Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-18

seen it before in his life eve both of us
want good many new things, Jacob-new
habits, new aims, new
"Ah yes, indeed we do,' sighed |,
cheerfully, as | felt the grip of his fingers
You're looking all right, Pm
glad to see. Don't 60 and fancy yourself
ailing Sol. It's womonish trick and not
at all like you"
sNo, am not fanciful," he said, tucking
his book tenderly under his long arm.
"Good-bye, then, Jacob. [ shall see you
again sometime tonight, shall [ ?"
Awkward, that query at the end, but L
nodded yes to him just as if [ had known
Let me see-where was /? Well,
Solomon and parted very good friends:
He looked back at me with a smile as l
waited and afterwards | looked back at
him-with smile, too, for the moment l
turned branch of his old pear tree caught
his hat, which no always wore on the back
part of his head, and kept it; and he walked
to the parsonage door without an idea that
his head was bare. I hurried on cheerfully
then, feeling pretty sure [ was safe. Solo
mon would be in his study all afternoon,
and in his pulpit in the evening. Then he
would drink his cup of strong tea and sleep
the sleep uf parson until morning, with his
lattice window open and a square OF the
night sky exactly before his eyes.
my sleeps calm" he used to say, elf
my last look has been on heaven"
And calm | believe it was, though his bed
was narrow and short, and he-though mar
row too-was long. Sol never could be in
duced to spend money on himself which he
could spare to give away, and so he persist
ed in using still the bed he had had as
boy. As for mine, had been glad enough
to discard it for a better.
Well, we had rare fun that Sunday after
noon, and our bird came off the winner.
though the Squire's was plucky a little
cock as ever got beaten. There he lay when
the tussle was over, with his comb up and
his mouth little open, as if he were only
taking in breath for a new attack; yet as
dead as if it were TO listed with stufing.
10 gave US supper after the fight; then
we dispatched bottle of port apiece over
settling our bets then we gave our minds
to pleasure and enjoyed good brew of JOS
punch; and the Squire, though he mad been
beaten, was one OF the cheerfulest Of us all
AS it was Sunday we determined to
separate in good time so when it got to-
wards eleven we set out while 10 stood in
bis lighted doorway shouting hearty good
appointment with him for the next day, that
we might conclude the bargain for the colt !;
SO was little behind the others in start
ing.
"Take care of yourself" cried Jo," "you
have the most money and the fnrtherest to
| go. Mind the notes. Five twenties, and
have copied the numbers that we may be
safe. Tell the Squire so if he waylays you
in the dark
This was JOS parting joke, and when l
answered it I gave kindly touch to the
pocket-book in my breast booklet, and the
Squire, who heard US called out that he
daren't try tonight as there was a moon
behind the clouds.
[ was riding a favnrite little mare who
knew every step of the way between my
swn stables and JOS, so | rode peaceably on
in the dark, recalling the flavor of JOS
wh1skey, and singing over one of the verses
of song the Squire had given us:
| With i've pounds your standing wages,
| You shall daintiiy be fed;
Bacon, beans, salt beef, cabb-ages,
Buttermilk and barley bread.
Suddenly the mare made deliberate
Ghdt" On the ath but ct t thh1
she understood quite well that she only had
to lift and push this gate, and she had never
before reused me here when | had been rid.
ing sleepily home from Blagly.
STEADY, my girl! Why, what is it ~
cried l, for she was shying back into the
lane, and behaving in every way like lun-
attic. l gave her such cut as she had not
felt since she was broken in and then,
without word of warning, she reared en-.
tirely upright; took me at disadvantage,
and sent me sprawling into the ditch; then
turned and galloped back towards Blagly
without me.
was none the worse for my fall, only
shaken little, and astonished great deal !;
SO picked up first myself and then my hat,
and stumbled on to find the heath gate.
had my hand upon it, when the moon came
smiling from under a cloud, and the whole
level waste of heath was made visible in q
moment. But the sight of the heath, in all
Its barren uginess was not what struck me
with such chill, and made my eyes prick
and my threat grow apoplectic. I never
gave second glance in that direction, for
there close to me, only on the opposite side
OF the gate, stood my brother Solomon. I
could not have mistaken him if there had
ouly been the faintest flicker Of a light.
There he was, IN his long coat and high
hat with his arms folded on the top bar of
the gate, and his eyes fixed steadily on me.
"solomon," I said, growing very cold and
uncomfortable under his gaze, "It's getting
chilly for you to be out"
He did not answer that, and so presently
| went cheerfully on: give been-you re-
mem Der where I said I was going''-I stop
ped again here. [ did not want to confess
where had been if he did not know, and
did not want to tell another falsehood if he
did know. So I put it to him that way, in
tending to be guided by his answer. It was
so long in coming that I took heart of grace
to try another tack. "Where have gou
been, Sol %
Another pause, and then he answered, in
his old, slow way:
Give been at home, expecting you,
Jacob; waiting for you until I could wait
no longer"
I'm sorry for that" said, feeling little
cheerier to hear him speak. 81 would not
have been so late only had to go round by
Blagly on business. dare say you notice
E Il