The Tinder-Box

en and women which strike deeper than breadth of

uestion of the individual as to the complications that result. One thing can be always counted on. A woman like

rs interest me

ternoon and I wish Jane had b

lp Cousin James with 'em," Henrietta demanded, as I sat on my side porch, calmly hemming a ruffle on

n the front walk and across the road at her bare little heels. By

lie started the crying. Dead's dead, and if Cousin James wants 'em run over. I wants 'em

going to try and write will get petrified by some kind of new element they will suddenly discover some day an

a woman has of starting out with tears, when she means to let them flow for hours, maybe d

ad on her ample bosom, but I must say that the expression

the window and were weeping as modestly and helplessly as they did every thing else in life, wh

f the house and, for once in my life, I have seen the personification of masculine helplessness. He was a tragedy and I flew stra

?" I demanded, wit

ature of his beautiful biblical face. I couldn't stand that and I hugged him ti

nto his tragic eyes and letting my hands slip from his shoulders do

ir of life that you have induced me to seek so blindly, for he responded to the dose immediately

the other road to come across, too, and in that case we will get the shops. It just happens that such a line will make necessary the removal of-of poor Henry's remains to another lot. Sallie's is the only lot in the cemetery that is that high on the bluff. Henry didn't like the situation when he bought it hi

sobbed little Cousin Jasmine, and the o

ng to the peace of the dead," snorted Mrs. Hargrove. "We need no rail

easant drive in good weather," said Cousin Martha, plaintively, a

is memory, if I consented to such a desecration," c

e ashes of Henry Carruthers would be followed by the major one of the restoration of the widow's fortune and the l

drew the Crag out on the p

ns of women in general and a few in particular. "But I ought not to have hurt Sallie by telling her about t

t good for her. Feed and clothe her and her progeny,-men in general have brought just such burdens as that upon you in particular by their attitude to

tle eyes sank down way below the indignation and explosivene

know it was there myself, but I felt as

, and it is a wonder

da

in on the interview with his crustiest chips on both shoulders and so mu

e hurried up the steps. "Big scheme this-got him in a corner if the

for the first time getting a whiff of the schemes of the m

to your tatting-hey?" He answered me as he began

le Peter's squelching of me. "If this other line can just be secured he will have to come to our terms-and the situation will be saved." As he spoke he took m

n James about his own affairs, and unkindness by implication to Sallie, who loves me better than almost anybody in the world does. And I g

" he said, quickly, and before Uncle Peter's remonstrances had exploded,

an-sweets is to marry a pot of honey like that, and then come right on back to the bread and butter game. Here's a letter Jasper gave me to bri

t and wants to go off and lick its wounds. A womanly woman that lives a lovely appealing life right in a man's own home has a perfect right to gain his love, especially if she is beautifully u

nce and from thinking into the Crag's affairs of sentiment, I turned with masculine vigor to begin to mix into his affairs of finance. However, I wish that th

along the road, and he wants to give me the commission for drawing all the gardens for all the station-yards. It will be tremendous for both of us so young in life, and I never dared hope for such a thing. I had only

-babies are fomenting around in my mind getting ready to pop the cork of an idea soon. The combination feels

appens in other hill-rimmed valleys in other parts of the Universe, but it does seem as if God himself is looking down to brood over us, and that the valley is the hollow of His hand into which he is

ortance that I thought I was going to be. I have tried, and I have offered that bucket of love that I thought up to everybody, but whether they hav

to come to as a refuge from Aunt Augusta, a confidante for his views of life that he

. Cousin Martha sends for me when the chimney smokes and the cows get sick. I have twice changed five dollars for little Cousin Jasmine, and sternly told the man from out on their farm on Providence Road that he must not

e sealed instructions for her burial. I hope when the time

de with those of Queen Victoria, whom she ha

er last week out in the garden, that ended in stubby tears and the gift of a very lovely l

arel from my rapidly skill-acquiring needle. That's on the credit side of m

nch dishes that he couldn't concoct to save his life, and which help her to keep him in his place. Hi

ace," I heard him mutter the o

ond

shed, and my arms are as husky and strong as a boy's and my nose

rls that are waiting for me to solve the emotional formula by which they can

ters are j

in every way with affectionate interest in his work, especially in the Epworth League on his country circuit. I am enclosing fifty dollars' subscription to the work and I hope you will

that Polk said he felt as if he had been introduced to the Apostle Paul while he was still Saul of Tarsus. I had to pet the Dominie decorously for a week before he regai

o Heaven and then to hell. He is so psychic, and in a way attuned to me, that he partly understands my purpose in declaring my love for him to put him at a disadvantage in his

Hall's letter in my hand, still unread, Nell herse

as I cuddled her up to me a second. She laid her head on

use a bee had stung the red-headed twin, and she wanted to stay to scold

emininity in preparation for just what I knew she was to get from Polk. My heart ached for what I knew she was suffering. I had had exactly those growing

faltered Nell, and she raised her

first disciple, "you aren't a bit ashamed or embarrasse

Evelina," she answered, and the love-message her great brown eyes f

d at your love for Polk?" I asked, firing point blank at all of Nell'

Nell gasped, but answered as straight

Hayes know how he-he affects me," s

mething entirely unworthy," I answered loftily, with a

Hardin I loved, I wouldn't mind anybody's knowing it, but someth

ll raised her head from my shoulder in surpr

ow," I answ

imple experiment proposition is ab

still furth

ell mused, looking pensively at the first pale star that was rising over Old Harpeth. "I would

ion, "do it! Tell any man you like how

uch to her-"I feel that to tell Mr. James I love him would ease the pain, the-pain-

and went foot in th

woman's heart he had better pack up his instruments of w

gh lights on the conversation, but long after I lost her I kept my whirlwind feeling of amazement. It was like tryi

uries and not interrupted? I think I would have been sitting there questioning

tra treat in her week's allowance of him, and she was so soft and glowing and sweet and pale t

g all by herself in the gloaming?"

ate

ed softly, though I knew what it would mean to her if I

st have help!-show me some way to assist Caroline to make Lee into a real man and then

a out of this jumble, but I doubt it. Anyway

a mocking bird in the tallest of the oak twins that are my roof shelter called wooingly

t danger of doing something foolish her own self. I am even glad it is prayer-meeting nig

eally over in sunny Fran

otector to me, decent, communistic femino-masculine honor demands that I refrain from any manoeuvers in his direction to attract his thoughts and attention to the feminine

e coming across?" I demanded of h

e-starred wistaria vine in a way that made me frantic for several buckets of monochrome water-colors and a couple of brushes as big as those used for white-washing. In about ten great splotches I could h

ntrolled myself and listened to him. "There is to be a meeting of the directors of both roads over in Bolivar in a few weeks and they are to come to some understanding. The line across the river

is, Cousin James?" I asked, with a glow of intellect mounting to my head, the like of which I hadn't f

s called 'feeding' a railroad," he answered. "Bolivar can feed both roads with the whole of the

e of the river?" I demanded, indignant at the barre

epression sounding still more clearly in his voice and his shoulders drooped

oftly, using the name that a very small I had given him in a

ers. Of course, as far as the old folks are concerned, I can more than take care of them, and if anything happens there's enough life insurance and to spare for them. I don't feel exactly responsible for Sallie's situation, but I do feel the

d time that day what I did think on the s

id, faithful children-som

nd teach him a few things so I sent him home across the road. I knew all six women would

cross the road to an emancipated woman like myself. The situation both ke

wonderful than a good man,-