The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-07-27

nttle heap upon the hoor. Then fol-
lowed q series Of quick gasps and
catching for breath, and short exclama-
tions Of " Oh dear oh dear r. and then
the stiaed shrieking began. ,-
Walter.took his wife up in his strong
arms and tiled TO undo in part the sad
work which had been accomplished
upon her by the few words he had 30
suddenly and imprudently uttered. He
said that Willie might not be dead after
all, but only hurt. And so he placed
her upon BED, aud he and Phil left
her there and started to go and see
Willie. IT.
Not many words were said as the
man and boy climbed the bank and
strobe hastily along to the fatal spot.
As they neared it, there sat the two
Watchers, faithful to their post and as
still as statues. tl..T
Phil and Walter turned The angle Of
the fence, and the father came up 10
the body OF his little sen. He had not
seemed stricken with grief until now,
but only excited, As he looked stead.
| lily upon the chubby little form oil bat
tered and bloody and bruised, the lad
who had brought him there felt that
some words must besaid.
4" It's kick, amt it2" said he. T.
This was hardly the right thing to
soy ht. sucha moment, perhaps. The
poor father choked and trembled and
replied, "Askick or . bite or some.
thing=oh deariD Aud then he turned
his head and looked away, and there
was the sound of his sobbing, and
o strange, moaning cry. ,....
Walter would not stay by the body,
but directed the boys TO remain and
watch while he himself went and
brought his friend the doctor. rand
then he turned away and went of over
the fields toward the settlement, utter
ing loud sobs and that same strange
II was hardly more than ten minutes
walk down to the road toward which
Walter directed his steps, and in very
short time the boys saw groups OF men
coming from the houses, up the accliy-
ity toward the fatal spot. They came
hastily, two and three together, and
soon dozen or two had gathered
around the three boys who had watched,
and were gazing at the body.
After the first look the men made
characteristic remarks.
"That Is rough piece ofbusinesslp
said Dan. ~ q shls.leigg go
!" Fearfullp said Pete. aA
That's durn queer work for a hoss,
now, amt it?' said Levi, q tall, keen
fellow, intended by nature for o lawyer
SIT don't look like a hoss to me-"
said another. w l-9 '5a''l
And so they went on to comment and
examine. II appeared that the rail un.
der which Willie was iammed was
dented and marked as II hammered by
many blows. The three innocent boys
who had originated the "hoss theory"
rs the men called IL, accounted for the
marks on the rail by saying that the
horse paved ut Willie after he was un.
der the fence. Tg 1ra N ~
The men said that they knew better;
they began to, question the boys Us II
they entertained suspicious in regard
TO them, aud the boys became very un.
comfortable. The men asked asked
repeatedly Just how the body was lying
when theiboys had found II, and in.
uuired again and again whether they
had moved IL all. The lads felt these
insinuations very keenly. M 4
Men continued TO come, and at length
women came in groups, until quite an
assembly was gathered there in the
open field. Finally Walter returned
siowlyup the hill with o few friends, as
II he were reluctant to come again TO
the place. Just as he reached the spot,
good old Father Mosely, and his wife,
a sharp, managing woman, came from
the opposite direction and met Walter.
Father and Mother Mosely lived down
by the school.house at the other side Of
the settlement. o' o,'
Mother Mosely at o1ce seized hold OF
Walter, and while she wrung his hand,
said (: .g .3l si
"oh, Walter we can't give him up u
Father Mosely spoke few words
which interested the people very much.
Hearing some allusien made to the
"hoss theory" he said:
"The little boy down at the school
saysit was a sheep that did IT," ll-
And then IL came out that Willie's
playmate, Charlie Sanders, was nthe
boy down at the school," and that
Charlie had cried all the forenoon and
dared not tell the teacher what the mat.
ter was but finally at the noon.s spell lie
told o little girl that Willie did not come
TO school because sheep In the lot had
chased them and knocked Willie down,
and he could not get up. i
Here was light indeed, especially for
the three lads, who had begun TO feel,
since the horse theory was criticised,
as II they themselves were culprits un.
less they accounted for +" the murder"
Across the lot tho sheep were still
feeding. A young farmer stepped cut
o.. the crowd and called :" Nan, nan,
man," and the flock, raising their heads,
responded with q multitude OF ba.a.as,
and came galloping over the grassy
field. at their head was the "the old
ram," o fine "bnek with great horns
curling in spirals around his ears.
The yeung farmer held Willie's
basket In one hand, and making q
brawny iist Of the other, struck out
toward the ram, offering him battle.
The buck at once brought his head
down in line of attack, squared him
self for q big butt, and came on with o
little run, and a charge that in an artis.
tic point Of view was quite beautiful.
The farmer, stepping aside. caught him
BY his horns US he came, and that mag.
niHcent charge was his last,
There was q blood. thirsty feeling per.
vading the crowd, undoubtedly, y, but