Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-03-14

ty, the Old Mans reply was so low as to |
be inaudible beyond the room.
"Yes,n said Johnny, with some slight
abatement of interest, Give heard O
him before. Thar, that'll do, dad. l
don't ache near so bad as l did. Now
wrap me tight in this yer blanket. So.
Now" he added in muffied whisper,
{" sit down yer by me till go asleep"
To assure himself of obedience, he dis
engaged one hand from the blanket, and
grasping his fathers sleeve again, COM
posed himself to rest.
For some moments the Old Man wait
ed patiently. Then the unwonted still
ness of the house excited his curiosity,
and without moving from the bed, he
cautiously opened the door with his
disengaged hand, and looked into the
main room. To his infinite surprise it
was dark and deserted. But even then
smouldering log on the hearth broke,
and by the upspringing blaze he saw
the figure of Dick Bullen sitting by the
dying embers.
"Hellol"
Dick started, rose, and came some
what unsteadily toward him.
"Whar's the boys?" said the Old
Man.
"Gone up the canon on little
paeasr. They're coming back for me in
8 mint. Pm waitin' round for 'em.
What are you starin' at, Old Man." he
| added with a forced laugh; "do you
| think I'm drunk?''
The Old Man might have been par
doned the supposition, for Dicks eyes
were humid and his face flushed. He
loitered and lounged back to the Chin
ney, yawned, shook himself, buttoned
up his coat, and laughed. Liquor
amt so plenty as that, Old Man. Now
don't you get up" he continued, as the
Old Man made a movement to release
his sleeve from Johnny's hand. "Don't
you mind manners. Sit jest whar you
be; I'm going in jify. Thar, that's
them now"
There was low tap at the door.
Dick Bullen opened it quickly, nodded
"Good night" to his host, and disap-
| peared. The Old Man would have fol-
lowed him but for the hand that still
unconsciously grasped his sleeve. He
could easily have disengaged it; it was
small, weak, and emaciated. But per-
haps because it a0aS small, weak, and
emaciated he changed his mind, and
drawing his chair closer to the bed,
rested his head upon it. In this de-
fenseless attitude the potency of his
earlier potations surprised him. The
room fickered and faded before his
eyes, reappeared, faded again, went out,
and left him-asleep.
Meantime, Dick Bullen, closing the
door, confronted his companions. care
you ready?' said Staples. Ready
said Dick; "what's the time?'' "Past
II" was the reply; "can you make it
its nigh on fifty miles, the round trip
hither and yor." ~ reckon" returned
Dick shortly. q Whar's the mare p
"Bill and Jacks holdin' her at the
crossin'.n "Let 'em hold on a mint
longer" said Dick.
He turned and re-entered the house
softly. By the light OF the gutterins
candle and dying fire he saw that the
door of the little room was open. H,
stepped toward it on tiptoe and looked
in. The Old Man had fallen back il
his chair, snoring, his helpless fee
thrust out in line with his collapsed
shoulders, and his hat pulled over hi
eyes. Beside him, on narrow woodel
bedstead, lay Johnny, muff1ed tightl,
in blanket that hid all save strip O
forehead and few curls damp will
perspiration. Dick Bullen made a stel
forward, hesitated, and glanced owe
his shoulder into the deserted room
Everything was quiet. With a sudde1
!, resolution he parted his huge mustache
! with both hands and stopped over tn
sleeping boy. But even as he did so,
+ mischievous blast, lying in wait, swoope'
= down the chimney, rekindled tn
hearth, and lit up the room with
shameless glow from which Dick fed il
bashful terror.
His companions were waiting for hir
: at the crossing. Two of them wer
struggling in the darkness with som
: strange misshapen bulk, which, as Die
came nearer, took the semblance of
great yellow horse.
1t was the mare. She was not pre-
ty picture. From her Roman nose t
i her rising launches, from her archie
spine, hidden by the stiff machillas of
Mexican saddle, to her thick, straigh
II bony legs, there was not a line of equin
grace. In her halfblind but who'll
vicious white eyes, in her protrudin
a. under lip, in her monstrous color, thel
II was nothing but ugliness and vice.
v Now, then" said Staples, "stan
> crar of her heels, boys, and up wit
# you. Don't miss your first holt of h
" name, and mind ye get your off stirru
!, y quick. Readyr'
Il There was leap, scrambling stru
=, gle, bound, wild retreat of IL
&c crowd, circle of flying hoofs, tv
=. springless leaps that Jared the earth,
- rapid play and jingle of spurs, plung
: and then the voice of Dick somewhe
. in the darkness, "All rightr'
y; "Don't take the lower road back o
- less you're hard pushed for time Dor
~ hold her in down hill Well be
n the ford at 5. G'Iangl Hoopa Null
" Col"
70 A splash, a spark struck from t
of ledge in the road, clatter in the rocl
es cut beyond, and Dick was gone.
Is X \ K
n, Sing, o Muse, the ride of Richa
IT. Bullenl Sing, o Muse, of chivalro
n menl the sacred quest, the dough
deeds, the battery of low cburls, Il
or fearsome ride and grewsome perils
re the flower of Simpsons Bari Alac
re she is dainty, this Musel She will ha
k none of this bucking brute and sws