The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-06-04
OLD ANDREW AND i.

Old Andrew Llcknev nVcd In a llttlc
log house that seemed to cling to the
mountain side. 1t was typical of its
owner. for old Andrew held on to the
rugged mountain side Of life. He was a
strange man. Years ago, when the won
derful enterprise of the Methodist church
sent it's circuit riders in advance of civil
ization, old Andrew, or rather at that
time. young Andrew, parted the rank
cane with the vigorous hand of the Cos
pel. He was never married. In latter
wears, when he had grown too old and
feeble to longer engage in active work,
his only household companion was a large
shaggy dog, whose somewhat astounding
cognomen, St. Luke, caused much com
ment, and, on one occasion, it IS said,
conference requested the old man to
change the animals name, claiming that
it was lrreverent to bestow OF q dog so
sanity Il title. This request was not
granted, and it was limited that it had
something to do with old Andrews with
drawal from active warfare with the
world, the flesh and the devil. st. Luke
very much resemblcd his master. The
odd fancy is sometimes INDUCED even by
practical people that men and animals
can associate so long together that they
finally partake of each others physical,
not to say mental pcculiaritics. Old An
drew had but one good eye; st. Luke
only had one. Old Andrews chin shook;
St. Luke's under jaw was unsteady. Old
Andrew limped: so did st. Luke.
Several nights ago, while old Andrew
sat by his fire. his nodding and the
snoring of St. Luke were disturbed by
a knock at the door.
'Come in"
Steve Blue entered. Blue was a large,
rough fellow, with thick, coarse-grained
skin, heavy eyes which looked not from
a soul, and withal, a general expression
of brutality and lack of thought. Old
Andrew arose and motioncd the visitor
to a chair. st. Luke. lying in the corner
near the fire, opened his effective eye u
moment and slowly closed it, not with
out an air Of suspicion. Although the
old stage horse of the church, as Mr..
Licknev was sometimes called, and Steve
Blue lived in the same neIghborhood, yet
they knew very little of each other, for
in the rough fellow old Andrew could
Z find nothing attractive, and in the some
what intellectual preacher the dull eyes
of Steve could see nothing at all. This
mutual lack of interest caused old An
drew to regard the visit with surprise.
Steve sat down, and with his heavy gaze
fixed on the fire. remained for some time
in silence. The old preacher began to
show signs of nervousness. but whether
they were observed by the visitor, or
exhibitions, the unwilling host could not
divine. At last Steve. removing his gaze
from the fire, and fixing it on old An
drew, said:
you was down to Little Rock luther
day, want you:'
Eyes, | went down on business"
81 lowed it was business" and Steve
laughed In a sluggish way. like the murky
slosh of swamp water. "Sccd some o
them government men down thar, didn't
your"
The old man ~staltcl, as though seized
by a sudden fear.
''Ycs; for some Of the officers, hearing
that / was in town, had me summoned
before the United States grand jury"
can you told 'cm that several fellcrs
in this here curmunity was maxim Wild
cat whisky, ch -
The old man moved uncasily and re-
piled: 81 was placed under oath and was
compelled to answer the questions which
they asked me-"
"An' l reckon you was mighty keen to
do it, want you!'
'It was no business of mine, and
I should have volunteered no informa-
ton"
""YoG're II putty slick talkcr, old
man. All you wanted was a chance to
give US away. You want to see us drug
off to iail an see our wives an chillun
, starvc."
"Thc assertion is unjust, Mr.. Bluc.
Ny mission on earth. and it is now clos
ing, has been to alleviate suffering, In
stead of causing it. did not know that
you were an illicit distiller. | did not
mention Jour name and only spoke of
those whom l knew to be in that unlaw-
full business.
"Unlawful business" repeated Steve,
with a mercilcss grin. what right has
the government got to say that sha'n't
do what 1 please with my con an ap-
ples2 This here's a free country, old
man."
81 shall not enter into a discussion of
individual rights. You may entertain one
idea and 1 may hold another. l grant
you the right and you should not with
hold it from me-"
"Never mind your high-strung talk.
I amt got time to palarver. This here's
a business visit, old man."
"What business can you have with me,
Mr.. Blue"
'Lemme tell you a little story"
Thought this was a business visit"
HWell, airtcr the story the business
comes. One time thar was a Teller what
was a quiet sort O. man. One O. the
neighbors killed his son He didn't say
much an didn't do nuthin'. Airter a
while another one o. the neighbors
caused his wife to leave him. He didn't