The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-04-17

piled the boy " all know is, we heerd
a Mise in the shanty, an the mex thing
some one went by on the mule, maxim
big time"
Uncle Tucker waited to hear no more,
but ran on for his house. There was q
crowd at the door waiting for him. He
rushed in, and there, extended on the
bed, lay the lifeless form of his beloved
Joe There he lay covered with stab
wounds, and quite dead. With heart
broken cry, the old miner threw him.
self on his knees at the side of the bed.
"Speak to ole uncle, honeyp' he
cried "speak, Joe, an tell who did
it |" But there was no reply from Joe.
"My child, my child =! Pedro
S'arch him out an shoot him down p
thundered the enraged man.
Pedro? Was it Pedro? A man
stopped at the side of the bed and
picked up one of those curious-looking
cards, mute witness of the terrible
deed, but bearing upon its face unmis-
taxable evidence as to the murderer.
Yes, it was Pedro. A dozen men i'm
mediately set out in pursuit of the
murderer.
The grief of the old man was painful
to witness. The room was cleared and
consultation held outside as to what
had best be done. It was argued that
no one but the Mexican had been guilty
of the crime, and that if he was cap
tured he would be in safe hands. They
thought it would be well for doctor to
examine the body and make report to
a committee of citizens. A red-shirted
miner, who was the district physician,
pushed open the door and entered the
room. He announced his errand to
Uncle Tucker, and softly approached
the bed. He opened the boys jacket
and gently turned it back. He started
and stepped back, while a deep blush
dyed his face and neck, as if he had
been caught in some shameful act. He
turned to leave the room, when the old
man, who had been watching him,
clutched him nervously by the sleeve.
"Not yit, not yit, doe" he whis-
pered. Tomorrow, an th4n ye may.
Let the burryin' take place this arter-
noon. An will ye come an see to my
dear child ?"
The doctor said he would and wiring
ing Uncle fuckers hand he passed out
That afternoon a solemn procession
wended it's way up the hills to a level
spot under the waving pines. A grave
bad been dug, and the rude coffin was
gently lowered into it. Amid the
hashed sobs of the grief stricken man
the rough doctor read the burial SER
vice. Grief was depicted in every stern
face and every eye held tear. AS the
men stepped forward to fill the grave
the hardest character in the camp ad-
vanced and threw a pack of cards upon
the box which held the form of little
Ia a1n
the act, and one which spoke volumes
in behalf of the simple-hearted fellow,
who showed his devotion to the dead in
the best way he could. The grave was
filed up and little mound raised over
it, which was covered with the pure
white syringa which grew all about in
profusion.
Tew-morrow, doc, an then ye
may" faltered Uncle Tucker, as he stood
in his door. "Come in the mornin' an
I'll tellye why" The light burned late in
Hotel Independence that night, and some
said Uncle Tucker was praying. Little |
groups of men stood about, talking in |
subdued whispers, when the sound of |
horses hoofs were heard coming up the |
road. It was the party who had gone |
in pursuit of the murderer. A nod |
from the leader showed that justice had |
been dealt out to the fugitive, and ev-
cry man breathed freely.
The next morning the doctor went to
Uncle fuckers door. He knocked, but
receiving no answer walked in. The
room was vacant, and the bed had not
been disturbed. Perplexed, the doc
tor looked about him, when his eye
caught something white laying on the
table. It was letter directed to him.
Opening it, he read
The dauter Nv favrite sister Nv mine, losiu
her mother an havin crul father, runs ava
an CONS too her ole unkel. She CONS in this
yer camp as boy, an fur shaim to mi child
an feer NV maxim talk let's her sta 80. She
wos thee darlin Nv ole fuckers hart an the
Lord help Pidro if he gifts site on hmm. Mi
lilli Nv the wally was looked from ole upkel
afore he wos lite-out whur no Wun node hmm.
Ole fuckers hed's afre, doc. Mi affection too
thee boys and tel EN- mi story and will bee
fur ava. Good by. Josephine Tucker was
her naim. HIRAM TUCKER.
The hand of the doctor trembled as
he read this simple epistle old Uncle
Tucker had gone from among them,
and his kindly old face would never be
seen again.
An hour later another ifeless form
lay in the Hotel Independence. Some
saw figure stretched upon
The little grave up in the pines, and 60
ing to it found it to be Uncle Tucker,
with his arms clasped about the mound
and his soul far away. They brought
him back and laid him on the rude bed,
with the bright sun shining in and play
ng upon his lifeless features, which
wore the smile of old.
"What's doc say, Jim ?' said by
,tander.
"He seq stroke of aperplexy I
Knocked him under" was the answer. I
"WelI, aperplexy some call it, re- {
olied the other, but I say he died of