Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-06-15
NO. 80

He then looked at his wife, who stood
still, silent, pale as the dead
L DON'T he began, at length i
don't, that is,'-ruobing his eyes VIC
lently, and winkin' more and more
'aint they-aint they some misunder
standin'--or some mis-ta-take--ol
some mis-
You see for yourself, said Sam 'or
could see, if you would open your eye:
and quit winkin' 'em so much, anc
would look down thar on the floor
Ycu see it aint ME-
i never should a bl-b'lieved it,
You shouldn't. Well, | always
knowed it was a-comin' only it didn I
come quite as soon as l speeted ). but
it's come soon enough
He lifted the boy, carried him into
his chamber add laid him on the bed.
'Lijay was inclined to demonstrate,
still desiring to continue faithful 10 his
trust, and look after his poor old uncle
Sammy. Being repeatedly assured
that Uncle Sammy was all right, at
last he became reconciled, and immedi-
ately dropped to sleep. His iather
looked on utterly bewildered He
curiously contemplated 'Lijay, seem.
ing to regard him as something that
was dead, and to be trying to recall to
himself whether or not he had ever
known 1t while it was alive. He fol-
lowed Sam back to the piazza, as if he
had been charmed. Sam paid no at
tention to him; but, taking his hat, he
walked past the stable, climbed the
fence, arrived at the stump on which
the imaginary Mr.. Peeler, now much
worn and wilted by long service in
wind and weather, yet held out his
arms and poured fourth upon his con.
ditions to a sorrowful and sin-stricken
world
And now, sir, before go from you
for good, Pm goin' to do the best | can
for you, and give you some conditions,
as you call 'em, that will do to talk
about when I'm gone. It's the best |
can do, situated as | am, and situated
as you are, and situated-well never
mind about the balance
He seized him by the throat, wrench
ed him from his elevated position posi-
ton, and, striding along, the feet of
the wretched man dragging beneath
that powerful grasp, his arms yet ex-
tended, as if yet appealing for sympathy
and snccor, the avenger pressed ruth
lessly on into the remotest depths of a
small pine thicket that had grown up
around bend of the spring branch.
1t was never DEFINITELY y known what
became of the victim but from frag-
ments of felt, feathers, cotton, shoe
leather, and other articles of human
apparel, afterward seen upon the marg-
in of the stream, it was suspected that
he had been drowned
CHAPTER ".
Sam walked slowly back, lingering
a minute or so at the spring, at the
cow-peu gap, at the stable, at the crib.
at the yard gate (where he exchanged
he saddles of the morse and mule), and
even at the bottom OF piazza-steps.
Mr.. Peeler and his wife were sitting
there, and both watched him closely as
he dragged his feet heavily. Without
daring to look at bis sister, he turned
to Mr.. Peeler and, standing, said
And now. Neelus Peeler, it's about
time you and me had some understand
in'.'
"A understandin'-Sammy, -un-
ier-standin' p Mr.. Pee!er's eyes
and he looked as if he had
been under the impression that the
most satisfactory understanding had
been arrived at between him and his
brother-in- law long ago.
Yes, sir answered Sam, making
his attitudes so as, if possible, to have
his sister in the rear while he had Mr..
Peeler in front
Yes, sir, a understanding. I've
stood your preachin' about me Gf you
mout call it preachinO, and I've stood
your talkin' about me, and what's more,
I've stood your doggin' me about with
'Ljay about as long as anybody could
be expected to stand 'em. But now,
Neelus, we got to part. It's mighty
easy to make a settlement. | want
nothin' but Bob, and my saddle and
bride, and thar they stand hitched at
the gate Betsy may have the rest
He turned and looked toward his
sister.
It's sorter hard to part from her,
and-'
Before he could utter another word,
she gave o piercing scream and fell
upon his neck
No, no, mop she cried. And what
will become of me without the only
one in this world who loves and cares
for me?'
And then she let him 60, and stood
with her left hand resting upon his
shoulder. Raising her right hand ex-
tending it toward her husband, she
said:
'Neelus Peeler =
Mr.. Peeler could not sit in that chair;
so he got up and backed against the
wall.
Yes, sir, stand up Eighteen years
ago you stood in that room and promis-
ed to love, and honor, and protect the
girl that stood by your side And
while you were making these promises,
this man here was standing in his
mothers room, because he couldn't
bear to hear the words spoke that were
to part him from his sister. Pm not
going to reproach you for anything
you've done to me, nor for anything
you've neglected to do for me and the
poor boy that lies in there on the bed
But this man here, who has been for
over thirty years working and toiling
for father and mother and me and has
got nothing for it except his food and
his clothes,-do you think I'm going
to suffer you to drive him away from
this place, and keep me here after he is