Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-04-17

but there was great weight upon him.
Presently he said: Stranger, whst's
this local option they're sendin' round
printens fer, axen you to vote fer an
aginst' hsln't got much larnin, no.
how, anyway. I got my specs busted
Foth NV July at the barbecuen down TO
Sandy ginst that long.legged Budd
Danell's foot a-hangen out NV the fyin
hoss, an done got nuthen spelled out
sence. It's some.hin' bout liquor.
Does it perfect man in drinkin S that's
fer or aginst;" Iexplained the matter
to him. He studied while, gave the
fire kick and then said, In resigned
tone: 81 don't see as II makes much
matter ter the likes NV me, nohow. Pm
in favor Nv every man heven his chice,
whether he's fer or aginst an whether
he's local or not. Hits the dozen Nv
them lection people-the printens like
them"
Jake, yer fer! Stranger, If your
goin to put liquor notions inter his head
III jist hev your critter caught 10 onet
an you kin git to Sandy" This was
cold steel in the yiscera. felt from the
tone behind me Of Mrs. Jake that
might be at any moment lifted up BY her
unemployed arm and transport ted into
the darkness with an empty stomach.
fully agreed with the consoling and
notifying words that came quickly
from Jake for my protection: "She's
powerful temperance-my ole woman
is"
Silence is gold ut premium with this
sort Of woman. / knew that, for l had
previously been out-talked and sat upon
several times by her kind, aud was
much impressed by experience. STRAIT
egy is best, so | soon had all the chill
dren around me and was churning the
baby, and finally captured Mrs. Jake
by giving her sure remedy for water
brash and stone bruises; aud peace
again reigned over all. Nothing. how
ever, reused the spirits Of Jake. He
took q huge chew Of native and
seemed bent on extinguishing the fire,
splitting at it. ....
After homely meal, which had all
been cooked In the baker and which
would have lost all its seductiveness
hungry as / was, II the water-carrieI
had not ofiiciated as cook, the little ones
became sleepy and disappeared one by
one, the light Of the fire died down to
decent obscurity, aud on looking around
| was surprised TO find myself with
Jake alone. stranger, reckon you're
done tired" he said. "lou kin TAX.
your choice-sleepin' this side Nv mt
all Mary Alice ar Ally Althea, or git
tim in with the young 'uns In the Tun-
mel bed, an stranger"-here he lowered
his voice to II whisper, somewha re-
sembliug escaping steam-"ycr the fusl
creetur as ever got scald on her In q
temperance spell. Theirs no heft In a.
talkin' TO her when she's got one Nv
them spells on. The water-brash pbysi'
done it. The stone-bruise pbysic wu1
good. She seed il 'ud come han'y fci
the children, but it were the water.
physic done it,"
chose the trundle bed aud got in
with four as dirty little kickers as erei
went 20 bed with their clothes on and
laid all over the bed.
| had no doubt about there being .
skeleton IN that cabin, and | was anx'
Ious TO throw the scent Of the spirit that
animated 1t to the suppression Of Jake
who was large, powerful man.
The next morning when Jake and
myself were getting my mare out Of tht
shelter Of fodder shucks piled up.abou'
her preparatory to leaving, and while
We we're we'll screened from the cabin
again produced my flask and offered Il
to him. He carefully parted the shncks
looked toward the cabin through the
hole he made and seeing no one In sigh
he took It, while hush Of pleasure
spread over his face.
Eighteen years agO"-he stopped
saw his bronze face turn pale and hi
hand tremble, as It had the night before
He again handed me the flask, with
the sad, weary look upon bis face ant
said Stranger, I'm obliged TO you;
darsen.; I've promised. The oil
woman would smell 1t, II I swallowed
the bottle an cork in It, aud derned e
wouldn't rather fall OF a ridge pol
at barn raisen than hev her do that
Your feelin' man, stranger; / see
that last night by the way the childre
took to you, an the way you made th
ole woman soften like; more 'an Nv
seed this many day-an' the nickies al
round. sees your feelin' man, an
won't think hard on me fer not jinir
vou."
knew that the way 10 get at the u
cret OF the skeleton was to look hurt
SO / did, in order TO keep him talking
lie continued: "Looks like, when sh
gits over the water-brash-from tn
physic you've give ter-maybe si'
won't be So bossy an boastified, ar
you'll hev done me mighty favor
mighty favor" A West Virginia nj
tive cannot be hurried any more tha
can canal boat. saw that he woul
come around TO what wanted to kno'
In the course OF the morning II !e
alone, 80 I waited. At last he said: "l'
tell you how twas, but IL would nc
II you wasn't q feelin' man an n
oblceged to you. Afore we wuz marie