The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-09-09
Misfellaueuas.
CENTREPOLE BILL.
by y. BRET HART.

II drizzled Enthusiastically that night
not in straightforward rain, but in sneak.
ing gusts that glanced down the neck and
up the sleeve. pulled on my coat and
splashed out to the gate, to see If 1t were
fast against wandering cattle. The lights
in the h use cleaned dimly through the
mist. rs II the wet had reached them, too
Even old Don, who followed me gingerly
out from tho porch. shook his shaggy coat,
and shifted his disgust at the weather.
Satisfied that all was right, / was about
returning to shelter. when from around
the corner Of the fence came the sound oi
horses feet, and u heavy wagon sucking
and groaning up the incline. A low, pro-
longed growl from the dog greeted the
coming team, and / waited for moment
to SEQ who could be travelling at such a
time and in such sorry storm. There
soon came abreast of the gate huge
wagon. drawn by six mules which could
barely see through tho fog. Attracted by
the fire in my pipe, which had succeeded
In keeping alight, and the increased growl'
ing of the dog It stopped, and after the
brake ratified down, u hOarse voice issued
Whoa there. June! say, stranger. how
far Is II to townp
TO Los Angeles? Ten miles
That's purity outlook for me. Ter
miles! Is this tavernT .......
No. ........... ....
Ten miles to town! Waal. stranger.
guess I'll stake out here tonight. Them
animules is too beat to do that. Where.
yer water?
Its all around you tonight! but you
can turn your mules into the corral, and
bring your blankets before tho fire. 1t'
too wet to stay out here
'Waal, I've seen wus nights nor this
aud Tn eenmost water proof; but since
you're pressin' III turn ont these critter.
and line yc in shake. Git up, here. you
old cantankerous guyment mule! Thai
ar Black Bess is the ornarcst animule
ever see.' ......
1t required but little time to unhitch hi,
team. and opened the gate. and In the
tagged creatures came-gannt and worn,
with nioth-eaten tails, dripping with wet
and generally cast down, rs mules ART
when their kicking days are past. Though
there was prospect for them OF fodder
and corn, not the ghost of q trot appeared
but they mcandered slowly into the yard,
where our own horses crowded together
under the shed and gazed inhospitably nj
, the newcomers.
Have you had any suppcrP I inquired
of the teamster. rs he came into the house
with his blankets.
'Waal, now YOU mention 1t, rayther
think not, and / do feel heap hungry
managed to get him cold bite and q
glass of toddy, and as he whipped out hi.
short, black pipe, and moved up to the
fire, he began to thaw mentally, as saw
from the gladness in his eye, and physi.
cally, as the steam from his clothes at.
tested. was alone that night, and glad
to have company. Ihad good view oi
my guest now; short. thick-set man.
with u shock Of q beard, bronzed face
where 1t could be seen, and sharp, gray
eyes. A soldiers coat, much too large fol
him, was his upper garment. the only ap-
parent additional vesture being q pair Ol
immense boots.
4 like that liquor o. yours he said af
Ter time. 1t kctehes rs 1t goes down
How long mout you have lived here?'
Only year. I answered.
Between the wreaths of curling smoke
he scanned me closely, and again In
buried: .....
Where mout We hail from?' ....
"A great distance from here-fron
Maine.
From Maine? You don't say so! I'm
from them parts myself. 1t seems kind o
good to meet fellow nationer In furrir
land. How's all the folks down in Maine'
About as usual, l fancy. But how did
you get out herc?
I've made long trip of II, you bet
If you don't want to turn In, I'll tell you
all aboutit. 1t kind o. drops tho tailboar,
out of a feller's feelins to strike man
from the same deestrict.' a. ,-..-..
Assuring him that / should enjoy hi.
confidence and his story-having mixed
another stiff 'un to take out that last patch
of cold'-ho related rs follows:
The first of 1t was, me and the old man
had scrimmage-nOt q fightin' one, mind
We. fur wouldn't have hurt hair of the
old mans head. not for gold; but / wa:
pesky tired of farnin' and plowln' and
hog KILN and such like. and was bound
for to 60 to sea. It's Gurus, a feller ncy.
or knows the right side of his mellon till
it's too late; but that's the way with u,
all; and knockin' about In the world just
pulls the husks off the cob and shows ye
what's what. Howsomedever. seein' a.
how was hankerin' to 20 away, and a'
'Nelia Prltchard had married that city
chap. and as the old man said l shouldn't
go. ! was more determinder than ever
There was circus coming along to our
town, and me and tho other boys was
kinder handy-helpin' water the horses
and doin' chores for tho mon-and we
got into the show. 1t was the fnst time
ever sec u circus, and the band, and
the riders and the beautiful woman on a
calico horse, was too much for me, par.
tickly after was let in to tho Livin' Skel.
eton aud the Fat Lady. So / made up
my mind to run of with this show, and
I marched up to the boss and asked him
4, If he would take me. what can you
dop says no. 'Anythin.' says /; mostly
drive WELL says he. i want q boy "a
drive the wagon with the centropole, and
I'll try YOU And left the old house
and all ten years ago. and I've never seen
them sencc. .7l
The thinking man paused moment,
and then proceeded: L..,. -,
1t WAS Dan Rice's Circus-and you
know it was a good show-but It was
hard lines for me, and the beautiful wo.
man didn't look 50 beautiful every time !
SEQ her afterwards, and we roughed u
all the while, and I shouldn't have stuck
to II, II we hadn't been travelin' West.
I thought II I went fur enough I might
get to California, where tho gold wa
CROWN. How about that goldp
A grim. peculiar smile fitted across q
quarter-scction of his face. and ending In
n sneer lost itself In his shaggy beard