New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-08
POOR SOLANGE.
THE END OF HER STORY.

come, we could have thought OF some Very or'i'"".
and effective way by which to mako something oa.
Of hern We have not seen her onco since the day ou
Washer took her of. Twice Mclausa has boon 80
bold as to ride "honest Ben into tho vicinity Oh the
palmetto howell but she has scen no ono tno iAS'
time sho saw softer, Ross, sitting IN tno uoo'.
way. sho called to him and he wagged his TALL o"'
no would not come. and presently he went WITHIN
Mcansa reported this and 1t convinced us that hoss
had spent tho most Of his tlmo with slaheo' i'r ITO
no was now at homo scarcely at ALL
Melausa said that II honest Ben had possessed tho
power OF going beyond walk, or any attribute In
short save honesty, she would have ventured hetr
enough to the cabin to cali out but she knew u oio
Washer should appear, sho could not mako her es-
cape for force save one had yet been discoVored
that would move Bon out OF o foot's pace.
At first wo had hoped that tho Frenchman wouid
relcnt; we had tried to fancy that he might have
been drunk when no had stopped at our house. Say
ing this to Mr.. Wayne, that person responded:
aNo doubt he was drunk whom no came; he's drunk
every minute Of his life. He must havo been mane
of whItleather to have sucked In as much pson
whskey Is no has, and still DO on his legs-and suoh
legs, too Tho Lord only knows what nos maoo
Of I don't. But you won't get s'lange back again"
Two nights ago Ronald in just at dusk,
with the air of having something to tell, which no
told Immediately
IAN hour ago I saw old Washer out In boat
on tho river, fishing Tho thought came 70 me 'na'
I could walk to his house before he could get thero'
and I'd find out whether he had s'lange tied up or
not. I went"
Hero Ronald rose to his feet and began walking
about tho
Gross camo waggng out to mo-" he went ON
presently and went right to tho door and looked
in 1t was so dark that couldn't at first SEQ az all
and said 'Sanee are you hereP Then inc sriS
voice said sYors' and asked II could go In min.
ute she said might II he want nowhere about
It's horrible place.
Tho boy paused again. needed but to look at his
face to SEQ how the sight he had seen had affected
him.
"s'lango lay on heap Of dry moss
in ono corner Of the room; Ross
went directly and curod himself down beside her. ana
She pot her arm him. tell yon, she's ILL., she 5
awfully ILL., Her face went right to my heart.
took her hand. and 1t hot and dry. and so weak
asked what was tho matter. She said she reckoned
there want nothin tho natter but the day after she
was here she wont to tho roof to try to mend IL
a little, and she fell Sho said something seemed 10
give out inside of her. and she hadn't been able 10
move much of any since Then she made me go;
and she said must DO sure and tell you two that
you mustn't think she want thankful
Ronald turned 20 the door and was silent
Before We could speak, he came back. with his
watch In his hand
81 can catch tho night boat down the river he
said 81 shall 60 to Palatka and bring back doctor
with mo- we ought to be here by tomorrow alter
nOon.D
"And wen said Mclausa, speaking quickly, I'VE
will take what can to make tho girl comiortaoie'
and go and stay with her until you come Pcrhaps
we can have her moved here
Ronald hurried the river landing; we hastened 10
put together a few things, and thcn started out with
a largo basket between u.s. We did not think Washer
would use physical force to keep out, and anything
short of that would have effect upon Us. Still we
were glad when met Mr.. Wayne few rods before
we reached our destination. Having hoard what we
had to say, he turned and walked with US, relieving
himself of a few indignant words as he went
But It turned out that needed no defender. When
we were within sight Of the hut the propri-
etor of it lying fat In tlr sand under lemon tree,
his head olled back and breathing the hoavy breaths
of entire ntOxication. II he had ever had anything
manly IN him liquor had long ago mado him mere
brute. He must have been partially drunk as usual
when Ronald saw him on tho river. He had had time
to reach home the final draughts that should
make him insensible.
Mr. Wayne touched the PROSTATE with his foot.
as he said that the old scamp would lie there all night
probably He waited outside TO hear our report and
brought bucket of water and bundle Of wood to the
entrance
S'lange appeared to be asleep when we went to the
corner where she lay She was perfectly STILL and her
hair lying tangled about her face. We could only
heart breaking The rusty stove, at ono end Of the
room, bore on its top frying pan which held piece
Of bacon lying in s,nle Of twn grease; and near
a scrap Of corn cake, and cracked yellow bowl with
tho sediments of coffee In It. The place was vile
bcyord words need not try to describe It. The only
indication that the slightest attempt had been mado
to caro- for S'lange that anoh yellow bowl hold
ing water was set within roach Of her hand. Ross
was yrng near II he thirsty, he probably helped
himself from this dish
We sat down noiseessly on bench which was oil
there was to sit upon We would not do anything
until S'lange awOke. II dark soon now: very
dark within this hut: and unuttersbly desOlate.
was glad that the dog thero It was consolation
to know that he lay within reach OF my hand.
We had brought a small hand lamp filled with OIL
but would not light It while the girl slept
shall not forget those hours v 'le sat thrre
waiting In the darkness Tho pines outside kept up
their lonely soughing noise: sometimes reviving
breath from among their branches would come 10 u.s.
We heard tho hoarse whistle Of a boat and knew
that IL tho steamer going up the river, and STOP
ping to leave the mail 1t was about nine O'Clock
Soon after this, S'lange moved and moincd AS
lighted the lamp Melausa STEPPED TO tn" Pic of moss
where S'lange lay. Tho girl even more Ill than
had feared She did not suiprisd, being, l was
afraid past surprise. She knew perfectly, however.
Her face had entirely lost Its stod look and had upon
it now what seemed kind Of spiritual expression
She sad she alters reckoned there couldn't
nothn' hurt her, but somehow suthin was wrong
since she fell off the roof"
We tod her she must not talk. We bathed her and
put clean linen upon her, and upon the moss she lay
ON. We had to DO very slow and gentle about this,
but she seemed to be refreshed somewhat.
She lay sin for awhile looking at US after she had
drank some milk
'Tan't no matter" sho said, "ef did fall for yo'
granpere ies shet down on yow maxim nothln'
outer me-" go
Then she appeared to 20 to sleep, but not until she
had put her hand carefully on Ross head as he nosed
up against her.
tho dawn old Washer appeared 1t the der. We had
wish address him. and after gruntng two or three
times he lurched away, and made no effort TO know
where he bestowed himself
While Melau. remained In charge went back TO
the log cabin to make some broth We said that, as
soon as possible, would have Sange taken to our
house But while said II knew II would not be.
BY four Of that afternoon Ronald and stranger
corning down the slope to Washers.