The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-11-23
THE SAME PISTOL.


Numerous people, seemingly dressed in
their Sunday clothes, stood about the
house. l stood under the shelter of the
timber, lest my observation might be re-
carded as unfriendly espionage, for
mountain people, with all their impul-
sivc generosity, are peculiar. Especially
SO is the East Tennesseean. The
stranger who manifests the slightest in
terest in the East Tennesseean's affairs
is often looked upon with inimical, and
sometimes dangerous suspicion.
While stood gazing at the scene a
weird song, sort of fall-of- the-year
chant, arose. / knew that it was not
wholly service of religious devotion,
for at times the distressing wall of
woman would rise above the chant
Suddenly heard groan, and, looking
about, saw man sitting on log. His
face was buried in his hands. l APP
preached him. He looked up with II
start. His face, though young. was bag
gard, and his large black eyes had hol-
lowness of expression.
"What is going onup at the house %
asked.
"Dan Beasley's funeral" he replied.
"He must have been quite prominent
man." / remarked.
"IIe want so prominent as he was
noble NV natur' His love for folks in
general was as bright and beautiful as a
mountain sunrise"
"What did he die off,
"a bullet"
"What, was any one so depraved as to
kill so good MANI"
eyes"
",rho people have surely mobbed
him"
"No."
"Then they cannot find him?'
They'll find him in half an hour from
now"
"Then, they are after him p
mo, but he will meet the funeral pro-
cession."
ITO give himself up?" / asked in sur
prise.
'He won't say nothin' about that
"You seem to know great deal about
him"
81 do. I'm the man."
looked at him in horror.
II don't wonder that you look at me
So" he said "There will never be
another kind look turned upon me until
am dead. Then my po' old mother
will look at me kindly"
"Why did you kill him p 1 asked.
II went over to still-house luther
evenin' an he come over after me. l
was drunk when he got thar. He came
les 90 homer
"'No,' says I, "A passul Nv the boys
will be here putty soon an we are goin'
10 play seven-up.'
"'Youve got no money to lose, he re-
plied.
"'Wall, I've got as much as you have
/ said. Then he put his arm around me
an began to beg me. Somehow, | got
mad. for all ub of a sudden it 'peared
like he had always stood in my way, an
] thought eff it want for him / would
be great man. AS ] stood lookin' at
him he smiled. know now that it was
the warm smile NV love- but then
thought it was the cold grin NV hate.
Dan said /, go on away or I'll
"'Sam,' he replied, you couldn't hurt
me-
"Couldn't IT,
"T'll show YOU snatched out my
pistol, showed it against his breast and
fired. In mint was sober. / stood
lookin' at him. heard the boys comm
i waited till they come, an then fell
upon Dan, kissed him time an agin an
then ran into the woods. At first the
boys was so 'stonished that they did
not follow me, but putty soon heard
them yell an / knowed that if they
cotch me they would hang me. l ran
away an hid in a cave an stayed thar
until Jest now. / wanted to see the
funeral. Dan was my twin brother"
Again he buried his face in his hands.
Again the wall of eart-broken wo-
man arose above the melancholy chant
$50 you intend to give yourself up"
] said.
81 will meet the funeral" he replied,
without looking up.
'The procession is coming down the
HILL" / SAID, after a few moments
silence. He arose and stood with his
arms folded. There was no heprse or
wagon. The coffin was borne by four
strong men. In the procession there
came an old and lettering woman lean
ing on the arm of an aged man. The
murderer sank upon his knees, remained
for few moments and then stepped out
into the road in front of the procession
The men who bore the coffin stopped.
The murderer drew a pistol, and ex-
claiming. Mother, the same pistol y
placed the weapon to his head and fired,
A heart-broken woman tottored forward
and fell upon the corpse.
Mark Twain's Precooious Daughter.
New York Morning JourH@.
Mark has child who inherits some of her
fathers brightness. She kept diary at one
time, in which she noied the occurrences in the
family and among other things, the sayings OF