Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-06-10

You'll have 70 look arter him Alright smart,
jamie"
"Are you goin' to be gone f'r long time,
mothergn jamie asked, as it began to dawn
ON her mind that this was to be no ordinary
absence.
"Fr long time, jamie, 'cordin' to what
the doctor says"
"Where d. you have to go to, motherG
The girl dropped at her mothers knee as
she asked the question. The mother reached
down, and with both arms drew her daugh-
ter to her bosom.
"Janiel JanieI Janicl Don't you under
stand3 Them that takes the journey never
comes back agin."
The daughter flung her arms around her
mothers neck and sobbed in utter abandon
nent of grief. The mothers heart was too
sad for tears.
At length jamie grew calmer For many
minutes mother and daughter sat in silence,
while the teakettle in to- fireplace sang a
mournful plant, and the clock, the mantel's
only ornament, beat time to the sad tones.
A step was heard at the door leading from
the living room, and the next moment the
father entered. jamie rose and glided up
stairs to her cot in the loft.
Joe Lankfort looked inquiringly at his
wife.
"Ive told her" she said.
He bent over his wife and kissed her on the
forehead without a word. Then he hastily
went out at the door through which he had
entered
Left alone, far away look came into the
womans eyes, and an expression Of resigna-
tion took the place of the sadness. Her house
was in order now. She had only to wait in
patience.
And she had not long to wait Within a
fortnight there was a fresh mound in the
neighborhood graveyard. A rough slab of
sandstone stood at the head of the mound, to
be replaced by gravestone "when the mort
gage is paid of" the bereaved husband said.
The burdens of the Lankfort household
henceforth bore heavily on Jintsey's shoul-
ders, but she went bravely to and fro, and If
she ever faltered no one knew it but herself
Sycamore creek was ''up big, an still
a-raisin',n when old Hudnut, the gray haired,
i'll tempered and close listed holder Of the
everlastin' mortgage" crossed 1t on his way
to Joe Lankfort's for his annual "intrust."
AS the old man did his own collecting, he
took his own time for it, and that is how it
came about that in the evening he sat down
to the supper table where Joe Lankfort's
Jintsey, now budding into womanhood, pre-
sided as hostess. This duty she performed
with so much dignity that the old mans at
tention was attracted as, after the fashion
Of early days, he helped himself to the eat
ables set before him.
In the course Of the meal the guest had oc-
casion to comment on the delicate flavor of
some apple butter
sit is just like my mother used to make"
said he. ''Is it some Of your manufacturer
he asked, turning to JAMIE.
sit is some that mother made; some that
we've kept ever since she died, said jamie,
with little embarrassment.
1t was a trifing incident, but, curiously
enough, the old fashioned flavor of the apple
butter reminded the old man of his boyhood's
days, the days Of a sweeter and more gen.
erous life. For the moment his heart was
tender, and he fully appreciated the sacrifice
made by his young hostess in setting before
an unwelcome guest the treasured work of
loved hands.
He ate on in silence, and, lost in the depths
of his reminiscent mood, forgot for Il while
the avarice and selhshness of his later life.
But Jim, simple minded fellow, grew more
and more angry as he saw his dead mothers
dainty disappear before the old mans appe-
tite.
Don't let ole Hudnut have bit O. that"
he had said to jamie while she was setting
the table. "It's too good FIR him."
But jamie considered her duty to her
guest, even though he held the ''everlastin'
mortgage"
"Go and fetch Mr.. Hudnut's horse, Jim,"
said the father to his son, as soon as supper
was ended
There was dangerous CLEAN of mischief
in Jim's eyes as he went out. jamie saw
something was wrong, and followed her
brother to the stable.
whats the matter, Jimp she asked.
He did not answer, and she repeated the
question sharply.
"Nothin' much, he said.
"What are you goin' to dol Out with it,
Jimn
She spoke In tone of authority.
"Goin' to put couple o. cuckle burrs un-
der old Hudnut's saddle, that's all y said the
boy, as he opened the stable door.
"None o. your nonsense, Jim. You know
what mother'd say IL she was livin'. Now
jest saddle that horse right, an don't you go
to playin' any o. your tricks on Mr.. Hud-
nut"
Then she dropped her voice to kindly
tone, and added:
'Do jest what's right Jim. The man that
eats at our table must be treated jest like he
was our friend, Jim-recollect that"
She returned to the house, and Jim obeyed
the order, as jamie well knew he would,
though why he did not carry out his original
plan he could not have explained. Perhaps
he began to look upon the guest as friend
Of the family, as Janie's last remark seemed
TO make him.
It was growing dark when Hudnut mount
ed his horse to start home. Lankfort eau
toned him about the ford:
"It'll be purity nigh midsides TO your horse,
an you'll have to draw your feet up or you'll
git 'em wet. Don't steer straight across FIR
t'other side-jest turn a right smart up
stream. II you don't you'll git into ten foot
water at the fur end o. the foot log. Be
mighty keerful, now"
"Oh, I'll have no trouble In crossing" said
the old man, as he started of.
Hudnut gave his horse the rein, and, yield
ing TO his mood, began talking to himself 1t
was a habit he had.
THAT Lankfort girl Is real little lady,
amt she, Hudnutr he was saying as his
horse stepped into the swollen stream. What
a pity they're so poor-Whoal Held on,
herei How was it. Hudnutl Steer little
up stream, or straight acrossf
He hssitated a moment, and then started
straight for the landing opposite.
In q quarter Of q minute rider and horse
were foundering IN the ''ten footn hole Of
water at the end Of the foot log Somehow
the old man lost his seat and was carried by
the current against the foot log, which he
caught with both hands, and was out of i'm
mediate danger Of drowning. He was on the
up stream side OF the log, and the current