
ber, aad abe spent half an hour ques
tioning him about tbe treatment of
cows and chickens and other matters
pertaining to tbe farm. Just aa she
waa about to depart abe suid;
"By tbe bye. Mr. Corey, bare you
seen Handy Sellers lately f’
“No, Mra. Holt, 1 batn't seen none o’
tbe Sellers family In Nome time.”
“Fine gal. Maudy."
“Think aor
"Good cook; knows all about a farm
and specially good at dairy work.”
“1 want to know!”
“I wonder why some of the unmar
ried men about yere hasn't picked Man-
dy up She's gettln' on past tbe age
for tbs young fellers, and there’s not
many middle aged men la these parts
that haven't wives.”
“Beckon I'm about the only one o'
that kind."
“If you're wantin’ a wife you couldn't
do better than marry Handy."
“La* sakes, Mrs. Holt! Handy Sel
lers wouldn’t marry me. Besides, she’s
wanted at the Sellers farm. She a’most
runs It"
“Don't you believe that. Handy
would like a home aa well as any gal
1 know.”
Mrs. Holt being a diplomat went
no further at the time. She bad sowed
tbe seed both in the breast of Miss
Sellers and Mr. Corey and was dls-
posed to give It time to germinate.
By. a skillful manipulation of tbe par-
. ties sbs finally got them together. John
Proposed, was accepted, and in due
time tbe pair were married.
Now, John Corey was not a pliable
man even in youth, and. having come
to middle age, bla will was hardening
like bla bones add cartilage. Aa for
Handy, she was a methodical person
who preferred to do such work as a
woman Is expected to do In her own
wayr Thus when he saw her doing
things In a different way from what he
to doing them he de-
Handy had kept the paren
ts spick and span. Bar father
accustomed on coming into
after bla day’s work was
to pot on a pair of slippers;
truMiad In his maddy boots all
the boose. Bar father did not
*' • ’ ’It* «■
■
Fanner Holt changed the subject.
“Waal, Mrs. Holt. It would be well
enough If John bad any respect for
the looks o' the bouse. He’a lived
alone so long that bis borne Isn’t any
more to him than bla barn."
When Hr. and Mrs. Holt compared
notes It became apparent to them that
if the Corey family continued as they
had begun they wdhld not bang togeth
er long. Hr. Holt accused his wife ot
having been too active In making the
match, and Hra. Holt retorted by ask
ing him who started tbe. matter. Since
be had done so In reporting to her that
John Corey wanted a wife he pursued
tbe argument no fipther.
Hatters In tbe Corey family went
from bad to worse. Whenever John
met Fanner Holt he abused him for
making a match for him with the “con-
aarnedeet woman In tha world." When
Hra. Corey met Hra. Holt ah# rued the
day when she bad left a good homo to
keep house for a man who waa so set
In bla waya that an ox team cpuldn’t
more him. Tbe recitals of family dlifi-
, cultles were from time to time poured
into Farmer Holt’s ears by John Corey
and into Mrs. Holt's ears by Mrs.
Corey. Now and again tbe Holts were
reminded that they bad made tbe
match. John said be didn’t blame
Holt for bis share In tying him up
with a virago, but this did not cause
the latter to feel especially wall satis
fied with himself for having dons so.
Mra. Corey did not beeltate to throw
all tbe blame for her “mistake” on
Mrs. Holt
in Urns these vituperations became
so marked that tbe Holts concluded
that they must do something to stop
them. Tbe only thing they could tblnk
of was to apologias for having Inter
fered to bring tbs couple together. One
evening after Mra. Holt bad cleared
tbe supper table and done tbe dlsbea
they walked over to the Corey farm
to carry out their Intention. They
found Mr. and Hra. Corey at boms,
and tbe couple, not having had any rea
son to quarrel with each other, re
ceived their guests. If not with cordi
ality, at least with common dvlllty
Tbs visitors talked for a time about
tbs crops, what they wars going to put
Into tbs ground for tbs ne>xt year and
other ordinary matters. Presently Mrs.
-Holt looked knowingly at bar bus band,
who, nerving himself for an effort
after clearing his throat enM;
“I want to say to you people that tbs
blame for tbs mis take that baa been
mads la all on me. I mentioned to my
wife that Jobn wanted to get married,
and abe reckoned that yon two might
be a help to each other. I didn’t
know that John wasn’t wed to bavin*
a clean bouts end"—
“I didn’t know,” Interrupted Hra.
