Judge — June 16, 1906 — page 6: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MADAM MOUNTAINEER. S ONE travels through the mountain regions of eastern Kentucky one is impressed always by the loneliness that, like an impenetrable mist, hangs heavy on upland and low- ~ land, and fairly smothers one not accus- tomed to it. At rare intervals one meets a wayfarer on the « road, and the houses are so far apart that one happens upon them as if find- ing something unexpectedly, One day, as I rode along a creek-valley, I came upon a farm- house with its living-patch stretch- ing up the hillside behind it, A woman stood in the doorway, the very picture of listless loneliness, as I thought; and though it was none of my business, I concluded I'd stop a minute or two and talk to her, just to cheer her up a bit. *Good-day,” I said, pulling up at the rickety gate in front. + How far is it to Hood's?” «Four mile," she replied stolidly. «How long ought it to take me to get there ?” “The road ‘s purty fair, an’ ef you don’t potter along you oughter make hit in sumpthin’ less'n a hour.” Pottering along seemed to me to be somewhat of a reflection ; but I meant well and passed it by, determined to cheer her up in spite of herself, “Don't you get mighty lonesome away off here by yourself?" I Herserr. inquired. “1 ain't by myself,” she said, busy thar ain’t no time ter be lonesome.” ++ You didn’t look very busy standing in the door as I came by,” + An’, besides, ef a body keeps I ventured. I wuzn't busy,” she said sharply ; “t my fault, I'm waitin’ fer my ol’ man ter come back with them quiltin’-frames I sent him arter. But he’s like a good many other folks I knows on—when he gits ter gabbin’ he don’t git no place else much.” This was so direct and so sincere that I could do no more than laugh, and I did it without reserve. The lady never smiled. + Well,"” [ said, «that is a straight slap.at me, and I was tallsing to you because I thought you were lonesome and would like to talk to * but hit ai somebody.” “I'm much obleeged, stranger,” she answered, with the very faintest bending of her long, lank body, as if a bow might be intended, “but thar ain’t no ‘casion fer yer troublin’ yerself. I've got a darter- Mixe—" Hi, Jimmy! watch me skin ce cat.” THE ONE THING NECESSARY. “ Well—er—if you married me | could at least give you all the necessities of life.”* Auice—"" But the only necessity of married life is a husband who can provide the luxuries.” in-law that lives acrosst the mountain that takes her Sunday dinners with me, an’ when she goes home at night I feel ez ef Sunday wuzn't much uy a day uv rest, an’ hit ud be a mercy ef hit only come on the twenty-ninth uv Feb‘uary.” T would have ridden on after this explanation, but just then her old man came with the quilting-frames, and when I finally got away I didn’t wonder that when some folks « got ter gabbin’ they didn’t git no place else much.” W.J. LaMrTox. SECOND NATURE. se MY OWN darling,” he sighs, «+say that you will be mine!” The beautiful actress drops her eyes and suffers herself to be folded in his embrace, whispering, «Egbert, I have always been yours !"" To his astonishment, an instant later she draws away from him and taps her foot angrily on the floor, saying, “Goodness! you did that like a wooden man. We didn’t get a You'll have to put more life and go into your part, or "—— Here she blushes vividly, and across her face surge waves of sweet confusion as she shyly says, ‘Iam so sorry! For the moment I for- got that we were here alone and not on the stage.”” UNCOOKED FOOD. HE. giants of old, their relics with awe, We latter-day pygmies may view. The dinosaur ate his comestibles raw, ‘And see how the dinosaur grew ! hand! OF TERMS. Jommy—" Huh! Call dat skinnin’ de cat?