Rose of Old Harpeth

d leaning on her crotched stick over by the south side of the garden fence, directing the planting of her favorite vine that was to be trained along the

a at all times with the most cheery good-will. Miss Amanda was of the order of little sisters who serve and Miss L

, if I have to stop to finger the beans in such a way as that. But I'll try,"

o had come out to watch the bean planting with the intention

the seed of 'em over to Springfield when me and Mr. Robards was stationed there just before the war. Mr. Robards was always fond of flowers, and these jack beans in special. He was s

voice of becoming respect to the meek Mr. Robard

many a sinner in Harpeth Valley by preaching both heaven and hell in their fitten places, what's a thing this younger generation don't know how to do any more, it seems like. A sermon that sets up heaven like a circus

to draw answers from all hearts," said Miss Amanda in her own sweet little voice, as

t of the Gospel and only let him feed the flock on the sweets of faith in proper proportion," answered Miss Lavinia, with an

he was taken away so young," said Miss Amanda gen

up across the yard to the garden gate. "Now I know I'm a behind-hander, for my ground's always ready, and in go the greens when you all turn spade for the bean vines. Are you a-looking for a littl

e out alive," answered Everett with a laugh. Miss Amanda had risen, hurried eage

le kettle for Mr. Newsome, and I'm mighty proud to have the luns handed around with your all's fixings. I reckon Rose Mary is so comfusticated you can

ouse," answered Rose Mary with a laugh

in all they glory was ever arrayed like one of him. You better go frill yourself out, Rose Mary

Mag has got everything just ready to dish up, and I'll take in the sally luns to be run in the stove at the last moment. Isn't it lovely to have company? Friends right a

s he went through the front gate it somehow slipped out of his hand and closed itself with a bang. The expression of his back as he crossed the road

some, of Bolivar, Tennessee, stood in the doorway, and surrounding him in the store

ulldog jaw shot out from under a fat beak of a nose. And over the broad expanse of countenance was spread a smile so sweet, so deep, so high that it gave the impression of obscuring the form of features entirely. In point of fact it was a thick and impenetrable veil that the Se

erett as he came across the street. Instantly his voice was lowered to a honeyed conversational pitch as he came to

r as soon as I returned and I was informed that you had come over here to find perfect restoration to health in the salubrious climate

s on and I'm in fighting trim." The words were said pleasantly, but for the life of him Everett could n

he poet, who found it impossible to take his eyes off the politician. "Miss Rose Mary ain't give me a glass of buttermilk for more'n a week, and they do say she has to keep a loaf handy in the milk-house to feed him 'fore he

as he pumped the awkward, horny hand of the embarrassed but proud Mr. Poteet up and down as if it were the handle of the town pump. "I

y in his arms he held a small blue bundle. On his right galloped Tobe with Shoofly swung at her usual dangerous angle on his hip, and Jennie Rucker supported his left wing, with stumbling Petie pull

laimed the great man as he descended and

e's going to be a boy; they can't nothing change him now. Shoofly is a girl, but Mis' Potee

nce in the direction of Jennie, Peggy and the rest of the bunch of assorted pink and blue little calico petticoats. "Wh

ore girls than they was boys, and it wasn't fair. Now they is just two more, and four of Sniffie's puppies is boys, so that makes it most even until another one come

r small nose and switched her short skirts scornfully as the men on th

ht squirm in which young Tucker indulged himself, though he was not at all uncomfortable in Stonie's arms, accustomed as he was to being transported in any direction at any time by any one of his confrères. And with this skilful hint of dismissal the Senator bent down an

oaching, and Mr. Crabtree was busy filling half-forgotten supper orders for impatient waiters, while most of the men had gone up

rospecting in the last weeks, Mr. Everett," remarked the Senator

e whole Mississippi Valley is interesting geologically. There

queried the Senator, still in an equally careless vo

e in his voice as if to end the discussion. His own eyes he kept down on his cigar and, as he lounged against a post he had an air of being slightly bored by an uninteresting shop topic. The Senato

sed income. Some time ago a phosphate expert examined these regions, but reported nothing worth working. I had more hope of the oil. As I say, I am interested in Mr. Alloway and the family-I may say it to you in confidence, particularly interested in one of the members." And the smile th

