The Opelousas courier., 1889-09-14

"Reckon he'd as well sing while he
KIN, Sam fer if NE come on up here, which
| take he's a-doin', he won't never sine
no more after to-day-leastwise, not in
this we're world. Whut We say, fellers2n
Reckon yer talkin' bout right. % some
one replied, and the others nodded tbei.
approval.
In about half an hour Ike came in
slght. They knew he had been drinking
Wnen they heard his voice in song away
down the gulch, and now asfhe came
staggering up the hill scarcely able to
keep on his feet they pronounced him
pretty s'full."
: "How'r'y fellersh," he said; sbeen
down ter zhe post havin' er good timesh.
Doggone fine plash down there. Want
me ter shing shomethin'? Doggone fine
Bhinger I am. Listen:
''Oh, the old, old homesh I left behind,
An Their purity little gal that's waitin' fer me.'
"Reckon she'll keep on er waitin' q
good while, old chap" Brandy said.
"Yesh, | reckon; but I'm goin' home
purity shoon, eff nothin' don't happen"
"They's a monty strong prospect o.
fo-pethin' happenin', though"
s'That so? Coin ter strike er pay
streak an git my FORUM, yer reckon2"
81 low there won't be much pay in it,
but yer goin' to strike a streak an git
whit We desarve."
"Thanky. Git what I desarve. Shay,
that's what | want. Thanky. / guess
I'll retire. feel sorter tired"
OldIke turned and staggered away to
his CABIN, humming a tune as he went.
"Gotto let i'm sober up afore we stretch
'im," Brandy remarked.
''In course" Jerry Rogers replied.
SIT wouldn't nigh do to hang er teller in
that fix. Guess he wouldn't know what
he was stretched fer nor nothin bout it.
Have to let i'm sober up"
thing in the mornin'."
While they were yet talking they heard
the rumble of a vehicle down the road as
it rolled and bounded along IT, srcky
course.
"Stago is comm" Sam remarked.
"Wonder if Wen git any letters from
home, boys2" one said.
"Dunno, I'm Shore" Brandy replied.
81 hain't heerd from my folks fer morn
a year now.S
"Me MOTHER" said Jerry; ''but fer
that matter I hain't got no folks worth
mentionin'. Jest some uncles and aunts
and cousins and SIGH, an they amt much
to a Teller, nohow."
"No, not like a wife an children"
Brandy assented. "I've got a wife and
a leetle gal back thar, an I'm sorter be-
ginnin' to want to see 'em. The gals
Their purtiest little thing you ever laid
your eyes on, an was about so high
measuring with his hand) when I left.
| That's been six years, an [ low shes
growed up nigh to a woman now"
These remarks touching the past and
the old home recalled to each of the men
a train of fond memories, and for some
time they smoked their pipes ~ silence,
Leach busy with thoughts of the dear ones
in the far East.
Pretty soon the stage came in sight, and
hating before the saloon, the driver
threw off a little fiat mail-pouch and dis
mounted. The men in the meantime had
lounged across, and now stood around
the stage.
scot a passenger fer you, boys" the
driver announced, as he clambered down
HWho is he?" some one asked-"a ten
/ lz~f11A -, -, o1l &1pnar2S
ut ain. t a old timer, an{}iit amt a he.
It's A little gal" "
3he spoke the diver opent the door
and the passenger stepped out. eShe was
a little mite of humanity, scarcely turned
into the teens, cheaply clothed, GnseaS
delicate as could be.
When she reached the ground she
stopped and glanced eagerly around a
the row of faces before her, and there
was a timid shyness in her look and man,
ner that told that she was afraid. YET
every man had dotted his hat and was
doing his best to show his respect.
The driver mounted into his seat ano
the old stage numbered away. Their
Brandy Smith, with his hat under hi;
arm, advanced a step or two nearer the
child and speaking in as soft a tone a.
he could command, asked:
"Airye lookir' fer somebody, sisa"
eyes, sir" she said. q am looking
for 10 you know hims They sale
be su VIZ but I don't see him."
nWhat's yer pap's name2"e Brandy
asked. We mout tell you somethln' 1boul
him.
aHis names Samson"
uWhut! old Ike Samson2o
ayes, sir; only he's not old. Do you
know him2"
aWhyAy a-as, we've seen i'm RICH
smart off an on. He ulster hang 'Tount
yere a good bit" a
seThen he's not here now2" she askSslaS
aWal, he's not exactly right here, bu
he mayn't be fur off, you know"
aDo you reckon you could find gu
where he is2"
"Why, / dunno. We mout."
az want him SO bad; and / wish yo'
would ask about him and help to fine
him."
aWhat do you want Nv 'ima"
aMother's sick down at the post, ant
want to take him to her SOS she will 81
well. She heard of him up here, sn'
left hons. away back in Missouri to tint
him. butashe took sick on the way AMI
can't 90 any further, and so ] came on =
e-a - and fake him 10 her. He'll b