Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 25, 2025
Brother Japheth's business was concluded, and the architect who was building the latest extension to the pipe-pit floor was heading across the yard to consult the young boss. Pettigrass paused with his foot in the stirrup to say, "Old Tike Bryerson's on the rampage ag'in; folks up at the valley head say he's a-lookin' for you, Tom-Jeff." "For me?" said Tom; then he laughed easily.
He was doubling his fists for defense when he saw who his assailant was. "Why, Tom-Jeff! what's ailin' ye?" he began; but Tom broke in with gaspings of rage. "Japhe Pettigrass, what did you think you saw last Wednesday forenoon up yonder at Big Rock Spring on the mountain? Tell it straight, this time, or by the God you don't believe in, I'll dig the truth out of you with my bare hands!"
He leaned over the top of the wall and put his face in the crook of his elbow, being nothing better than a hurt child, for all his bigness. "Well, now; I wouldn't let a little thing like that gravel me, if I was you, Tom-Jeff," said Pettigrass, turned comforter. "Nan's a mighty pretty gal, and you ort to be willin' to stand a little devilin' on her account more especially as you've "
Thus it befell that they drove in silence to the deserted cabin on the hillside; and Tom went down to the foundry office and brought a lamp for light. The cabin was a mere shelter; but when he would have made excuses, Nan stopped him. "Hit's as good as I been usen to, as you know mighty well, Tom-Jeff. I on'y wisht "
If your debt is bigger than mine, you shall have the first chance." The gas-flash came again. There was black wrath in the man's eyes. "You can tote it up for yourself, Tom-Jeff Gordon. Late yeste'day evening when me and Nan Bryerson drove to town for your Uncle Silas to marry us, she told me what I'd been mistrustin' for a month back that Vint Farley was the daddy o' her chillern.
But one time you were willing enough to tell me your troubles, and " "And I'll nev' do it nare 'nother time; never, never. And let me tell you somethin' else, Tom-Jeff Gordon: if you know what's good for you, don't you nev' come anigh me again. One time we usen to be a boy and a girl together; you're nothin' but a boy yet, but I oh, God, Tom-Jeff I'm a woman!"
Why, he's as kind and gentle and lovin as a woman. You jest natchelly couldn't whup this here bay, Tom-Jeff!" "All right, Japhe; I was only deviling you a little. Take him up to the Woodlawn stables and tell William Henry Harrison to give him the box stall. I'll try him to-morrow morning, if the weather is good."
To be sure, it was his name, or at least two-thirds of it; but he liked the "Buddy" of his father, or the "Tom-Jeff" of other people a vast deal better. Further, the thought of studying Sunday lessons begot rebellion. At times, as during those soul-stirring revival weeks, now seemingly receding into a far-away past, he had moments of yearning to be wholly sanctified.
Then she spoke, and he saw that it was Nancy Bryerson a Nan sadly and terribly changed, but with much of the wild-creature beauty of face and form still remaining. "You done forgot me, Tom-Jeff?" she asked; and then, at his start of recognition: "I allow I have changed some." "Surely I haven't forgotten you, Nan. But you took me by surprise; and I can't see in the dark any better than most people.
"No; but you're sort o' 'shamed, and that's about the same thing, I reckon. Come on out; I'll go 'long with you." Then spake the new-born love in the heart of the big, rough, country boy. "I cayn't onderstand how you can hold out, Tom-Jeff. I've come thoo', praise the Lord! but I jest natchelly got to have stars for my crown. You say you'll go 'long with me, Tom-Jeff: say it ag'in, and mean it."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking