Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-12-20
nd improve head Q slinks, aesassl.

| .1e ~
! CHASTITY, thanks to the kind offices Of
/ Cal and Jerry, who had administered
some of tho brandy that the latter had
brought from Prairie City, and had
made doubtful quality OF beef tea
over. little fro down in the hollow.
With awkward gentleness they had
pushed back the gray hair and had
placed fragrant flowers all about her
head. n ft8 81 tft
do you think you win find my boy
soonf" her faint voice piped, as Long
Jess looked into the wagon.
He'll BIO yere right soon, gram
maw," he answered. II saw him jest
q little bit ago"
Her wrinkled face Ii up with such
Q look of gladness, that for an instant
Jess heart smote him at the thought
OF the deception they were about to
practice upon the sick woman.
But it's for tho BEST" he muttered
as he turned away "It's a shame,
but it's the best we kin do" 81. tgs +,
Every face in the circle that gath
cred about, the outcast was hard and
stern. In few pointed words Long
Jess told tho story. ~ 2E4l1
IF she don't find her boy right
soon, she never will. If she thinks
for O few, weeks she's found him, We
reckon she may pull through to health
an DO able to go on with her search.
Sinks, you look nearest NV any NV us
like her sons picture. You look like
him, an if you don't act like him,
well-wal, you UNDERESTIMATE
Only Long Jess accompanied Sinks,
the outcast to the wagon.
well, yer boys come, ,gran'maw,"
he said, and turned away.
1t was evident that the deception
was success, for the committee heard
the faint, glad cry of the old woman
as the outcast bent over her. u.s., 49,,
Paul Ny boyl my boy!"
Then the committee turned their
backs and walked away out of hear
ing. No one said anything for sew
eral moments. Presently Cal spoke,
gravely:
II never lowed Sinks had no feel
ms, but--did you see his facc?"
II saw it," answered Long Jess,
shortly. . -. FL.
After nearly quarter of an hour
had passed, Jess went to tho wagon.
He was gone long time, but when
he rejoined the group Sinks remained
at the wagon.
Boys" said Long jess, eth work !
You ort to have seen the gladnoss in
her ole wrinklcd face! reckon she'll
live to find her boy yit, But | have
the Idly Of the time when we've got to
tell-wal, maybe we'll find hiil fore
that"
San Slinks9" questioned Cal.
He's got feelin's! If [ hadn't a.
knowed, Id allowed he found his ole
mother. Scar on his cheek must be
sorto like the one on her boys, for she
was a-noticin' it, an n-sayin' sunthin'
bout Bessie's 'nlemberin' how Paul'd
saved her life at the risk OF his own.
When she had said that, I'll swear
Sinks eyes were full Nv tears! He's
got feelin's, Sinks has. )" "
It was nearly week later, after the
sick woman had been provided with
comfortable quarters in Prairie City,
where she was rapidly improving
under the son like ministrations of
Sinks, the outcast, that the cmigra-
ton committee We're holding q meet
ing in the shade of Marshalls general
store"
II believe Sinks is sick" Long Jess
was saying. mot but that ho works
works like a redhead to do every
thing in tho world to make tho sick
woman happy. But, someway, he acts
SO blamed queer! Eyes red like he'd
ben cryin'. Don't Pay 10 attention to
what q body says to him less it's tho
ole lady. She don't hafto much more
than whisper before he hears her"
Sick, reckon" agreed Cal. But
if l could git hands on that thar shore
enough son that Gtays away an leaves
his mother TO Che l:ecr Nv Sinks I'd
make him sicllcr'n Sinks Isl" lr
His tracks wouldn't stop this side
w the state lino!" said Long jess.
Must o-thought q heap NV him.
Her longin' 10 see him was SO strong
that she sold out what little she, had,
an, half sick, started west to hunt for
him When She reached the end Of
the railroad it took thc best part NV her
little money to buy the team an
wagon. No Idly whur to end him. No
word from him in many long day;
but sho started with The determine
ton, woman like, to look ell over the
west to find her boy. Took sick on
kept a-gittin' worse, but kept right ON
in the hunt fer her boy. Then tho
balance is blank to her. Got out of
her head. Don't know whur nor how
long the team wandered ar'und. But
now she's happy, thinldn' at lat she's
found her boy. If | could git a-kolt
Of tho fcllcr-roamin' around III tho
west at his ease, vhilo his olo mothers
pore an needy, and brcakin' her heart
fer Lim--Id'----
A figure camo around the corner.
1t was Sinks
Maybe he did not know how bad
her condition was, he said abruptly.
Perhaps, when ho left, miGfortune
had not taken the most Of her prop
orty. Perhaps, discouraged, heart
broken, he had gone west, where mis-
fortune met him at every turn, I'LL
nc sunk-sunk-wcll, perhaps tho
thoughts of homo served still moro TO
dishcarten him, and" -
Wouldn't thoughts of his mother