River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-09-30

SAID Bleylns. Ana there the matter rested
for while He was several days there !;
and that Missouri gal wouldn't have moth
ing, Whatsoever TO say 10 me for some
time, while Blevins was round with her al
together.
We'll | was mighty struck with her, |
can tell YOU, and didn't like her conduct
over much but wasn't going to let her
see that, but just kept quiet, hoping she'd
come round.
And she did come round, tell you and
it was about the unluckiest thing for me
that ever happened. She looked on me one
day, when | passed h.r, with a friendly
emile, which observed.
Il hope you don't bear no malice says !.
Lord, no. says she Why should I2'
and then she laughed. We'll, Pm glad of
that says l, for from the minute ace you
! felt drawn toward YOU Now you're
beginning again. says she, and then she
laughed again. Well. she seemed to be
kindly disposed, and / accordingly offered
her my hand. She said she didn't go much
on mems talk, whereupon proceeded my
pocket-book, that held thousand dollars il
it held cent There, l said, that's my
pile. Take it and buy yourself no end Of
dry goods. You are bustling woman, as
is fitting for the wife of my bosom; 40 Just
take that money and lay it out as suits YOU
She took the money finally, and took
kiss; and | felt Blevins was nowhere.
Well, sir, the next day she and Blevins was
gone. The old folks cursed me, and /
cursed Bleyins, and we was in about as tn.
multuous condition as you ever see. Well,
didn't say very much but knew Blevins
was as likely to 20 back on her az ON every
body else who he had been connected with.
About two days after, she came back, and
in pretty pitiable condition, you bet.
Blevins had stole the money give her and
had left her. He was the sharpest scoun-
drel | ever see, and that's the truth Well,
il he was ttimultuous before. what was he
now? The old man he was down on her,
and the old woman she was down on her.
and there was q general bad feeling all
around. She come TO me and tried TO
rouse me for to lay for Blevins; but didn't
care no more for her, and kept quiet and
wouldn't appear to understand nothing of
what she said to me. But | waited my
time, and set out after Bleyins I'd sold
most of my animals at a pretty good price,
but was bound to kill the cuss. Well,
started out, and journeyed by day, but /
couldn't find nothing of him for nigh on to
a week, when heard of Blevins being in
the mountains. started on his track and
cotched him. Yes, sir, / cotched him. He
was just sinking back through the bushes
and drawing his pistol; but was quicker
than he, and ! fred first. l see his hand fly
up and his pistol so smashing down the
side of the mountain, and heard his voice
cry out Just once, and that was all: rush.
ed through the bushes to him, and there
he lay. He looked up at me with the old
smile that was so natural to him, and | felt
the tears come TO my own eyes, / raised
his head and held it on my knee.
Wen, English he says, speaking kind
of slow and thick, it's all up with me-
Don't say that, Blevins,' said /.
Yes said he, it's the truth; but | bear
no malice. Oh! English, / forgive you
only say goodbye and leave me. | want to
be alone and think on what I've done to be
forgiven for. I've laid down my hand
reckon, and don't want any mourners.'
His eyes closed and bis head fell back, he
breathed slower and slower; and | tell YOU
what boys, kind of horror came upon
me, and l just went down that mountain
at full speed, without looking behind me.
And many and many's the time that, sup
posing he was dead, Tye seen that rascal's
face Just as left him.
Mr.. English having made a dramatic
pause at this point, one of his listeners took
the opportunity of asking him for an ex-
plantation of the phrase "supposing he was
dead. I"
That said Mr.. English. 'is Just the
point of this hero narration. I've told Won
this story with nobject. What / says
generally has u nobiect, though some Of
you fellows don't appreciate the fact
What's your object now9' asked one of
the listeners.
My object now returned Mr.. English,
is to show you that vice stieeeeds in this
world. II is for that purpose that have
related the story of Bleyins. What have
told you happened nigh on to fifteen years
ago. What am going to tell happened
last year, | went East, for the first time in
many years, sir, On the train; and | went
to church. have cousin who lives near
Fifth avenue. Fifth avenue is Just their
prettiest street and lays over everything
else in the way Of streets that you ever see
Houses all made of brown stone, sir, and
furnished tremendous Well, my cousin he
received me cordial. I'd done good deal
Ter him in my time, and he wasn't of the
forgetting sort He give me some new
clothes and he took me out TO church with
him. Well, Pm always easy in my manner
wherever be, and l was easy there; but
wasn't comfortable was Just wanting
10 get away to these mountainous regions
again. Well, when the parson had let up
little, came out with my cousin. and he
said 10 the man in front of him: Mr..
Blevins, / want 10 ask you about them
goblets for the commission service And
the man turned, and | see il was Blevins
Well, | recognized him at once, and he col.
ored mp some; but he asked me 10 come
round and see him, and so I went lie was
living in a mighty grand house, in mighty
grand style. | went with him into the
lb'ry Gust 10 think Of Blevins having a
lib'ry y and ] sat down and talked with
him. 'Blevins,' said /, I'm going away
tomorrow, and most likely we won't never
meet again. don't bear you no i'll will I;
but would Just like 20 hear how you
come il over me this last time. Well,
said Blevins, seeing you, is like old times,
and so I'll tell you and then say goodbye.
Take some wine and cigars, and then list
en-. Well, sir, did listen. BY George
sir, he'd been about everywhere and done
about everything you could think Of I'd