The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-03-30
"I have read some of his rhyme" he answered. aThen you don't regard it aa poetry 7p


 "Then you don't regard 1t as poetry1"
 "No, 1t is simply a clever construction of verse, admirable In mechanical exactness, but lacking In that warm grasp, that throbbing intensity of true shake its false hair In an attempt to make an impressive bow. I want poem to seize me with thrilling grasp and breathe hot metre in my face. Say old fellow, there will not be another train until ten o'clock tonight It Is rather bad that you missed the other one but still I am glad of it. After dinner we will amuse ourselves by calling at the different departments. Look wonder (pointing toward the court house) There they sit, talking about horses and women They are sitting in the sun now, and will continue to do until along in the spring Then they will follow the shade. Idon't know how those fellows live They have no profession-no business, yet they dress pretty well and manage to buy the first water melons of the season. Now as regards dinner, we'll"
 "Hold on," said l. "Your mother put up an elaborate basket picnic, & sack Of apples included and compelled me to leave home thus provisoned. was to give the apples to poor children along the road, but either failed to the children, or there were none l lett the outfit in the buggy box. Why not get it and have luncheon here in the ofice?"
 "The very thiDgp Henry exclaimed. "Rather have it than any set dinner that could be raked together in this town. You stay here, and will go around to the stable"
 Just after Henry had gone, Lark Moss came in hurriedly. "Mr. Burwoodp he said, excitedly "there is drunken fellow out here, and he swears thAt isv Is going t0 Kill you: He imagines that you have done him a wrong. By gracious, there is not a closet any thing for you to get in"
 "How do you know he wants to kill me?" ex- claimed
 "Oh, he says so-has been watching the house ever since you came in."
 "Look here, Moss, don't want to be shot,"
 "No, to be sure, but he's going to do it."
 "Where is the town marshall"
 "Oh, he's off play ing cards somewhere. If had pistol I'd give 1t to you and let you go out there and kill him, but haven't got thing. My gra- cious, he's coming Hooking oup. Both barrels of his gun cooked. Get up the chimney, Burwood and Pl swear that you are not here. The fool has taken it into his head that you are the judge who once sentenced him to the penitentiary."
 l was uneasy-was scared, and I doubt not but that should have attempted to squeeze myself into the chimney, had not suddenly recalled Henry's remark relative to Moss love of joking Then turned upon the young man and closely studied his face, but seeing no sign of mischief-seeing nothing but deep seriousness-I was about to yield when, influenced to make hopeful experiment, said
 "Moss, you are 6 skllful joker"
 A mischievous light broke on his face, but, un- willing to surrender he continued to talk of the fellow with the shotgun.
 "You can't fool me, Moss. You did for few moments, but understand you now"
 Then he threw up his hands and shouted. He sat down, and was almost strangled. He laughed against the wall, leaning on the table walking up and down the room-laughed with his head thrown back and laughed with his head bowed over and as I looked at him, unused "Old fellow, will get even with you for this"
 Moss went away, still tittering, and l was standing in the door, musing over his peculiar, his ghastly idea of humor, when Henry returned.
 "Well," said he, "we'll have to eat dinner with Major Patterson. found the buggy box empty. l questioned the negroes, but of course they knew nothing about it. Come, let's go to the hotel"
 did not tell Henry of the joke which Moss had played upon me- for, having been warned, even though it was in an indirect way, against the fel lows prankishness, felt ashamed of the moment ary weakness which had shown.
 Old Major Patterson remembered me- He also remembered his dry chuckle and his maneuyers ex-