American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-07-11
VOL. XXIV.

| lookcu away, ana Ihcrc was the SOUND q
his sobbing, and strange, moaning cry
WI alter would not stay by the body
but directed the boys to remain ano
watch while lie himself went and brough
his friend the doctor. And then ht
turned away and went OIL over the field,
toward the settlement, uttcring loud sob:
and that same strange cry
| 1t 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 ACTIVITY
toward the fatal spot. They came hastily
two and three together, and soon 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.
That is rough piece of busincssr'
said Dan.
Fearful said Pete
That's mighty queer work for a boss
now, amt y" said Levi, IA tall, keen fel-
low intended by nature for a lawyer.
| 1T don't look like a boss to me-" said
another.
And so they went on to comment and
examine. 1t appeared that the rail under
which Willie was jammed was dcntcd
and marked as if hammered by many
blows The three innocent boys who
| had originated the boss theory" as the
men called it, accounted for the marks
on the rail by saying that the horse
paved Willie after he was under the
| fence.
The men said they knew better; they
began to question the boys if they en-
tertained suspicious in regard to them,
and the boys became very uncomforta-
BILE. The men asked repeatedly just
I,ax fIa lxyin W hnyS
had found it, and inquired again and 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 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, Il sharp,
managing woman, came from the oppo-
site 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 IA high voice that seemed to
the boys not a 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 and STACEY, and it was by
far the most theatrical thing done on that
occasion.
Father Mose1y spoke a few words
which interested the people very much.
Hearing some allusion made to the - boss
theory" he said:
"The little boy down at the school
says it was sheep that did it."
And then it came out that Willie's
playmate, Charlie Sanders, was " the lit
tie 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-spell he
told 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.
Here was light indeed, especially for
the three lads, who had begun to feel.
since the horse theory was criticised,
if they themselves were culprits unless
they accounted for - the murder"
Across the lot the sheep were still feed
ing A young farmer stepped out of the
crowd and called :" Nan, nan, man," and
the flock, raising their heads, responded
with a multitude of ba-a-as, and came
galloping over the grassy field. AT their
head was e the old RAM" fine "buck"
with great horns curling in spirals around
his ears.
The young farmer held Willie's basket
in one hand and making IA brawny fist of
the other struck out toward the ram, Of
fering him battle. The buck at once
brought his head down in line of attack,
squared himself for big butt, and came
on with a little run, and Il charge that in
an artistic point of view was quite beau
tiful. The farmer, stepping aside, caught
him by his horns as he came, and that
magnificent charge was his last.
There was a 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 carmine
drops of fresh blood. No other witnesses
were needed In Il moment glittering
keen knife flashed from somebody's keep
ing in the bright sunshine, and in IL
moment more purple stream dyed the
white wool around Bucks throat, and
there was red pool upon the grass; and
little later, as Dan remarked, "sOme
tough mutton"
The excitement abated; for the mystery
was cleared up and Justice had its due.
kind-hearted Joe, who superintendent the
Sabbath school and led the religious ele-
ment of the neighborhOod, stepped for
ward and said to the crowd:
suspicion and no need of any ceremony;
let us take him home"
And 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 picturesque process
sion, through the pasture lot and down
the bank and along by the shore of the
pond. When Walters house was reached
a few of the women went i'm to soothc
Mary; and Joe and 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 be done for
Walter and Mary, and the people, except
few who remained as watchers and help
ers, dispersed to their homes.
The three days that followed were
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 not
heard as at other times, for the mill was
stopped in token of respect for the great
sorrow. Only the softly-ilowing stream
was heard, mingling its susu,rus with the
hum of the bees in the garden
Now and then groups of children,
dressed in their Sunday attire, would
come down the bank, and with hushed
voices and fearful looks steal UP toward
the cottage door Then kind Joe would
see them and would come out and take
them in to see Willie; and after Il few
moments they would issue forth again
and walk sadly homeward, and as they
went the sunlight dried their tears
And farmers and hunters came from