Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-02-10
MISCELLANEOUS.
CENTREPOLE BILL.
BY r. BRET HART.

IT 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 it were
fast against wandering cattle. The lights
in the house cleaned dimly through the
mist, as If the wet had reached them, too.
Even old Don, who followed me gingerly
out from the porch, shook his shaggy coat,
and shifted his disg,ht at the weather.
Satisfied that all was right, was about
returning to shelter, when from around
the corner of the fence came the sound of
horses feet, and heavy wagon sucking
and grooming up the incline. A low, pro-
longed growl from the dog greeted the
coming team, and I waited for . moment
to see who could be travelling at such .
time and in such q sorry storm. There
soon came abreast Of the gate . huge
wagon, drawn by six mules which could
barely see through the 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
whoa there, June! say, stranger,
how far is it to town."
ITO Los Angeles? Ten miles"
"That's purity outlook for me. Ten
miles Is this a tavern?"
"No.r
"Ten miles to town. WAL, stranger,
guess I'll stake out here tonight. Them
animules is too bea. to do that. Where's
yer water?"
It's all around you tonight! but you
can turn your mules into the corral, and
bring your blankets before the fire. It's
too wet to stay out here"
"Wsal, I've seen wus nights nor this,
and I'm eenmost water proof; but since
you're pressin' I'll turn out these critters
and jine ye in shake. Git up, here, you
old cantankerous guvment mule That
ar Black Bess is the ornarest animule l
ever see"
It required but little time to unhitch his
team, and l opened the gate, and in the
tagged creatures came-gaunt and worn,
with moth.eaten tails, dripping with wet,
and generally cast down, 40 mules are
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 meandered slowly into the yard,
where our own horses crowded together
under the shed and gazed inhospitably at
the newcomers.
Have you had any support" Inquired
i
with his blankets.
"Waal, now you mention 1t, I rayther
think not, and do feel q heap hungry"
managed to get him cold bite and q
glass of toddy, and as he whipped out his
short, black pipe, and moved up to the
fire, he began to thaw mentally, as l 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. had good view of
my guest now; q short, thick-set man,
with . shock Of beard, bronzed face,
where It could be seen, and sharp, gray
eyes. A soldiers coat, much too large for
him, was his upper garment, the only ap-
parent additional vesture being pair of
immense boots.
II like that liquor O. yours" no said
after time. It kctches 90 1t goes down.
How long mout you have lived here ?"
"Only year." / answered.
Between the wreaths of curling smoke
he scanned me closely, and again inquired !:
"Where mout ye hail from ?"
~ great distance from here-from
"From Manner You don't say 70! I'm
from them parts myself. It seems kind o
good to meet fellow-nationer in . turin
land. HOW'S all the folks down In Maine ?"
About - usual, fancy. But how did
you get out here?"
"Tve made long trip of II, you bet.
II you don't want to turn in, IN tell Won
al about it. 1t kind o drops the tailboard
] out OF feller's feelins to strike : man
from the same deestrict."
Assuring him that ! should enjoy his
confidence and his story-hsving mixed
another stiff 'un to take out that last
patch Of cold"-he related % follows:
The first Of II wa, me and the old man
had . scrimn1Age-not . fightin' one, mind
ye, fur wouldn't have hurt hair OF the
Old mans head, not for gold; but I
was pesky tired of farmin' and plowin'
and hog KILN and such like, and Was q
bound for TO 60 to sea. It's Gurus, Q fellow
never knows the right side Of his mellon
till it's too late !; but that's the way with
al on N; and knockin' about In the world
just pulls the husks of the cob, and shows
We what's what. Howsomdever. SEEM a.
how was hankerin' to 60 away, and a.
Melis Pritchard had married that city
chap, and - the old man aid I shouldn't
80, ! was more determineder than ever.