The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-04-07
couple did not go away unprovided with

gress of the war, however, soon absorbed
public attention, and the Dutton episode
ceased to be talked about
Some time ago. in a little town in
Western Texas. l accidentally ran against
Jim Dutton There was no mistaking
the man. Time had dealt gently with
him, and be looked prosperous. l slap
! ped him on the back with a hearty
Hello, Jim Duttou."
! Jim turned and fell all to pieces, 50 to
/ speak He recognized me and shook
hands. After long and pleasant con
versation, Jim said:
Colonel. l reckon you would like to
know why my wife and 1 left Blue
| Rock p
We'll, you may explain if you feel like
it, replied.
Later in my room at the hotel before
/ blazing fire and with a good cigar to
| stimulate him Dutton unbosomed himself
/ to me.
Colonel, " SAID he, lit makes me blush
now to think what a greenhirn, what
miserable ignoramus l was at the begin
ming of the war"
''Oh, no." [ suggested deprecatingly.
''But was, " continued Jim. 'Iverily
believe | was the biggest fool in Georgia,
and yet thought l was the smartest
man in the State. You see, being post
master had puffed me up so that felt as
big as the governor himself. Well, after
the Confederacy organized l went ahead
under my old Federal commission, attend
ing to the postal business of the
/ Confederate States. One night my
wife. who was a great reader, limited to
me that may be 1 had laid myself liable
for high treason. At first 1 laughed at
the idea. and then l rummagcd through
some old histories and found that in
every civilized country where there was
a rebellion and government officer sided
with the rebels he was held guilty of
treason. Now. it struck me that our Sc
cession was in fact rebellion, and if we
were whipped, as l feared we would be,
| would be in bad box | told my wife
about it, and she reminded me l had a
COPY of Blackstone, and advised me to
read up on the punishment of treason"
Dutton paused a moment, and then
said:
''You see 1 was so badly scared that 1
was afraid to consult anybody, and be-
side there was no lawyer at Blue Rock.
1 had heard a heap about Blackstone
and supposed everything in it was the
law of the land So that night l got the
book down and my wife and looked
through it, I give you my word that
what we read made our hair stand on
end. Why, sir, we learned from that
book that was liable to be convicted of
treason, drawn to the place of execution
on hurdle, hanged, divided into four
quarters, beside forfeiting my property
and having my blood corrupted. NY
wife burst into "A fit of tears and threw
her arms around my neck. blubbered
little, too.
Just to tbin'l, said my wife, that
my Jimmie must be cut into four quarters
like beef, and be hanged, and all sorts of
horrid things
- 1T Is bad. 1 said, and then see my
blood is to be corrupted.
How can that hurt youP asked my
wife, after you are deadP
Dunno, l said, but don't like the
idea
''Well, the long and short of it was,
we decided to skip. l made my arrange
ments about the property as you know,
and we slid out one Saturday night. We
never stopped till we got away out here.
1t was on the frontier then, and bless
your soul, the war never bothered US.
We never saw a soldier"
But said l, didn't you find out
very soon that your fears were without
foundationln
mo, sir; it was years and years before
I felt safe In fact it was some time
after the war ended. l had begun to
accumulate property. My ranch was
turning out well, and l had leisure TO
read books and newspapers. You bet
looked up that treason business, and
found what a monumental fool 1 had
made of myself"
leaned back in my chair and laughed
heartily.
"Oh, you may laugh, said Dutton,
''but my folly and Ignorance were the
making of me- -
you would have done well if you had
remained in Georgia, 80 I replied.
mo, / wouldn't I'd stuck TO Blue
Rock, and perhaps been postmaster there
! vet on a salary of S75 a year. Now
have ranch worth $3.50, 1000. l have
knocked about in the world. 90 every
year TO st. Louis and New Orleans, and
1 am beginning to enjoy life. Come home
with me and see. I live only twenty
miles from here.
had to decline the invitation, as l was
going to leave the next day
'You can tell the boys, if you like, y
said jim, at parting. Some of those
Blue Rock fellows are as green as l used
TO be, and 1 don't care what they may
think about it, And, Colonel, tell then
that me and the old woman are getting
I along Just splendid, and that my two
l sons and two daughters are the finest lad
and lasses in Texas.
As rode of l turned when / came tC
! he first hilltop, and a half mile below
in the village street l could see the eX
postmaster Of Blue Rock waving his som
brero after me.-Atanta (Ga.) C0nstita
ton.