San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-06-20
SBETH.

A wagon drawn by two mules was cross
ing the track below the railway station at
Shelbyville 1t was used for hauling
earth and its low sides and heavy wheels
were painted thickly with clay. whose dull
reddish hue fell in with the swart tints Of
the mules. and took brighter color from
contrast with the faded blue jean clothes
of the driver
He sat slouching forward on the seat, a
man of years enough to have his sandy
hair grizzIed and his temples tracked
sharply beyond the opaque looking blue
eyes set deeply in the leathern yellow Of
his genial face
One cheek fell in between staring cheek
bone and ponderous jaw like a curled
beech leaf of winter; the other bulged
over piece Of tobacco whose presence did
not hinder the song that broke in cracked
melody from the drivers scooped under
lip
Come wanderers in this vale o. chears,
Bid ev'ry Joy on yearth fahrwell;
Arouse 20 souls to dismul fears,
Fer wander stalks the lord o. hell.
Men take 20 staff, my oretheren,
An march ahead like conquerin' menl
The way is long. the ske-y is dyark,
thousand rocks our footsteps stay;
The foods tibet ragged eroun' the ark
DO wait to sweep our souls away.
Men take 20 staff my bretheren,
An march ahead like conquerin' meni
He beat the dolorous measure of the
hymn OH the mules backs with loosely
neld reins to whose slight motion they
gave no heed, unhasting and unresting
they addressed themselves to their task,
their solemn tan colored noses nodding
cou6dentlaIly at the ground, their tall
ears tanning the soft air overhead.
1t was a morning toward the height of
April across the lifted arch of blue sky a
light wind was herding a flock of furry
little clouds The magic of few warm
lays had frOthed the silver poplars in
starry foliage naples along the road were
alert with small honey dipped foliage, and
here and there a bush showed itself strung
with pale green beads
As the wagon went on. springing i'm
pulse Of the year seemed to stir in Duke
Runyan's blood, for he squared himself to
all upright attitude. and having told the
mules they were too lazy to get out of
their tracks. he began tender lay. whose
burden was
Then ri stand oncet more
Aside her door,
And sing my heart thet's pinin'.
The team was now drawing near a cot.
tage sitting sedately in prim square of
yard off the street. There were other
houses and store hard by. but this house
had an air of quaint neatness that made
It noticeable in Kentucky town 1t was
8 lo1 hat L.,
one bent his head in crossing the thresh,
old porch ran the front length, painted
with the rest of the house a decent drab
color, like the even curtains in the two
front windows The door was darker
and had an iron knocker The narrow
bricked walk to the gate wore fictitious
redness. due to certain wash spread over
It on Saturday mornings at precisely of
the clock
This reddening process had not kept
some thrifty ants from casting up mum.
Der of little mounds in the chinks each
with hollow on top like a dimple in q
dark cheek, Daily these defiant bulwarks
were thrust down by Miss Elizabeth Shat.
tues broom. daily they rose again
When the time of year permitted, Miss
Elizabeth was generally out sweeping at
the hour when Duke Runyan went by
II there was any design on either side it
had custom of twenty years to sanction it.
People had long since ceased smiling
when they saw the dirt cart stop for
moment opposite the cottage gate. as it
did this morning
Huh, there-huh. you Jim" This to
the mules, who were like to have halted
of their own accord. though Mr.. Runyan
always tried to persuade them that they
had never stopped there before, while he
carried himself as If the idea OF pausing
had come over him so suddenly that he
was hard put to it to restrain the mules
from going on.
Right pretty day. Miss Beth Still a,
workin are yehH"
She leaned over the gate. Law, yes,
Mr. Runyan Pears like thar's no end to
it. Now these ants. Well, don't know;
they fahly beat me sometimes. Las sum.
mer some O the little weeny red kyind got
In the house, an bod to hev the legs o
the kitchen safe sot III pans o water the
hull season They like to a wore me
out
'Yeh amt a-tellin't" exclaimed Duke,
expressive OF surprised coincidence. "Well,
thars lots o worriments in life. How's
Gens feslin this mo'ninT There was a
keen interest In his inquiry that he seemed
to regret Tor be added. hastily, Il thought
mebby this pretty weatherd make him
right peart
Miss Elizabeth looked down the street
with studied scrutiny of a distant object.
Her forty years sat light upon her There
was something childlike in her carriage,
though bsr hair was quite gray, save In
places whsrs touches Of its former light
brown still held it's color; below her under
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