Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1878-10-09

Slues Kept on any OreeZe That might |
he stirring. john was more than
hot, lie was fully boiling, and as
thirsty as a topper. So John. think.
ing that no one conld possibly see
him, sat down on log and took of
his shoes and pantaloOns and then
with his long gingham shirt and wide
trimmed Straw hat, and his socks,
resumed moving. He had moved
twice across the piece, and was pick
ing out the tall grass around m old
log pile, when right beside him he
saw pair of blue racers.
John was no coward, but he was
MORALLY afraid OF snakes. IL he
had been warm before, he was as
cold as a lump of ice now. With a
dash of his scythe lie cut of the
head of one of them and the other
one raised his head aud darted
toward him. John dropped his
scythe, turned and jumped just as
the hooked teeth of the snake
caught above the wide, hem of his
gingham shirt.
He cast one look behind him and
saw his dreaded enemy-streaming
out like the penant from a steam
ship-and thinking only Of the ter.
rible fate that awaited him II he
stopped, bounded toward the house
with the speed of an express train.
On, on he ran through the north
meadow and orchard, and as he
nearcd the house the thought Of the
party flashed across his mind. But
there was no other way, and SO on
he ran.
He dashed down past the west
end of the house, and as he rounded
the corner the whole party of girls
met his view.
"Call a man. lie yelled, and then
turned the corner. So great was
his momentum that the snake swung
around and struck him on his bare
legs like the sharp sting of raw
hide whip.
The girls screamed and jumped
up and the quilt went over OH the
ground. The vision sped around
the corner, and once more came the
cry:
"Call a mani"
No quicker did lie disappear
around the corner of the hOuse than
he would appear at the other cor.
ner. Every time he turned the cor
ner he would receive terrible blow
from the cold, Shiny snake, which
would raise him from the ground at
least four feet, and at every blow he
would yell:
"Call man.
The frightened girls rushed for
the house, and they had hardly got
inside the door as John flew past it
with the shont:
"Call a man.
Down across the road he went,
leaping the gate at bound, and as
he cantered through the flock of
hens scattering them in all direc.
tons, the shout rose loud aud
clear
"Call man.
Around the barn, back again to.
ward the house, went the strange
pair, and as the gate was again
ieaped, came the cry, this time Of
"FOr Gods sake, call man."
AS he again disappeared around
the house, Mabel Clark ran out of
the door, and seizing stick some
four feet in Tenth stationed herself
at the corner, with the cudgel ele-
waited above her head. On came
John, painting like an engine, and
as he came around the corner, down
went the club, barely grazing Johns
head, but striking the racer q blow
} that broke it's hold and back at the
same time.
John concluded it best not to
wait, bat gathering his remaining
strength for q final dash, bounded
, into the house, up stairs and int
his room.
An hour later Gertrude tapped a
his door. "John, will you come
e down to tea, or shall | 'call :
maDrr
!, 81 will come down Gertrude 1t
answered in firm tone.
1 And he did. He made careful
:, toilet, and there was not a featur
y of his face that betrayed embarras
I ment. Mabel had extracted a prom
Use from the girls not to speak o
= the episode, or betray any know
Q edge of it whatever.
d Mabel had Johns company HON
e that night, and in the glorious Dc
il tober weather there was weddin
i at Judge Clark's. 1t was not unit
a then that the story came out; bu
John often says to Mabel, 81 al
n tho a, GIL ~ Drnr;Japno that van az