The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-04-10

ure," insisted the doctor. ''Wait TIL
you get little better. =
''Ef mus die, femme die at home,"
cried Jack. "'Pears like 1 could die
easier thar"
Seeing that he was determined to 20,
the doctor ceased to urge him. .'Have
you the means to take him homer" he
asked the father, who had arisen and
seated himself the side of the buak
''Well, yes said the old man. II
sold my critter atore leavin' home ter
git the money ter come hyar on"
IF you sold your horse, how are you
going to make your CROP" asked the
friendly jailer.
''Well," said Mr.. Bigby, undaunted
by the dismal prospect ahead, II
thought as how I'd sell my COW en- calf,
arter Jack is we'll huff ter do 'thaut the
milk, en- buy steer. Only femme git
him back ter his ma in the mountains
en- we'll scratch long somehow"
The sun shone bright and warm; the
air was sweet and balmy; spring was
coming fast, and April seemed to have
fastened along the road to meet March,
and strewed q few Of her days in his
calendar. The sun beamed into the car
where Jack Bigby lay on two seats, ap-
parently half asleep. For the first half
of the journey th9 excitement, the
change, the thought of home, had kept
him up.
THE sun-the ar" he cried delight
eddy, 'hit's powerful good, Pap!"
''Hit's mighty peart," said the old
man, alphabetically.
But now, his little strength exhaust
ed, Jack lay in state of collapse that his
father mistook for sleep, with the sun
shining full into his face, though he did
not seem to know it.
"Wake up, Jackie" said old Bigby
cheerfully. 1--WE air out or Canton now,
en- gwine in ermong the mountains.
Look at EN-"
The sick man reused up, and with his
fathers assistance raised himself so as
to look out of the window. As far as
the eve could see, range after range of
mountains met the view rising one
above the other. The invalid gazed
upon them as if he could never get his
fill, and drank in the mountain air as if
it was an elixir.
''Thar, thar, Jackie" said his father.
''I'm afeared you'll cotch COLE"
''The sight or them is good for sore
eyes" said the released prisoner. And
language could 60 no farther in his case.
Old Bigby laughed. "What'u We say
when ye see Baldface, en- that thar big
pine thet's crowd on the tip top or hit
war we use ter 80 coon huntin'?"
"Ef ever I gifts able ter clomb up thar,
I'll never wanter to come down agin,"
said Jack.
Again his father laughed. us tibet
thar ole pine all ye're hankerin' arter,
sonny?" he asked.
I'm course wanter see ma and the
gals" said the sick man. "When see
he broke down.
THAR, thar" said the old man hasti-
~, don't bother bout ma en- the gals
not but what they'll hev' or shout en- 20
roun' when they see ye. Lie down en-
res now.
He laid his son back on the seat, and
Jack wearily closed his eyes and seemed
to sleep. Absorbed with his unaccus-
toned surroundings old Bigby did not
notice his heavy breathing which was
deadened by the noise of the train. At
last glancing out the window, familiar
objects came in view.
'Jackie," said the old man, Jackie,
wake up, honey. Thars ole Baldface.
Look up. En- thar's yam pine.
The sick man Enclosed this eyes, but
they wore strange look. II see no
pine," he said, feebly.
Old Bixby grew frightened. He
passed his arms around his son and
lifted him by main force; terror gave
him strength. Look, look" he cried
anxiously.
But his sons head fell back against
his shoulder, the cool mountain breeze
played with his hair, the sunshine
beamed in his face, but the dying
mountaineer saw nothing. In vain his
glazing eyes turned toward the distant
mountains.
II KANT see hit" said he, feebly, ''I'm
going fas'. Bury me on top or ole Bald
face, pap, yander pine-thar I'll sleep
free forever"
His struggling breath ceased. No
more his darkening eyes could see the
sun for which he so craved. The judges
suspended sentence now awaited him
naught Summoned before a greater
Judge, the moonshiner was free.-Paul
Grant, in Atlanta Constitution.
LIFE IN LARGE CITIES.