Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-12-12


saved We from revenoos an vigilans an
wuss. He waur wuth mo- than dozen
carcasses like yo'. He's stole to keep US
from starvin', an ye'v gone an sold
him. Yo' hear the chillun? They're
cryin' fer Kaintuck."
"Him's follered the stranger He'll
kim back Him's been a-hoodooed off.
sure, certain. He'll kim back, Suke."
But he didn't come back. Seth went
the next day and bought his wife red
and blue calico with yellow stripes
walked five miles and back to the
Forks, and she took the dress and
burned it on the log fire before his eyes.
Three months passed away and Seth's
wife lay at deaths door. There did not
seem to be 80 much of disease as
a total collapse of the system. Seth
had changed, too. He had really
braced up and was taking care of his
wife and the children to the best of
his ability. But his heart was as heavy
as lead. He hadn't much conscience;
was lax of morals, perhaps; but since
that mysterious going of of Kaintuck
he had felt himself a modern Judas.
He wanted his dog, and he wanted the
money bad He had followed the
stranger to dicker with him for the
hound, but he knew Kaintuck, and he
was sure he would find his way home
inside of twenty-four hours. Now he
knew he would never see him again.
II was just the same as II one Of the
children had gone instead of dumb
crltter." His little scheme had miscar-
ried woefully. Kaintuck was three hun
bred miles away.
This night Suke was carrying on
worse than ever. Seth knew she was
dying, and he could not leave her long
enough to 40 for the distant neighbors
who at such times rendered assistance.
Worse, too, her mind wandered. She
thought Kaintuok was there.
81 heerd him outside. Thar he tsp
she cried, starting up. "Yo' didn't sell
him, Seth, did yo?"
She had been up and out to look fol
him every night since his going, listen
ing to hear him at the door. The chill.
dren slept and only fretted for theil
playmate in the daytime, but their
mother never forgot him, even in sleep.
dissent" she cried again. "Doan 70
hear him, Seth?'
"Thets acoyoty, faint nothin' else,
answered Seth, humbly. But there wa,
long, low howl that was Enthusiastically
the howl of dog, Seth started up
He was mortally afraid.
"Tain't no real dog, it's-it's-oh
Lordl that howl means-means-"
"Yes, / reckon it's TO- me. Yo
needn't open the dore, Seth. 'onder.
stan. 'Tain't no Twin dog as makes
tibet noise. Doan' wake the chillun
Hole my ham, l reckon it's time l saiG
somethin' to yo'. l doan' hole no spite
agen yo', Seth. 1t waur hard to los,
the dumb critter / raised like baby,
but reckon yu're sorry. I'm a-goin
somewhar an l amt better'n yo', Seth
Give me yo' han'-mine's stun cole"
That was their parting. Seth helt
the stone-cold hand till the stars hat
paled in the morning sky, and a grea
whitelight shone down the wide chin
ney and settled on the still face on the
bed. He had heard that unearthly
howl at intervals all night outside tn,
door, but it was silent now. Seth stepped
to the door and opened it and some
thing lay there close to it. somethin,
that did not move, stretched out stif
and stark. Yes, it was Kaintuck. H,
had found the way home at last-Mrs
M. L. Ray ne, in Detroit Free Press.