The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-11-19
CHAPTER VII.
on THE MOUNTAIN SIDE

like s he gwine clean crazy!"
| CHAPTER VII.
on THE MOUNTAIN SIDE
Somers submitted to the negro without
| speaking. He was plunged in thought
After all, was it worth while to live? Il
we're best to die. Why did he not die
with his wife?
Mister Jer1old, dis is Mars Somers."
Somers looked up to meet the look OF q
middle-aged man he remembered having
met somewhere. Mr.. Jerrold's eyes were
infamed with weeping; his face was
| grimy. He cast penetrating glance up
on Somers, and the words that were
shaped in his mind were unuttered. In
stead, he took Somers by the hand, say
ing:
Come this way, and We will try to get
some clothes for you. There's everything
going to waste: it will keep you from TAX
ing cold"
Directly Mr.. Jerrold stood with Somers
in a group of men, several of whom were
wearing shawls and womens clothes,
freshly donned, evidently. Somers was
handed a pair of cast-off trousers or
o4erallls and flannel shirt. He put
these on mechanically: meanwhile Mr..
Jerrold observed him intently.
"You'ought 10 have something on your
hand"
Somers looked at his right hand. There
was deep cut in it, and the blood was
flowing freely. Until now be had not
noticed it.
And your head-thst is an ugly cash. "
Somers put his hand to his head.
There was 8 great lump on the side Of his
head; blood trickled from it.
1t does net matter" he said.
Mr.. JerroId called another man to him.
aHeavens! 6omers! Are you hurt
much:"
It was Enoeh B1oadkurst spoke. Som
ers shook his head.
"Come-this way" said Broadhurst.
II can't give you much time-I must help
the Fordyces over there. Here!" He
seized q common Eaterpail that was
placed under rude bench that had been
lifted out of the water, and set on the
mountain side. There was small
earthen pitcher on the bench.
Swallow that" said Broadhurst, hand
ing him the pitcher he dipped into the
pail. There was gill of whisky in the
pitcher. Somers did not know what the
pitcher contained until it was at his
mouth. Then he had gulped so much of
it down that it burned his throat.
@Harkess-and you, Jerrold-keep an
eye on him until I return"
Then Broadhurst fastened down to
house in which several people were NOV
ing about, while others on the mountain
side placed boards up to the windows for
the occupants of the house to escape.
This was the work Enoch Broadhurst as
sisted in. When the last member of the
family was gotten out-not without con-
siderable peril to those who aided them
Broadhurst returned to Jerrold and Son.
ers.
1t was plain that Mr.. Jerrold and
Broadhurst were concerned about Som
ers, who looked out on the waste of waters
now like man in dream. A woman,
distraught with grief, passed them at
that moment, bearing the dead body of
child in her arms. Behind her narna
little girl, and next the girl walked man
carrying lame boy. The boy was de-
formed but his expression was angelic.
The father was crying The boy was
trying to comfort his father.
Let me down now, papa" he said
when they came opposite Somers. Il
want to rest. I am tired-and you can
rest too"
The man laid him down gently on the
ground. Then Somers saw that the boys
arm hung limp. He tried to speak to his
father once, twice-a gurgling sound
issued fom his throat, then torrent Of
blood flowed forth. There HGs q single
gasp, then tie 10Y lay motionless. His
life went out in that gasp.
The father clinched his hands and
turned his eyes heevenward with fright
full imprecation. Somers knelt beside
the boy, placed hand on his heart and
stroked his beautiful head Then gush
of tears blinded him. He felt for the
moment as though his hand rested on her
head.
He lifted the dead boy; the father made
no sign, and Somers, who, ten minutes
before was so weak that he staggered, now
felt strong enough to bear the boy further
up the mountain side.
When Enoch Broadhurst sought him,
he found him striving to comfort the dis.
tracted mother Mr.. Jerrold was COM
pelled to turn aside.
You have lost some one, too" said
Somers to Jerold.
God help us all--yes. The apple OF
my eye-my only solace in the world has
gone. My daughter and her babe--ths
Babe that was my pride. Swept away
before I could reach them-and me look
ing on.
Somers reached out hand. Jerrold
,lasped it convulsively, and they wept %"
sether.
Enoch Broadhurst called to Jerrold
| loudly at that moment, waving hand to
a point below him. Jerrold walked to-
ward him, and Somers, after casting an
other look back at the group on the rock
around the dead boy, followed Jerrold.
Mr.. Broadhurst was bending over the
body of a man. He had turned the face
of the dead man upward. When Jerrold
approached, R-oadhurst Strengthened him:
self and waited for Jerrold to speak. 81
Halkess cama forward at tho sama TINA
Poor MIR. Rutledge!" exclaimed Jer.
,old.
YES" said Harkess with shudder,
.dat's Mars Rutledge. He done killed.
See he head"
Il do not find any papers about him
nothing so far by which to identify him,
said Enoch Broadhurst.
Oats Mars Rutledge, Mars Broadhus'
-taint no one else" said ST Rsrkess.
Il thought so. but it is possible to
make mistake"
Il know it is Mr.. Rutledge,' said
Jerrold. See, there is the broken tooth
! yoa hnva noticsd." = -