The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-02-23


LONELINESS by the approach Of summer. The turn
pike smooth and white stretched out In q waver-
ing line as far as / could On each side OF the
road there lay broad farming lands, with here and
there a rugged knob, sort of hiccough, 1t seemed
to me- / had gone but short distance when
saw a tall, lank fellow skulking along, weaving
from one side of the road to the other ! soon dis
covered that he kicking oyster can. Once,
the can, upon receiving ill-directed and unin-
tentionally vigorous kick, few over rail fence
and startled q lark from her dewy bath. The fell
low stopped, cast calculating glance at the fence,
hesitated a moment longer and then climbed over.
lie took up the can climbed back carefully
placed il on the turnpike, looked ahead as though
making sort of calculation and then gave the can
a resounding kick. By this time had overtaken
him.
Good morning" said |.
He turned with a start a. though had rudely
broken his meditation. His face bespoke a nature
of Incidence and his eyes looked the drowsy pic.
ture of laziness lie stoop- shouldered, his legs
was disproportionately long and his feet were of
unusual size | noticed him thus closely for In him
| recognized a type of shiftless and irresponsible
class of natives.
"Mornin'," he answered. and then looked toward
the can as though unable to decide whether to c)n-
tinue his association with Ii or to cultivate my
acquaintance but his mental struggle was brief
for, turning to me, he remarked:
"Ef you air goin' my way I'll jine you"
Gall right; come on"
mighty putty weather" he said as he cast a
farewell glance at the
Eyes, beautiful"
with a tone of anxiety in his voice pitched out
to town yistidy airter telin my wife that
wouldn't be gone long, but Pm jest gittin' back.
live little this side NV Colonel Osbury's.
~ am going to his house, !" answered.
"Sho nur2 WALL then you do me q mighty
big favor-you ken drap in at my house-won't
take a mint"
"What for?" | asked.
He took off his white cotton hat bumped his
shoulders, reached down between his long neck and
shirt collar pulled out a string and then said
ITO tell my wife that | couldn't git away frum
town no sooner
"But don't know that anything kept you in
town."
"You ken tend like you do, KANT you? Wife
she amt in good health, an don't want her to
think would stay away on my own accod. Help
me out, Mr.-what mout your name be2 | told
him. "Wall, then, help me out, Mr.. BurwoOd, an
mebby kin help you git outen a scrape sometime
Dinged ef Oughtenter be powin' right now. Been
a-brcakin' up some terbacker iaDd whAr clover;
been fur year or two an dinged eff il don't smell
as sweet as q pie when you turn il up to the sun
I'll tell you sump'n ef you won't say nOthin' about
il. Promise?"
Eyes"
He came closer to me and in hoarse whisper
said:
81 was chuck up last night. Got bottle from q
feller an whooped Ii up with the ole major that
runs tue hO1ei. EcCOllcCtlOn suinHleTs All
didn't find IL till about daylight this mornin'.
don't feel so bad though. When Teller has hill of
from ticker fur good while an then gifts at it. wy
|: don't pzen him right at wunst Coin to stay
in this part nv the country? Sho nuff2" he added
when had told him that such was my intention
avail, then, reckon we'll a good deal NV each
other, but we amt APP to be SIGH mighty friends
nnlNss you sorter help me patch up things with my
wlie oughter be a-plowin' this mint"
By this time had begun to regret that had
overtaken the fellow, for his nonsensical prattle
was nervousy annoying. The scenery, more rug
ged than the lands that lay closer to town, was
beautiful with the sort of freshness that suggests
day of wideawakeness following night of perfect
rest. Here and there, long rib from the hills
ridged spike that looked like surgeons backbone