Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-06-08

table Katie did not apoear. Mrs. Nay
lor said 'the young lady had taken {
STROLL
After dinner a game Of chess will
Mr., Naylor and then to let the old man
take his siesta asked to be shown to my
room. 1t was cosy little place with
a low window and balcony delicately
rallied with iron,
Supper came on, but Katie was tired
after her ramblc, and did not present
herself Once more in my room / lit
a cig gar and went out on the balcony
The night was clear and the moon was
in the central heavens. The mountains
stood dimly outlined on the horizon,
and the green foot hills glittered in the
bright moonlight The flower garden
lay below me. was thinking of the
dryad | had seen in the woods and Won
dering if Katie Davenport would be
half as pretty, when Il sweet, silvery
voice down in the garden found my
ear. The words were very low, but !
heard them distinctly.
"Had fight, do you say, Sam?'
"Yes'm, Miss Katie, he jes' fit world
'thout eend. Him and anoddcr fcller
and two dogs dey jes was fghtin' like
de berry nation, dey was, an dey skeert
de hosses, de dogs did, and den jes
run right kerdab ober de men fghtin.
Oh! Miss Katie, tell ye what de gem
mems good Grit, he is"
"Don't speak 50 loud, Sam. What
were they fighting about
"Can't say dat, swa' can't. Twas
right atore de whlskey saloon house, an
dc men was all bout dar watchin' dem
an de dogs iightin'. Lor brcss ye,
de gemmen's on his muskle, he is, an
he's gritty as grindstone, he is.
''ln front of dram shop, say you ?
Had they been drinking, SAM
"Don't think de gemmen did drink
any, cause he's fine man, an all dat,
but dat odder teller spose had swiggd
de half gallon pot full, mebbe,"
At this point in the conversation |
was leaning out over the iron railing,
trying to catch every word. The rail
ing gave way. | felt thrill Of horror
dart through my breast and then down.
down, down, thrash upon the ground,
and | knew no more. | saw enough to
now remember that | fell at the very
feet of the two persons talking below.
When | came to myself | was on a
soft bed, with doctor examining my
broken arm and my four fractured ribs.
Such was my luck. For three mortal
weeks | was confined to my bed mean
time, Of course, | did not get to see
Katie. Finally, however, was able to
go to the dining room, and 10! right
across the table from me stood my wood
nymph ; started and she blushed scar
let. We went through the formality
of an Introduction awkwardly enough
and took our soup in confused silence
mastered myself, though, before the
wine came, and she, too, slipped the
purple muscadinc and talked freely.
After dinner the siesta and then mu-
sic. Katie sang like mocking bird,
forthwith fell in love.
-Four months later found me at the
station once more, but | was not alone.
Katie was with me, my wife. We
stood on the platform waiting for the
cars. My old friend Naylor had just
walked across the street, and was now
talking with tall man in plaid trows-
ers. Suddenly the two turned and
came up to us.
"Captain Hunter, allow me to present
my friend, Mike Dixon, etc" Mr..
Naylor went on to introduce us.
We shook hands and bowed formal
ly.
"Nlr Dixon is our candidate for re-
election to the State house of represen-
tatives," continued Mr.. Naylor. "He
will support me for the U. S. Senate"
he added in my ear.
looked at Dixon and he looked at
me. He grinned in a savage yet conf
cal way, and said, hitching up his trow-
sers:
"Seems to me we've met afore."
perhaps" said | dryly.
"That ere rock cut my noggin awful
bad" he said.
at did?"
eyes, made scars all other my head!"
Just at this juncture | saw familiar
yellow dog go ambling across the street
and at the same moment the brindle
one stepped out of the saloon. The