The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-03-28

Lfldl month. IneY were mol only Wiling.
but anxious to have him stay through the
fall and winter, and do chores for his
board and schooling.
Gan work and no play makes Jack a
dull boy" Farmer Green, being a sensible
man, recognized the truth of this old
saying, and gave Mark one day each week,
'.all to himself" Instead, however, OF
its being all to himself, it was all for
Arthur; for he gave up the entire day to
the amusement of the latter, making for
him kites, balls, bows and arrows, traps,
etc. In fact he worked harder on his
play days than at any other time. Arthur
was constantly singing his praises; he
could out-run, out-swim, out-skate any
boy round. At school he fairly astonished
the teacher by the rapid progress he made.
At Farmer Green's everything about the
barn and sheds was in order; every tool
had place of its own, and was kept in
its place: the cows were sleek; the horses
shone like glass bottles; the woodshed
was piled full of wood, and the wood-box
and water pals were never empty.
Il don't know what I should do with
out him, - said the well-satisied farmer
Hes worth his weight in gold"
Things went along thus pleasantly IN
til the holiday vacation. The day but
one before Christmas, Mr. Green handed
a sealed envelope to Mark, saying: u
want you to take this to Mr.. Perry He
( lives over on the Cherry Valley road,
you know. I'd let you have one of the
horses, but I've got to go to the village
for that load of feed. You'd better put
the letter in your inside coat pocket, for
there's money in it. It's the pay for
that yearling bought. 1 didn't agree to
pay for it till the first of March, but
Perry's Just heard that his daughter in
Ohio Is very sick, and IS going to see
her; consequently, he wants the money
FOR car fare"
Mark placed the letter in his inside
pocket, as directed, and started on his
ecrald, whistling a merry tune. The
farmer went to the village, got his load
of feed, aud returned home and u-loaded
it.
Seems to me its about time Mark
got back. It's almost chore time, " said
Mr.. Green to his wife.
80. maybe ne has met some of his
schooimates On the road, and Is having a
4 play-spell. Boys will be boys. you know"
said the kindhearted Mrs. Green.
At five o'clock Mark had not made his
appearance, and the farmer went out to
milk alone Tain't like him to dilly-
daily when on an errand, he muttered
to himself, as he took down his milking
stool 4 hope he hasn't Egg faBs yY With
being here, but what do I know about
his past record7 I do hope he hasn't
run away. Not that I care so much for
the money, but had learned to like the
boy"
The chores done, the Green family sat
down to supper. All were silent until
the farmer said:
THAT boy had twenty dollars in an
envelope in his inside pocket, and there
can't be any doubt but that he's run
away with it. I'd give another twenty
dollars, cheerfully, if could think other
wise"
'1Iark is honest, father" said Arthur.
''He'n come back all right, see if he
don't. I don't know what, but some
thing has happened to him. 1 know it.
He'll return some day if not tonight,
and clear up the mystery"
~ think so too" said Mrs. Green.
perhaps he has met with an accident.
Hadn't you better drive to Mr.. Perry's in
the morning and see!"
''Yes, I'd 90 tonight if it wasn't so
stormy" replied the farmer.
But when, in the morning, he drove
up to Mr.. Perry's door, he found the
house locked up. The whole family had
gone to Ohio. He inquired at the few
houses on the road between Mr.. Perry's
and his own home, but could hear moth
ing of the missing boy. Sadly, he IN
hitched his horse. firmly convinced ne
had seen the last of Mark and his twenty
dollars
One day about the middle of January,
just as the Greens had set down to din
ner, the kitchen door slowly opened, and
Mark Boomer stepped IN. He was ''as
poor as a crow, as Arthur expressed it;
his eyes and cheeks were hollow, and he
was so weak he could hardly walk. At
tins unexpected apparition, Mrs. Green
arose from her chair so suddenly as to
nearly overturn the table. Arthur ut
tered loud: "Hurrah told you sou
while NJ. Green could only sit and stare
in open-eyed wonder.
"Why, where have you been and
what makes you so thin and palel" asked
the good housewife as she placed pla,e
and cup and saucer for Mark.
give been in the pest-house, and I've
had the smallpox, said the boy.
'When I've had something to eat, I'll
tell you all about it. I'm awful hungry" /
After dinner, Mark toll his story, as
follows:
"AIthough didn't say anything about
it, hadn't been feeling well for some
time before l went away. thought it |
wasn't nothing more than cold until 1
that day went to Mr.. Pery's felt |
sick enough to die before l got half way
there. Ny head and back burned and |
ached, and the trees and houses and /
things looked as though they were Just
spinnin' round. l couldn't think what
was the matter Of me at first, but soon
made up my mind was coming down
with the smallpox. The day before I
went to Mr.. Pery's, Ike Pier told me
that Sam Smith was down with the small
pox and in the pest-house. About a
fortnight before, you remember, Sam and
I worked together in the woods When
that came into my mind knew what was
the matter Of me, and I says to myself,
1T won't never do for me TO 90 back
home and give Arthur tine smallpox.
Weak and sickly as he is, ne would die
sure. I'll Just go to the pest-house and
bear Sam Smith company. managed,
somehow, to get to Mr.. Perey's and give
him tie envelope. told him all about
it, and where I was going, and made him
promise TO tell you; but he was so
frightened, and in such a big hurry to get
rid of me, that don't believe he realized
what ne said
she went West that very day." broke
in the farmer, and got a letter from
him yesterday, in which he says he got