Holt “that Handy would make a fuss
every time there was a bit o’ dirt left
on a rag carpet"
“Air you statin’ this case or IT nak
ed Fanner Holt severely.
“Look a-bere," said Hr. Corey, bris
tling. “Wbat do you people mean by
cornin' yere to Interfere between tnan
and wife?”
“Ain't you got nothin’ better to do
than that?" asked lira. Corey tempes
tuously.
“We JIM wanted to apologize foe
wbat we done In brtngin' you two to
gether, aecln' that you both mads a
mistake In puttin' on double harness.”
“Who’s made a mistake?" growled
Corey.
"There hasn't been' any mistake,"
cried bla w ife.
Mr* Holt was so Indignant at this
denial of wbat had been poured Into
ber ears and ber husband’s ears for so
long a time that she o|>ened up the de
bate on a high key, Mr. Corey endeav
oring to drown her words with a high
er one. For a time tbe man threw In
an occasional remark, but, finding them
selves no match for the women, drop
ped out, tbelr utterances sounding like
distant thunder muttering In a violent
storm.
Finally Farmer Corey deserted, leav
ing his wife to carry on the fight alone.
She then began a retreat, turning here
and there to fire a parting shot Mrs.
Corey followed her on to the porch,
while John went out the back door to
seek quiet in the barn.
The tempest was stilled when Hr*
Holt reached the gate and was not re
sumed. No more reproaches were vis
ited on Holt by Corey or on Mr* Holt
by Mrs. Corey. There was no Inter
course between tbq families for six
months. Then on# day Mr* Holt sent
a mysterious looking box to Mr* Corey.
It was not returned, but a note of
thanks came to the donor, with an
expreeoed desire that the past might
be forgotten. Within a few weeks from
that time tb% stork visited the Corey*
Mr. and Mr* Holt sent the baby a sil
ver cup and were Invited to stand
as godfather and godmother at tbe
chlkTe christening. After the ceremony
they returned with tbe happy parents
to the latter’s horn*
"It beets all,">eaid Corey to'Holt,
“bow s little chunk of flesh Ilka that
will make a lot o’ other things beam so
little you can’t aae ’em."
“Reckon you’ll Add the chunk o' flesh
not so lit tie as you think," replied
Farmer Bolt
“I want to thank you, Mr. Holt for
glvln* me the beet, wife tn the bun
county end Hie be by ae
“Don't mention it"
Meanwhile Mr* Belt
by the aether ter m
Everyone who ride* in it recognizes the peir-
iormance of the car as distinctive and unusual.
It is the quality revealed in this performance
which makes the price impressive.
People are attracted by something more than
price or they would not wait lor deliveries as
thousand^ have waited.
The production is large, but it is still inade
quate to supply the demand of those who want
this particular car at this particular price.
The wheelbase is 110 Inches *
The price of the roadster or touring car
complete is 1785 (f. o. b. Detroit
■
DODGE BROTHERS, DETROIT
B. B. EASTERUNG
Barnwell, S. G
Fair Visitors
»
#
#
«
Should be sure to visit Levy’s during
Fair Week. Big Bargains specially pur-
• V|
chased and specially priced during Fair
Week. In our-Men’s and Boys’ Cloth
ing Department we have some of the best
values evei 1 offered in Barnwell. We do
x - -• • .
not ask you to make comparisons—be
cause there is no comparison whatever
between Levy’s suits and the general run
of resady-to-wear suits. We can convince
you—-the suits themselves will^ convince
you-—the style to begin with and the
wear to finish with.
' It is our especial delight—as well as desire—to look after your feet.
Come to see us. We have the shoes and we know how to fit them.
We have practically every thing you want to buy—Dress Goods, Wash
Goods, Laces, Hosiery, Clothing; Shoes, Hats, Etc.—all under one roof and
. '* X-’ J■ • *A- •
cheaper than you will find elsewhere.
A warm welcome awaits each and etery one.
J. LEVY*, <r Barnwell, S. C
“Wbat • pity It ts,” ■aid B«ttyCham
berlin to m* “that Harry Aaburat H
going to throw hlmaolf away on that
Perklni gi£ir
“What’a v tha matter with Ida Par-
kins?" 1 asked.
“Oh, nothing," replied Betty, "only
she’s not half good enough for Harry.”
“Why don’t you Interrupt tha pro
ceedings?”
“How could I do that?"
“Step In between them."
