The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-03-04
the request leading by the hand a
bright little boy.


with his face covered with a heavy
beard and his eyes shaded by d
wide slouched hat, who was sitting
in a rawhide chair reading a news.
paper and smoking a pipe. He lis
tened in silence and with apparent
Indifference to the story the ranch
man told him.
''W hat is is your name?" he
asked, addressing the old man.
John Byrd, SIR"
"Where are you from?"
"From Indiana.
"Ah! Any family with vou?"
"My daughter, Mrs. Worsham,
and her child"
widow, supposer
'Her husband is dead, SIR" pa
tiently replied Byrd, although he
resented the tone OF these inquiries.
"First husband, or secondP"
"Mr. Worsham was her second
husband. She had been married
to a drunken, worthless vagabond
whom L was compelled to drive
away"
"Quite right, Mr.. Byrd-exactly
right. What became of the vaga-
bond?'
81 don't know"
"Died, L suppose. 1t is of no
consequence what became of him.
Then divorce followed?"
"Yes, sir. l insisted upon a d.
vorce against my daughters wish,
and she married Mr.. Worsham, a
well to do man. But bad luck fast
ened upon US and never let 90. MIR.
Worsham died insolvent, and one
reverse after another swept away
my little property aud Twas forced
to come out here to try to begin
life again. 1t is a hard task, sir,
for an old man."
81 should say so. You ought to
have remained among your friends.
What boy is that?"
'My grandson" family replied
Byrd; who was weary of this style
of questioning.
"Son of the vagabond or of Wor-
"Albert is the son OF my daugh-
ter's first husband"
81 have taken a fancy to him.
You want a home, and 1 will tell
you what L will do. Give me that
boy and L will give you a fine ranch,
well stocked, with everything you
need to make you comfortable. Is
it a bargainY'
"Do you expect me to trade off
my daughters child?" Indignantly
demanded Byrd.
81 forgot about her. OF course
she has an interest in him. Sup
pose you ask her. She ought to be
wiling to accept a comfortable
home for life, when she knows that
the boy Will be well provided tor."
Il will bring her here, if you
wish"
mo, 1 don't want to see any
Ask her, and bring
me word"
81 will ask her, but 1 know well
what her answer will be-"
John Byrd soon returned and IN
formed General Chance that Mrs.
had refused 70 accept his
offer, declaring that she would rath-
er die than be parted from her boy.
VERY we'll, - said that gentleman.
That's all l have to say to you.
You may CO."
John Byrd sadly left the house,
and its owner signed to the ranch
man to remain.
"Mr. Whipps," said he, 81 wish
you would follow that old man.
Take him and his family down to
Killers ranch, which is vacant, and
settle them there. Supply them
with stock, provisions and every
thing they need to make them com
Portable, and let me know If money
is needed"
So John Byrd and his little fami-
ly, greatly to their surprise, were
settled and made more than COM
fortatle.
There was nothing to trouble
them but the uncertainty of their
tenure and the fear that a new di
rectIon might be taken bv the pecu-
liar disposition of their strange
who would not allow
Mrs. Worsham to come near ais
house, saying that he "didn't want
to see any womensfolks."
He only endured her father, but
was very friendly to the boy, whom
he presented with fine pony and a
saddle. For his own part, he
seemed determined not to show his
face at the Hitler ranch.
Providence, however, was dis
posed to set aside this determine
tion.
AS he was returning one day from
q distant stock farm his horse SHE'D
and threw him near the. Hitler
ranch dragging him for some dis
tance by the stirrup. He was car
ried into Mr.. Byrd's house, where
it was discovered that his head and
face were so badly cut and bruised
that it would be necessary to re-
move his hair and beard.
When this operation had been
performed Mrs. Worsham came into
the room for the purpose of help
ing to dress his wounds, and fairly
as she saw him.
albert Wakelyr' she exclaimed,
ais it really your"
ayes, Mary, it is l." quietly re-
piled General Chance. "If yon are
going to do anything for me, please
do it without fuss
Mary Worsham took care Of him,
and he encouraged her attendance.
When he was stronger he spoke to
her more freely.
"Mary, did you really object to a
divorce and to your second mar
riagew
Yes, Albert, 1 never loved any
man but the father OF my child, in
spite of his great fault, and l OBJ
jected to every thing that couid in
jure you. But you ought not to
blame father. He meant to act for
the best"
81 don't blame him. 1t was for
the best. 1t made a man of me
and l am, as / ought to be, deeply
grateful to him. Mary that is a
fine boy of ours"
Within a month there was a we'd
dino on the San BenitO estate which