The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-07-16

~ was uHIuiy more IMAM 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 accliv-
ity toward the fatal spot. They came
hastily, two and three together, and
soon a dozen or more were gathered
around the three boys who had watched,
and were gazing at the body.
After the first look the men made
characteristic remarks.
"This is a rough piece of business -
8, Fearful l' said Pete.
' That's durn queer work for horse.
now, amt it?" said Levy, tall, keen
fellow, intended by nature for lawyer.
:. 1t don'tlook like a hoss to me, z"
said another. t4s
And so they went on to comment and
examine.
1t appeared that the rail under which
Willie was jammed was dented and
marked, as if hammered by many
blows. The three innocent bows who
had originated the A." boss tht ory," as
the men called it, accounted for the
marks on the rail by saying that the
horse paved at Willie after he was un-
der the fence.
The men said they knew better they
began to question the boys as if they
entertained suspicious in regard to
them, and the boys became very un-
comfortable. The men asked repeat
edly just how the body was lyiug when
the boys had found it, and inquired
again whether they had moved it at all.
The lads felt these insinuations very
keenly.
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 slowly
up the hill with a few friends, as if he
were reluctant to come again to the
place. Just as he reached the spot,
good old Father Mosely, and his wife,
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.
Mother Mosely at once seized hold of
Walter, and while she wrung his hand,
exclaimed, in high voice, that seemed
to the boys not becoming or. natural
voice in which to express grief
" Oh, Walter, we can't give him up
no, no, no, oh, dear
The gesticulation which accompanied
this was tragic anG STACEY, and it was by
far the most theatrical thing done upon
that occasion.
Father Mosely spoke very few words
which interested the people very much.
Hearing some allusion made to the
"hoss theory" he said
'The little boy down at the school
says it was a sheep that did it.
And then it came out that Willie's
playmate, Charlie Sanders, was "the
little boy down at the school," and
that Charlie had cried all the forenoon,
and dared not tell the teacher what the
matter was but finally, at the noon
| spell, he told little girl that Willie did
not come to school because a sheep in
| the lot had chased them and knocked
| Willie down, and he could not get up.
Here was light, indeed, especially for
the three lads, who had begun to feel,
| since the horse theory was criticised, as
! if they themselves were culprits, unless
| they accounted for "the murder"
Across the lot the sheep were still
feeding. A young farmer stepped ont
of the crowd and called, Nan, nan,
man," and the flock, raising their heads,
responded with multitude of ba-a-as,
and came gauoping over the grassy
field. At their head was the cold ram, -
fine "buck, with great horns curling
in spirals around his ears.
The young farmer held WiIlie's
basket in one hand, and, making a
brawny fist of the other, struck out to-
ward the ram, offering him battle. The
buck at once brought his head down in
line of attack, squared himself for q
big butt, and came on with a lite run,
and charge that, in an artistic point
of view, was quite beautiful. The far
mer stepped aside, caught him by his
horns as he came, and that magnificent
charge was his last.
There was blood-thirsty feeling per-
vading the crowd, undoubtedly, but
Buck had a fair trial. There, on his
white, bold face and horns, were the
bright carnine drops of fresh blood.
No other witnesses were needed. In a
mom4nt q glitteripg, keen knife flashed
from somebody's keeping into the bright
sunshine, and in a moment more pur-
pie stream dyed the white wool around
Bucks throat, and. there was a red pool
upon the grass; and n little later, as Dan
remarked, "some tough mutton"
The excitement abated; for the mys-
terry was cleared up, and justice had its
due. Kind-hearted Joe, who superin-
tended the Sabbath-school and led the
religious element of the neighborhood,
stepped forward and said to the crowd
"Well, boys, it is all right here, and
no suspicion, and no need of any cere-
mony; let us take him home.
Aud then Joe took Willie in his arms,
and held him closely, with. the little
face against his own, as if he were still
living. and started for the cottage.
Some of the people followed, in pict-
uresNue procession, through the pasture
lot and down tn, bank, and along the
shore of the pond. When Walters
house was reached, few of the women
went in to soothe Mary; and Joe ano
the doctor went in also, and the people
clustered about the door.
In the course of an hour it seemed
that all had been done that could b'
done for Walter and Mary, and th,
people. except a few, who remained a
watchers and helpers, dispersed to then
The three days that followed wer,
bright, sunny days. A strange stiffness
and unusual hush reigned in the neigh
borhood of the cottage. The harsh
grating sound of the saw mill was stop
ped in token of respect for the real sor
row. Only the softly flowing strean
was heard, mingling suSItrrus with th'
hum of the bees in the garden.
Now and then groups of children
dressed in their Sunday attire, wouiC
come down the bank, and with hushe'
voices and fearful looks steal up towart
the cottage door. Then kind Joe woult
see them, and would come out and tak
them in to see Willie and after a feS
moments they would issue forth again
: and walk sadly homeward, and as the.
went the sunlight dried their tears.
And farmers and hunters came iron
+ many miles away 's to see the little DO.
r that was killed by sheep" Some Q
the rough men manifested their sympa
! thy by exhibiting vindictive feeling
, toward the ram. After going in an
; viewing the bruised corpse, they woul
come out with dark, determined looks
5 and grasping again the long rifles whic
they had brought with them and 'stOo
{ up' by the door, they would inquire OF an