“Ton flatterer! One would think to
bear you talk that l-coold have any
man l want for the asking.”
“So you could and not half try.”
Betty tried hard to conceal the pleas
ure my appreciation of her powers
gave her, but failed.
“There’s one man I couldn’t"—
“Who?" - ,
“Tbe first letter of bla first name I
la J.”
“That’s because yon never tried.”
My first name Is James.
“Perhaps I will”
“What would poor Harry do In the
meanwhile? He would be swallowed
np by Ida Perkin*"
“Oh, that affair could watt”
“When are you going to. begin on
me?”
“Ton? Ob. you can wait tea Good
morning Come end see me soo* I
have things to tell you."
“Very soon. Good by!"
This scrap of conversation, which
am free to admit was not concentnt
wisdom, occurred at tbe glove
of Jonee’, where I met Mias
lln. Tbe next time 1 eew her was
Mr* Winters’ salon, so called from
brilliant dialogues that taka place
(bare. Betty waa tied to Aaborst He
was a graduate of a scientific school
and could drown ber In a pool of Ideas
seven feet deep. I was sandwiched
between two girls directly behind them.
We conversed with one another, bet
bad our ear* open for what Asburat
and Betty were saying One of the
girls beside me was Ida Perkin* Tbe
only remark that could be considered
to refer to tbe couple In front of os
was made by Id* It waa this:
“Why do yoe bright men gat stack
In the honey of stupid girls?"
“Leav* out the To*’ sod I win an
swer the question," I replied.
But she woeidat, and I coatees I
would not have beau pleased If she
Batty made a lodgment
with Ash-
arat at that salon, and this H tha way
aha did It
*1 have beard, Mr. Aabun
she waa
saying, "that you are not
one of tha
kind to fast certain of an
y thing aad
that you Dover focus your <
any on*"
splnloaa on
♦ eeeeeeee • ee e e
■••eeeeaeeaeeeea
Tiring*
or
mlddle-^^
itely ~
everything!" grunted Asburat.
“So aey I—that I* I mean persons
who don't know as much as other par-
eons who know a great deal but are
not constantly trying to show ft off.”
This‘was a trills mixed, but As burst
didn't seem to mind It
"Some of tbs women bore mak* me
laugh.” Betty went p* “They tblnk
they’re quite wise. Don't they tire you,
Mr. Asburat V
"1 don’t know; sotaa of them do.”
"I beard one of them Just now talk
ing about the big European war. She
said tbe alliaa had tbe beat general*
only they had bean short of ammuni
tion."
“Which alllasr
“Why, 1 suppose sbs meant—Is there
more than one ally?" X
‘ I saw Ida Perkins and Bells
sefid—Belle was tbe other side
sandwich that bad me for a
look at each other. Fortunately
Betty a lady passed ber, bidding ber
good evening and making a remark
about tbe weather. So Bet was not
obliged to go any further Into tbe mili
tary problems of the great war. In
deed, it had not been her Intention to
do so. She bad become Inadvertently
drawn Into it by attempting to bold up
one of ber rivals In an unfavorable
light
“Are you fond of motoring, Mr.
Asburstf* was her next remark. “I
don’t suppose you are. At' least so
busy a man as you Is not likely to have
time to enjoy himself."
Asburat was tbe scientific adviser of
a gigantic manufacturing corporal
He looked relieved that Betty shoo
have spared him tbe trouble of an
swering the question she bad asked
him. Bet has beautiful eyea and
knows that they sore ber a better
purpose than her tongue, for unfortu
nately the latter member cannot wag
without drawing on her brain.
‘The reason why l asked you If you
ivere fond of motoring Is that I have a
ckr, and. If yon could apart me some
afternoon about 4 o’clock”—
“I should be very happy,” was tha
reply.
“Don’t you think an lea would cool
ua? These rooms are Very warm."
They arose and went elsewhere, fiat
had caught sight of Ida In rather too
dose proximity to suit her.
The next time I saw Betty I congrat
ulated her on her engagamant to Aah-
urat “Didn’t I tell you," | said, “that •.
yon could If you triad?" „ -
. “What's this I bear about you a^0h
Ida Perkins?" aha asked, looking at mlV
anxiously.
“Oh. we’re engaged ton"
! bav. never stoca ragalned tha |
I occupied In Batty’s goo<
don't sea why.'
have Aaburat and aa tea Perhaps If
1 had mairiad say bet the gtrl she rub-