FOLKS FROM DIXIE
you hahdly knowed when you got to de gate. I thought you was a-goin' to pass on by."
"Oh, I could n't pass dis gate. I'm so used to comin' hyeah dat I reckon my feet 'u'd jes' tu'n up de walk of dey own accord."
"Dey didn't tu'n up dat walk much Sunday. Whaih was you all day aftah mo'nin' chu'ch? I'spected you up in de aft'noon."
"I— I— would 'a' been"—Mr. Taft was beginning to writhe upon his chair—"but I had to go out to mek some calls."
"Oh, yes" retorted Miss Martha, good-naturedly, "I reckon you was one o' dem gent'mans dat was settin' up at de schoolteachah's house."
"I fu' one was callin' on Miss Callena. Hit's only propah when a strange lady come to town fu' de gent'men to call an' pay deir 'spects."
"I reckon hit ain't propah fu de gent'mans to tek none o' de ladies to call."
"I ain't 'scussin' dat," said Mr. Taft, with some acerbity.
"Of co'se you ain't. Well, hit ain't none o' my bus'ness, to be sho. I ain't thinkin' nothin' 'bout myse'f or none o' de things you been sayin' to me. But all I got to say is, you bettah leave Miss Callena, as you call
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