New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-16
new ORLEANS RHPuBIcAN SUNDAY OCTOBER g. IV W II

got the better OF me-. It's the first word
that has ever passed between us, and can
never forgive myself that it came from me.
But, as sure as I'm alive, that girl was out
walking with me last night"
'Look here. fellows" says l, ''you marx
my words, that girl is going back on one OF
you. You'd better find out which IT is' to-
night, and SO have the affair settled
Well, they finally agreed that this would
| be the best way, and SO they left me- VI
course, went to the theatre that night, be-
cause was anxious about them but things
| kept happening and happening to de-
! tain me, and never got there till full ten
o'clock and, as went in, met COgSlns
coming out, and saw at once that ne was
| put ont about something
..What is the matter Coggins - said l.
1.-THE matter u.s. said he. that the devil
| has broken loose here tonight. There has
| been a elopement and a accident: and
| know no more what to do than l know how
| to fly.'
Seeing it wasn't advisable to say no more
| to Coggins Just then. ! went behind the
| scenes, and there | saw Knight.
"Well. Joe" said he, you told us this
morning she was going back on one of us,
| and you was partially right
How, partially!' says /. "HOw, par
tially?'
"Because, joe" says he. "she's gone
back on both she's run off with that
Hobbs
At first felt like laughing. for 1 knew
how roaring mad old Mrs. Hobbs wOnld be;
but when looked ut Tom Knights face, l
saw it was a serious thing.
THAT isn't the worst Joe, says he, You
see, Charley heard of the news before l
come to the theatre, and he was afraid it
would be pretty rough on me. He thought
more of me than Of himself, Joe, when it
came to the worst; and SO he rushed through
the carpenter room, down the stairs there,
which are very rickety; and lie stumbled
over some rubbish, fell his length, and broke
his leg in two places"
Well, sir you might have knocked me
down with a feather when heard that. l
just sat down to take breath.
'That isn't all, Joe" says Tom; "Coggins
come to me and says that he was ruined
man without no vOcalists nor trapeze per-
former, nor double song and dance men, and
couldn't 60 on alone for a single dance.
told him it wasn't no use, couldn't do moth
ing alone; but ne leased and leased. and he
seemed in such trouble that finally | gave
i'll. Well, they applaudcd me, and started
all right; but l hadn't danced two steps
when begun to miss Charley, and grew
confused, and forgot my steps; and, Joe,
Joe, they Kissed me Oh"
And Tommy knight, sir he just laid his
head on my shoulder, and he cried-cried
like an infant; and tell you, sir, shouldn't
and the short of it was that COttle he lay
sick for two months with fever, brought on
by the pain and the excitement together:
and Tom Knight he stuck by him until they
could move him up to my farm, where they
come finally, and remained some time with |
me and Mrs. Briggs; and more emaeer |
ated and hollow eyed looking chap than
r IL Il
made me think of the day in Cairo, when |
Tom knight first brought him to me, and |
said as how he wanted him for mate.
One day in August. we was all sitting |
around on the steps ut my place, and Tom |
was reading the evening paper, and sud |
denly he CALCULATES out, and then stops.
What's the matter9" says Charley Cot
tie. He was looking better than I'd seen |
him for long time.
Nothing's the matter" saws Tom, APP
pearins to be reading of the paper very
hard.
tom" says Charley. rising to his feet so
sudden that it quite took Mrs. Briggs |
breath away. its about her. Don't de-
ceive ME. Tom Knight. and don't. treat me |
like baby, but spit it out
WELL says Tom slowly, Hobbs has |
fell of his trapeze and broke his neck; and
they're going to give her benefit in Mon
trcal on Friday
Tom" said Charley, :weIl go on and
dance for that benefit"
Charley Cottle." says I, you're crazy"
"No, I'm not, joe" says he. I'm in
deadly earnest The more stays here, the
more gets to breeding and brooding. Il
must do something to rouse me-"
"But this woman" says |, sis the cause
Of all your troubles. and, if YOU are WISE
you'll keep away from her
Don't he afraid" says he; "there won't
nothing never come between me and Tom
again, this side the grave If he wants her,
IL never stand in his way. But l requires
to rouse me. She's treated Us
badly, and now she's alone and destitute.
and we can help her. Tom, feel as though
4 couldn't go on, and let her see that we
iitln't bear her no malice. / should die. VIII
he clasped them bony hands Of his together.
Until it seemed as though the blood would
come.
Eyes. WILL says Tom Knight. cts
Dad thing for You, but it may be worse if
,Ou has to stay here with this longing on
you. Well start in the evening train to-
The next day Charley seemed just as
rt'sh and gay as ever and l began to feel
Briggs was very bitter against it. didn't
% on with them; but we read, in the paper,
hat they danced splendid, and their sue
ess was something astonishing. We had
dispatch from Knight, saying they was all
light, both of 'em, in body, mind and
eart-heart being underlined to ease the
ears and fOrebOdiAgs Of Mrs. Briggs. We
expected them home Saturday, sir; but they
ever come. That night another dispatch
he Junction at once: Cottle is danger
usly ILL.,"
1t seems that reaction just took him
fter his excitement SIR and then he was
s wild to get back to me and Mrs. Briggs
s he was to get away He was took sick in
he cars; and, when they got to the juno
ion, back here, Knight didn't dare take
o farther, he was so weak. He didn't say
luch when he saw me; but he kind of
,oked kind of satisfied like. l felt worse
bout Knight that about Cottle; for Cottle
eemed to be all settled and quiet Well, he
iy sinking gradually for about two days
nth railroad trains coming and going on
il four sides of the hotel; and when was a
on his account. of the noise
ne evening, he said:
" L like the noise, Joe" he says "fOr
Is like my life,-a coming and going, a
oming and going, and never staying. And
ON and Joe, l wants You to promise me,
l die here, as most likely shall, that
Gull bury ME here, where nobody knows
he, and where so many comes and goes,
nd never stays"
Well, Tom thought he was growing sort
{ iight-headed; but he promised him, and
harley turned over and went to sleep.
Ie never come out of that sleep, sir; and I
lem words was the last he spoke. The ,
ext look we took at him he was dead, sir;
I'D I'm free to confess, sir, that | cried like
whale: but Tom, he seemed kind of
,unned.
We had him buried nuietlr az he had 4