?" he asked in a friendly, interested tone, as if the hint had failed to make

p then," answered the Senator again carelessly, and

gh company cap, in the big chair on the front porch, and without a word he strode out the back door of the store and across the fields toward Boliver. He stopp

the guest probably she was helping Stonie's plate with her other hand to a spoonful of cream gravy over his nicely browned chicken leg. On her side of the table Miss Lavinia was pouring the rich cream over her bowl of steaming mush and the materialized aroma from Uncle Tucker's cup of coffee that Rose Mary had just poured him brought tears to Everett's eyes. Then came a flash of Aunt Amandy helping herself under Rose Mary's urging to a second crisp waf

isa Helen was weeping into a handkerchief and one of her blue muslin sleeves. And it was not a series of sentimental sobs and sighs or controlled and effective sniffs in which Louisa Helen was i

e seated himself beside the wailer and endeavored to bring dow

ent and dejected lover, who only shook his hea

en flung down and began to hollow

and a bokay!" came in a perfect

orners of his mouth as the situation began to unravel itself to his sympathetic concern

ame in a more constrained and connected flow, as the poor little fugitive raised her head from her arm and reached down to settle her skirts about her ankles, from which she had flirted them in the kicks of one of her most violent

ked Everett, thus drawn into the position

didn't come to see me for a week, and he says he ain't never coming no more. If I want him I will have to go over to Boliver and marry

uld see that he was completely melted and ready to surren

er. They are just the greatest things that ever happen to a man"-another wink at Bob-"and Bob don't want to give them up. Now suppose you go on back home to-night and don't say anything to your mother about the matter, and to

l the winter wheat in yet, and we've got to cut clover

ucked out in 'em. And I've got to get some pretty clothes made, too," answered Louisa Helen, thus putting

e briar roses are out something will happen to make it all right. Put your faith in Mr. Crabtree, I should advise, I suspect that he has-er influence with your moth

turned by some still greater source above the hills was-a vision. The wheels ground on with the victims strapped and the cogs dripping. Loot and the woman-loot and the woman! And he had thought that out here "in the hollow of His hand" he had lost the sound of that grind. And such a woman-the lovely gracious thing with the unfaithful, dishonored lover's child in her arms, other women's tumbling children clinging to her skirts and with hands outstretched to protect and comfort the old

were assembled in jocular groups around its blaze of light. He could see Mr. Crabtree and Bob rolling out an empty barrel to serve as a speaking stand for the Honorable Gid, who stood in the foreground in front of the store steps talking to Uncle Tucker, with an admir

uit. But as he stood in the doorway, instead of Mag he discovered Rose Mary with her white skirts tucked up under one of her long kitchen aprons, putting the final polishing to

hadn't left-the kitchen-I-I-" Everett hesitated on the threshold

per spark under their black lashes. "I see I made a mistake in expecting anything of you. A friend's

re was a note in his voice that fairly startled him with its tenderness. "I'm just a cross old bear,

ittle laugh and catch in her voice. "I couldn't let

't get here to supper?" asked Everett with what

g away meant that you didn't care if he had been good to us. It hurt me! And the first bowl of lilacs was on the table; I had been saving them for a surprise for you for

Honorable Gid Newsome's lilacs or waffles or fried chicken, and I di

he corner of her chin. "Anyway, what I have here on the top of the stove is your waffles and your fried chicken, and these are your lilacs," and she drew out a purple spray from her belt and dropped it on the table beside him. "Sit down and I'll give it all to you

ong legs under the table and drew up as near to Rose Mary and her dish-towel as was possible to be sure of keeping out o

and straight in the saucer beside the cup. For an instant Everett sat very still and looked at her, then she picked up the cup and tipped it against her lips, sipped judiciously and set

cken wings," said Everett with a laugh as

iney said she would have to talk to you in the morning. Then they all told Mr. Newsome all about you, and I don't think he liked it much because he likes to tell us things about himself. We are so fond of him, and we always want to hear him talk about where he has been and what he has done. I tried to stop them and make him talk, but I couldn't. It's strange how liking a person gets them on your mind so that even if you don't talk about them you think about them all the t