Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-02-15

!
Gras, you know; we was comm across
next day TO see the sights. had been
whistlin' loud, but stopped when got
in hollerin' reach o. the house, and
slipped to the winder to see what Little
Bette was doin'. An thar, sho' as
thar's livin' God, standin' by my
wife, his arm round her waist, was a
mani Things swum befo' my eyes for
n minnit; then the pine-knots blazed up
an | saw Tom Jacks face. watched
'em. They were talkin' an laughin'
quite fricn'ly, Tom struttin' about like
dancin' jack. Then he come up to
her agin, pulls at her dress an
kisses her on her bare neck, she
a-laughin' an a-strugglin' with him,
as she'd done with me n thousan'
times. / lifted my rifle, thankin'
God there was load in it, an
shot. I'd as lief a hit 'em both; but
only Tom Jack dropped, and Little
Betty stood screamin' over him an
wringin' her hans. flung down my
rifle an run to the woods. was thar
all that night an yesterday, walkin',
walkin', walkin', till another night
come; an | swum the river befo' sun
up this mornin'"
God forgive you, Phil! God forgive
you fo' yer sinr'
"Sin, is it?-sin to shoot such man?
Don't talk to me about sin, old Mely
Mitchellr'
"Thar! thar! poor boyl Don't look
at me so wild. What kin do for you,
honevpn
Whatever you do must be done
soon," he said sullenly. 81 saw some
men leave Hopefield as l started here;
they must be nearly across.n
~ amt got place on de yearth to
hide you, Phil, 'thouten you kin git in
de chimley; they'll never think o.
lookin' dar. You kin keep in all day,
and steal off when night comes.
think you'd better take ter de woods
ag'n."
Il won't do that-not unless want
ter go blind crazy"
"See'f you kin crawl in de chimley
Oar amt been no fire in it for a month
o. Sundays. 1t smokes so bad can't
cook nothin'. You kin stan up, an I'll
put a cheer in dc fireplace, and pile it
up wild my ole clos ter hide yer legs"
Look out, Aunt Mely, an see #
they're comin'."
She opened the door cautiously: 81
see three men at de landin', Phil, but
dcy amt a-comin' dis way. Dey's
struck across Front Row."
They're off my track. They'll look
for me in the very slums / meant to
hide i'm
"For all dat, dis amt safe place
fo' you, Phil"
"Do you want to turn me out of your
house?"
"God forbid, you po' boy! Stay and
git what comfort you kin. Stretch YER
self out on dat bed dar and try ter rest.
I'll watch out fo' you.n
He threw himself down and tried to
sleep, but in vain. His blood began to
burn and race in his veins; pain struck
at him with thousand whips. He
held his hand over his mouth to keep
himself from screaming aloud.
Toward noon he heard, as from some
far-off place, Aunt Mely's voice: " Phil,
honey, dey're comm back"
He sprang up and thrust his head
out of the door.
Git back, PHILIP said the old wom-
an, sharply: 81 kin tell you all der is
to tell. Dey's stoppin' now at house
on Promenade street Dey's drawin'
water at de well by de wood-pile, an
little girl is talkin' to dem.''
She gave me some buttermilk this
she saw the way | came. I'm
a lost man."
" No, you amt. You jis' git right in
de chimley, an I'll deal wild 'em if dey
come r arin' roun' dis house,
BY the time he was well in the hiding
place the men had turned toward the
negro quarter. Aunt Nelly sat down
and went to work quietly on patch
work quilt, ready to receive them with
proper surprise and dignity But when
they came the work fell from her hands,
her skin turned ashen-gray, she shook
in every limb, for Tom Jack was the
first man to burst into the room-Tom
Jack, strong in virile life, angry-eyed,
a long knife stuck in his belt.
Aunt Mely was shrewd old soul; she
recovered herself quickly and said moth
ing. "Phil sartinly shot somebody"
she thought, "an' I'll iis' hol' my
tongue till l see how things is gwine ter
turn OUT
Where is Phil Vickers?" said Tom,
in voice husky with passion.
Phil Vickersg Why, amt seed de |
boy sence l went over to his house |
bout a week back to git settin' of eggs
Miss Betty'd been savin' up for me-. -
"Now come, Aunt Mely," said one
Of the party, good-humoredly, "you
needn't lie. Little Sally Polk saw him
come right in yer do. We left p'lice-
nan huntin' him in the city, an was on
our way back to Hopefeld when the
child told us whar he were"
80 my soul! What's poor Phil done
lat you're all a-huntin' him like pack
} houn's?"
"Phirs had little shootin' affair"
'aid the good-natured man.
"Who' he shOotP"
Who'd he shoot?" cried Tom Jack.
. The sweetest, brightest creetur the
Lord ever made-my sister, Nancy
Iack.n
In the dreadful silence that followed
convulsive, gasping sound was heard
The next moment Phil Vickers sprang
nut, his hair and clothes covered with
mold, like a specter from the grave.
Is this true, boys? Did kill Nancy
'ackg' he said in harsh, hollow voice.
Jack sprang at him, his knife flash
ng in the air But he was caught and
eld back by one of the men with him.
Softly, Tom, softly! Let Phil have
air play"
Fair play for a man who shot down
ny sister in cold bloodPH
GAS God sees me, Tom, thought it
Ias you kissin' Little Betty"
That's an argument, Tom," said
he third man, who had long, sad
ace, and who fingered over his words
$ if he were patting them" that's an
rgyment as'll 90 down with the Jury.
was night; you an Nancy are alike
the face; you've got no whiskers, you
now, Tom. How was Phil to know
hat it was Nancy a-showin' herself off
D Little Betty, dressed up in your clo'e
Or a Moddy-Gras frolicp' -
As he heard curious change came
yer Phil. His knees began to shake
itiably, his body to collapse. He held
ut his hand as if trying to steady him
elf, and, grasping only mir, he fell slow