The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-07-30
A Story of Love and Blood.

man ana brother 20 one Oh the attaches 81
the CGwrier-J0uYnal. He stood on one leg
in the doorway just as the reporters were
settling down to the nights work, and he
smiled Familiarity upon the crowd of young
men in the room.
Il am not the head boss replied the
particular one addressed, but you'll find
a man in the little rOo to the left who
will attend to your business"
Much obleeged to you, sah," and the
dark shade hobbled toward the room in
Dictated. He was lame of a leg, but he
looked like he could whip many a bigger
man. nevertheless. He had a big quid in
his mouth, which he shifted from one side
to the other as he halted again in the sec
ond doorway.
Is vou de head boss 2" he repeated to
the person sitting at the desk within.
No; but what do you want?"
Use after de head boss, SAN"
1t was at a moment when two or three
hours of hard work made a little relaxation
agreeable to the young man addressed,
who replied that while not the head boss,
yet he might be depended on to render
any service tO his visitor. "What can | do
for you?" he said.
"Well, boss, Use got some poetry heah
dat l 'jectured you might put in yer
paper" at the same time extending a roll
of manuscript, wrapped in a suspiciOusly
greasy piece of paper.
"Poetry. !" and the newspaper man
wheeled around. Whats your name 2"
"Sam, sah."
-" Where do you work."
"At de terbaccer warehouse, sab. |
cOopers dc barrels
"And you nave found time during the
absorbing duties OF your humble but
honorable occupation to write poetry?'
"Well, not 'dzackly. boss a; you see |
found dat paper, and some o de gentle
men down ut De house said it was love
po'try, and tole me to bring it up heah."
"Sam, are you in love?
Sam sat down, turned his quid and set
tied himself for a talk. Meanwhile the
boys began to gather from the other
room. Sam addressed each of them
familiarity, and then smiled on the ques-
toner.
Not now, sab | was once in dat very
fix, sab, but Use quit dat now"
what could have thus driven the
tender sentiment from your heart, Sam -
well, sab, you see, when ! was a boy,
down iii Green County, | belonged TO
Henry Smith-yer didn't know him, did
yer, boss? No, didn't 'spect you knowed
him, cause that's been some time ago.
Well, as | tole you, | was a boy, like
bout seventeen, and | loved a gal named
Susan, and she had a brother, and he
didn't like me-"
THAT was unfortunate for you, but ii
only proves that true love never does run
SMOOTH
"Dar wasn't nOthin' about it to run
sab, but blood" returned the dark MAJ
and brother.
Blood in a love match, Sam? Yor
surprise me. How .wasit"
II killed dat niger. sah.'
"The devil you did. What for"
"Ijuss killed him. boss, else he'd killeC
me-"
Sam spit on the floor, gave his tobacco
another turn, and quietly gazed on thu
ceiling as his audience stopped to TAKE
breath.
"Killed your sweetheart's brother
| Sam - after a while said the managing
man; wasn't that a curious way of con
Quoting a cOurtshipT
"Sah?'
"Wasn't that rather a strange way tC
get a wife ?"
MAY look dat way to you, boss, but
telt called on to do sOmethin' to dat mig
gar very sudden, and dOneit You see
was a cOurtin' like, and | was settin' dOwr
by her on a log out in the yard wild my
arm restin' round her waist sOrter lOvin
like. as de white folks do, when dat niggel
cum out dar, and begin to cuss and RAJ
round and skeering Susan, which ]
thought | Orter take keer of her, bein' as
was sorter prOtectin' her like, when he
cum out"
THAT was commendable in you anC
highly reprehensible in the brother"
"Sah?"
"You were right, Sam, and the brother
was wrong"
ooh. vas, sab, dat's what you mean
Well, he KEEP on a swearin' and cuttin' VI
around dar, and Susan she got pale anC
shaky like. and | got mad then, and tolt
dat niger to 60 long way from dar ant
let me lone, else | gwine to injure him
Den he cussed and tore, and pulled out {
big butcher-knife an started to me. anC
said he gwine to give my insides som
air."