American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-12-11
rHE ONLY PUHFKN.

the friends and relatives who had spent q
merry evening ~ the house had taken
themselves sway, with loud laughter and
invitations to "come over soon," shouted
out Of the darkness - the wagon rolled
away; AFTER the children had been sent to
bed in high glee At the unvonted infrac-
ton on early hours, and while his wife
was still putting away the silver ahd fine
table linen, that Farmer Fielding went out
alone. with Q lantern swinging in his
hand, to tnke . Last look at the sable and
cow-housc, and make sure that the great
barn door was properly fastened.
He should have returned In ten minutes,
lng, looking 1t the clock, asked herself, in
some surprise, what Hiram could have
found 10 dor And when ten more fol-
lowed without bringing him, and ten
more followed them, she grew . little
alarmed, and tossing q shawl over her
head went down the path that led from
the kitchen to the barn, calling:
Hirami Hiramr'
There was no answer.
Hiramp' she called again, her voice
taking ON that shrill and unmusical tone
which fright brings with it; " Hiraml
speaki where arc your
She stood by the barn door now, and 1t
was Wide open, swinging in the wind on
it, great hinges; and within all was silent
and dark There was not . sound, not q
elimmer of light from the lantern. Surely
her husband would not have LEFT the
barn door open like that; surely
u he were there she should see him, or
heae him It least, even II the lantern had
zone out
"Oh, Hirsmr' she cried don't scare
me: don'f Try TO scare me, dear, for indeed
I'm turning faint. I'm So"
There he paused, struck dumb with
her foot had struck somet6in9 soft and
heavy that Law on the harm fioor-some.
thius thaf did not move. Int that felt as
thouSh Il oueht To have done 80 The
faintness had rone. in its Mace was thai
honor Which Ne All know and which II
diffeent ffom any personal terror and far
wore. She ruessed what Il was her foot
had touched.
She aid moi inter his name NOV She
kneIt down and strefched ont her banda
and fsh sbout. The int thine thsf she
Touched ~ 4 cold linn hand thst fiji
ineraIv over hers A. ~ iitts3 n Then
fsit n1vr,d stnr Il .nd tonch.J . TO
cold 80. she eathered II nm to her
breast. DARK as il was. she Knew we'll
enough thaf it was the head that had
reatcd there so often: her hand went
throueh his curls and n little moan %.
canrsi her
TDesd - abe sohhed "de.d dead
dad Ana then her voice came bacI in
avaiI that r.nc ont mnon the r;cft air and
hrnochf ftnm fhe kifrben Maize ssthe
heIn's snS her bean Rem Who had been
Hneeripr over 4 naysine there >- wv
Hen. 4 ereat. sfalvnT fellow lined the
master In his ans and carried him INTO
the kitchen. How Ssrn FIELDING cot
there she never knew hut as abe kncIt
by the long settee and wondered whether.
with all thooe babies up-stairs. II was
right for her 10 prav 10 die too hone
came hack tn her n, 4 word from Pen.
Miasus. - he aid boes ain,t dad
he aim M sucb thing. he's stur.ad lilo
No doult he's hnrf miohtv hsd lint Ior,
no-not de.S vonldnt s.v % r. I
v.rn,t .nrc ri fetch him into h,d
missus and On for the doctor He1i
come to-he1i come to. teII Won he,jI
come To- missus. y
Then II Seemed IN the r,oor vomar .s n
heaven had orsened ;fs osses and I've, h. >,
a elimpse of riorv. NO.
She bent over him M he Law nm hi. nil.
low. and heard the cIatter Of the horse,s
blanks of the wooden bridge for awhile
and fheu sharper fbouoh Fainter on ths
highway leading townwsrd.
How long would n he before the dor,o,
c.mec She did mot know n he were .,
Nome whv soon IF some one eise h I'D
csiied him who couId tell, Mesnwhiie
st,s hsthed ths nor hlee,i;ng head Will
H.dre cG.fed The cold hsnds coo,ne
~o~,Ss a. - : h.,,e Ard AZ last abe =. ~;
;rds~d ,hst he I;ved More color cam