Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-01-31
INDIAN JULIUS.
BY RUTH RANSOM.

10 tHts cutDIOhc lnVerns' SAID the
tallest and largest of the little group of
horscmen collected at my door.
was not in the least startled or sur
prlsed. Questions like this were an ordi
nary part of my everyday existence. Our
little cabin was the largest of any in the
neighborhood-nor was it in any degree
paatial ut that-and it stood lust at the
fork of the roads, where it was the most
natural thing in the world that sstav
crnF should be located.
Matthew had chosen this particular
spot because of clear little spring TINT
dubbed up i'll the woods close at the
rear, and knot of magnificent madrona
trees, which flung their shadow over our
roof-tree.
a neat little picket-fence, as yet guilt
less Of paint, inclosed our small domain.
and the cinnamon rosc-bushes had
planted were in bloom for the first time,
sweet reminders of the Eastern home We
had left behind us, three years ago.
l sat in the doorway, pulling wild
strawberries rs the three. men rode up,
and answered composcdly.
mo, 1t isn't tavern mt ALL"
'NIr. Pembroke lives here, don't he?n
the man somewhat sharply demanded.
eyes; but it is II private house."
"Couldn't you give me and my men
some dinner, ma6am?"
"Not to-day said 1, succinctlv
'My girl has gone away, and Mr.. Penn
broke is not at home. l am not prepared
for visitors
The mcu exchanged disconnected
glances..
"Then,' said another, tive must keen
on to Grill Station. Is it much furthcr?'
"Ninc miles," SAID I.
as it good road?"
eyes, nearly all the way"
AS | watched them ride away. + Oh
Served with some surprise, that Indian
Julius, u. good nothing rcdslin in the
neighborhood, was riding an extra horse
In the rear, with dirty blanket twisted
around his .lank form No one knew the
,neighborhood better than Indian Julius,
and vague wonder crossed my mind
that, with suelr a guide, they should find
1T necessary to ask u;,;- questions of me.
| knew, however, that Julius was sub
ject to fits of sullcn silence, sometimes
lasting for days together, during which
1t was impossible to get word-good,
bad or indiiferent-out of him. He was
u well known vagabond and skulker in
the neighborhood, and had wife
sold Cleo'-whose reputation was even
more shady than his own.
But he had whitfield out MANY n will
low whistle for our little boy, and
brought nests of birds eggs to the baby,
md somehow I,had soft spot in my
heart for Julius, in spite of his numerous
backslidings and shortcomings.
s'Ncvcr let that old rascal cross the
threshold again." said Matthew to me.
after losing his best white Brahma rooster
once, and learning that Julius and Cleo
had had chicken stew at their shantv
ON the evening of the same day. ''Bask-
cts, indeed! ! And re-caning chair bot
toms! The man ought to be in the peni-
tentiaryi"
So that was surprised, and not par
ticuldrly pleased, in about two hours
time, to see julius come shuffiing back
on foot, with the end of his blanket trail
ing abjectiy in the dust. He paused at
the gateway.
"Pretty flowers" said he, staring at
the cluster of pink cinnamon roses.
'Nice for little pappoosc!"
took no notice. Dinner was just on
the table-a savory rabbit fricassee, with
n strawberry pie, and baked potatoes
bursting out of their jackets I was set
ting little Mat on his high chair, and
tying "A bib around his plump neck, pre-
paratory to the meal.
'sRabbitsmells good" said the Indian.
smiling the air. "Old Julius hungry.
He had 70 breakfast
Little Mat looked imploringly up at
me.
Mother" said he, "givc Old Julius
some dinner, please. Old Julius mcnded
my little cart
Itoolt out a liberal portion of the fric-
assoc, with two or three potatoes and n
monstrous cucumber pickle, such as
knew his soul delighted in, and beck
oned to Julius 10 scat himself on the
doorstep: and there he made such meal
ms only an Indian can, ending with a
huge cantlc OF strawberry pie and a
wedge of cheese big enough for three.
"Now, Julius" said I, "you must
splt me some Hindling wood to pay for
this
Julius's copper colored countcnanco
fell; he drew his hand across his berry
stained mouth.
"AIc split him." said he, resignedly.
ttGiro ,,Sn Iii. 1,o