River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-02-28
In AUNT MELY'S CABIN.
Ry SHERWOOD BONNER.

might fancy that the very steam OF the
worlds passions condensed in the black
clouds that rolled heavily across it; no
sound save the ceaseless soft splashing of
the Mississippi waves. Suddenly light
wind rose: piercing shalt of moonlight
struck through the clouds, falling on the
black letters over beer-shop, and ideal
izing to purple and fine linen some fut-
tering rags that hung from dingy tene-
ment house. The wind grew stronger
the clouds were blown into wild shapes;
the shaft of moonlight melted into a
broad piece of silver.
A steep bluff overriding the river; slop-
ing away from it were the long, curving
streets of southern city. A flight OF
stone steps led from Its highest point to
fiat level, where new workshops ruins OF
burned houses and long cotton sheds were
crowded together, 1t was a damp. dirty
place. People called it "Hell's Half acre.
and in the day it justified its name.
But the moon denies her gift of beauty to
naught, and tonight that melancholy
half-acre seemed to have better right to
be. And the river. by daylighta vul-
gar muddy stream now flowed in wide,
MYSTERIOUS grandeur, with distant CLEANS
of silver on its slow waves.
Across the river, on the line OF another
state, was little town, SO white and SIM
pie and still that it might have been the
home of moths and shadows. But as the
moons light grew clearer keen eye
might have seen mans form standing
at the waters edge, keen ear might
have heard the sound of a body falling
a. 4. OF
this point, and man could easily swim
across it, as this one was doing. His body
undulated nnder the waves as a snakes.
His head, barely visible above the water,
was small, and the wet hair hung closely
about it like a cap. When he had landed
he stood for moEaent shivering with cold
and casting sharp, nervous chances around
him as if he had been pursued. Then he
walked irresolutely toward cotton shed,
and throwing himself on the ground, part
ly sheltered by bale of cotton, he fell
asleep and a deep exhaustion seemed to
hold him hand and foot. AT daylight the
sun found him out and dried his jean
clothing. warmed his bare feet, and even
tried to pierce through his cold body to
the dark, soggv earth ON which it rested.
1t beamed on his close hair until it blew
from his face, light in color and curling
at the ends The face was one common
enough in malarious country-a yellow,
lean, sharp face; besides this, it was a
Young, weak, passionate face. The sun
beams were kind and did not arouse him.
The eyelids pressed close upon the eyes,
and the lashes lay notionless on the thin
checks
After time a negro passed near the
cotton shed-one of the kind called
sroustabouts" in that part of the country
people who live in happy -go-lucky
sort of way, dependent from day to day
on stray Jobs or stray theft, never losing
flesh or vivacity, never appearing other
wise than extremely content with lie
and their lot This one had his work for
the day. A bag was hung over his shout
der, and he was picking up the loose cot
ton that had fallen from burst bales pre-
paratory to cleansing it for the gin. He
saw the sleeping man, and became in
stinct with the natural hostility that the
negro seems to have for the poor white.
"Git up dar,y you lazy tramp" he shout
ed, and, seeing that the man did not stir,
he picked up bit of coal and threw it
Will suCu pltOiSiOl do W illb NV SlSSp
on the sunburned neck.
He started up and stared around him
with a CLEAN of ferocity in his eyes.
The negro laughed loudly. "What
gyarden did you come outen?' he said
sYou's enough to skeer de crows, you is"
The man took no notice of his gibes,
but staggering to his feet walked slowly
across the flat and up the stone steps.
Now and then he put his hands to his
head in a confused way" must git across
the city," he muttered; ''there's good
hiding in some o the slums round the
bayou"
He turned up Promenade street. walk
ing with slow, dragging steps. Seems
to me ma powerful weak" he muttered.
HAS it been longer'n day sence | tux
my tood2'
"Chick chick chick! chick!'
He stopped at the sweet sound of
child's voice, and looking over a broken
gate saw little blue-eyed girl feeding
chickens by the wood-pile in the yard.
"Sissy can you give me glass of but
termilkln
"Mamma mammal" called, the child
there's a man wants some buttermlik."
ale will have to wait for it, answered
a voice from the house; .'the churn wont
be ready for half an hour"
"Come in, said the little maid, rRn-
ming to the gate and holding it open.
-sYou can wait while, can't you? Here's
seat On the wood pile"
He followed her like one in dream.
She stood up before him, a straight
sweet shape, and began to talk. "You
don't look very niee,n said she, her eyes
wandering over his torn, soiled garments,
with bits of coal and dirt falling away from
the side that had lain next to the earth;
sibut | suppose you were soldier"
mo, little girl; / never was soldier
g I'm s'prised to hear that. Ny papa
was colonel and nearly all the men
that come here and and-ask for
hings, you know. b'longed to some big
generals army--Lee's or Forests or
Hoods. I can't remember all the
Names
He said nothing. and little Miss Deli
cacy feared she had hurt his feelings.
g Do You like sugar-cakess" she said
soothingly.
He nodded his head.
The trouble is" she drew nearer
there are so many boys about, and they
are dreadftd fellows for sugar cakes.
They hardly erer leave any till next day
But I'll see about it.p
She disappeared behind the honey
suekle that hung over the porch, but she
did not come back. The sound OF tenn
pestuous sobbing came from within, and
il was plain she had been disappointed
of the sugar cakes on, as was more likely |
forbidden social chat withs a tramp.
The man took no heed OF her absence.
He lifted his eyes and looked across the
river to Hopefeld, the little town sowhite
and still. But to him it seemed to turn
with blood and ring with sound. His
teeth clenched together; his eyes glow
ing in his set face like eyes in discolorcd
Close by the River@bank was his
ha,,,o a laer hn,1sp weather boarded, that