Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-08
TOBE.


trees, rocks and wild growth, although the
sun is flooding the valley with its warm,
hazy splendor.
The plantation, of which the eastern limits
are shown by ramshackle rail fence running
along the foot of the mountain, is a typical
Georgia farm The house of the owner is
withdrawn from view behind some hills in
the west Here and there through the valley,
like murky blurs on the vast stretch of rolling
green, appear squalid log huts with midland
stick chimneys; some of these have two
rooms, one on each side of an entry, but most
of them have only one apartment with a shed
attached.
Near the public road stands small grist
mill Its wheel is dry and idle; the water of
the creek, from which the mill gets its motive
power by means Of q race cut through the
fields, has fallen so low that the bed of the
race has to be lowered in order that the cur
rent may run freely enough to turn the
machinery.
Where this channel takes its course through
q field Of ripening wheat swirling in the
breeze white man and a negro are plying
pick and shovel The former, lobe Longley,
Is about 80 years of age. No one would pro-
nounce him good looking as he leans on his
negro to shovel out the loose earth he has dug
up. In fact, nature could not easily have
made him more unslghtly, and conformed to
the specifications as TO the general shape of O
human being which the Almighty evidently
gave in Adam. AS the country girls used to
say, when lobe was on the lookout for life
companion: "Ugly's no name fur it'll Alb
seriutely heediousIr
His hair TO cnlOr 5afioc
Some Of the knowing ones who remembered
him as an infant, asserted that at that period
it was blood red, n but the suns, rains, winds
and dust of years had robbed it of its pris-
tine identity, and as seen now is simply an
indescribable, dingy mass adding ugliness to
a freckled face, in which is set pair Of
crossed blue eyes, and bent-to-one-side nose,
which, strange to say, seems more in har-
mony with the left eye, although it inclines
positively toward the right one
Notwithstanding his lack of facial charms
he was in possession of heart so pure and a
disposition SO gentle and kind that he had
never had an enemy.
Pete he says with an upward jerk at his
suspenderless trousers, and squirting a brown
stream of tobacco juice at basking green
fly, Pete, Of co'se you a niger, but PHI be
dadblanled Of you oughtn't to know better'n
to contend that talxin' o. watermelors hain't
stealin'i Jest as shore as yere a standir'
thar, it Isl the Lord hain't drawed no line
twixt stealin' an takin' o. what hain't
yor'nl It's p'intiy agin the Word, an tn
hain't no earthly use a-tryin' to patch it up"
Pete was listening with attention, but an
irrepressible, incredulous smile was drawing
his thick lips apart and spreading in curves
over his swarthy yisaCe
"Dat's so, boss, s'pose," he grinned,
scratching his gray, wooIly pate; ''but de
family | used ter b7ong ter nebber wuz SO
Ac'lar. an dey's de bes' wife folks in de lam.
Oar wuz Marse Georgian he's 'residin'
elder at dat-he's de wuss uf um he wouldn't
eat UNI lessen dey wuz tuck. No, sahl he
would'n' tech um wild he's mouf. l aim
gwine 'spute what you say; but, Marse lobe,
watermelons Is diffunt-dey's des difPunt"
In such manner the conversation was
kept up until Tobe's dinner horn sounding
from one Of the huts, called him from his
work.
So incongruous are the workings Of fate
that there dawned day not long after the
opening of this story-and to lobe Longley
and his young wife no blseker one had ever
come-in which he the man who was noted
for honesty, was accused Of theft.
He could not command the use of his
tongue as he stood with quivering limbs and
paining heart, listening 10 the officer who
said that the watch Tobe was wearing had
been stolen from BIZ. Bland, the owner of an
adjoining farm. Tobe declared that Sam
Black, a negro, had sold it to him. and that
he had never dreamed that it was stolen
property. It WAS O great surprise TO him to
learn that the negro in question was then In
Jail awaiting trial in the superior court
charged with stealing horse in another part
of the county.
However much confidence was placed In
Tobe, the circumstances were So strong
against him that he was bound over on bond
to make his appearance at superior court to
convene in few days The testimony went
to show that be had been at Mr. BANDS
house on the day the watch was missed. lobe
seemed to be broken hearted over it No one
could console him even with the strongest
expressions of confidence In his ability to es-
tablish bis innocence
Thar never was no SIGH fotch up agip any
o the name 5 fur back s ever was heerd Of"
he would say TO all In abject dsconsolatfon.
He WAS, indeed, pitiable object sitting in
bis rough clothes among the lawyers in the
courtroom when the day for his trial arrived.
Mr.. Edward Clark, a talented young lawyer,
had his case in hand and was sure of success
He had prepared q strong speech and under
stood the law bearing on the case thoroughly.
On the other hand, the solicitor general
had not been idle There had existed spirit I
OF antagonism between him and Clark for
some time, and be usually took more interest
In a case when they happened to be oppo-
nentS
Unfortunately for lobe, he had learned |
somehow that he would have the right to
produce Sam Black as g witness, and had
told many Of his friends that the negro would
be Obliged to confess having sold him the
watch. II never entered his mind that Il
would be the most natural thing In the world
for the negro to deny au coguizance of the
matter.
This course Mr. Clark would not. for IN
instant, listen 10. for the reason that il the
negro, being summoned by the defendant,
should swear that he knew nothing of IL, it
would provo disastrous in strengthening the
evidence agains. the defense. The state had
deemed It not worth while TO make the negro
q witness In fits behalf because the defense
could invaGdate his testimony on the ground
THAI he himself was accused of felony.
And, although Mr.. Clark argued and
pleaded with Tobe, be could not make him
see the danger of such q step nor get him to
reiinGui.t his intention Much TO every
body's surprise, lobe became angry with his
lawyer The attention Of the entire room
was attracted to him as bis voice became
audible.
Its me a-bein' tried' 1t hsinr you I'm
a-gwine to have say so in this thing. You
needn't bother about it; | reckon | kin make
49,. xo,,r sarvicaS Sam Rlart