Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-09-28

"Now," said the host when We had
sat down to the table there Is a billed
rooster We've had him long time,
but fur month or mo- lately | didn't
think he was goin' TO live. lie tuck
suthin' the matter with his throat an
you mout have hearn him cough half Il
mile, but we doctored him up till he
wuz about iittin' TO eat and then killed
him
| had no appetite The girl after
stripping the meat of the wish-bOne,
| held NJ the MISUNDERSTANDING thing
and told me to pull. pulled and Sis
| Jumped up and left the table, but soon
returned and took her place beside me.
After dinner my host said that aS the
creek had not run down | would greatly
oblige him in continuing TO help Sis dig
potatoes. Il would come up an dig
too" he added, "but have got power
of iiddlin' about to DO"
wanted to risk the creek and told
him so. but he would not hear to it.
IVY bless yo' life. said he. you'd git
drowned Sho To-morror mornin' will
be time enough, an in the meantime
Won will be dOin' of me great favor by
helpin' git the potatoes in. Ricollect
that ! don't charge you nothn fur
stayin' here, an bein' upright man you
oughtcr return one favor fur another
was asleep by the time ! touched
the bed that night, and having been too
tired to think just before laying down, |
dreamed of what fool | had been in
accepting any terms offered by the old
man. On the following day | announced
my frmly-fXcd intention of leaving.
The old man profeSSed great aStoniSh
ment. What" said he. ''triile with the
affections of my family an then leave
us in lurch.
could only gasp in establishment.
IVY. you promised to mary Sis
said he.
This staggered me. promised TO
marry her. ] exclaimed.
YES. fur right out thar in the later
patch you lowed that you wanted her
Il did not, sir, | almost yelled.
saw him tuck pistol into his jeans
trousers before we went TO work. ! saw
more than that: saw that should have
to run for my life. | knew that argu-
ment would be without avail, so, with
Shrewd strategy. pretended to be rec
oncilcd. What an awful days work!
was almost dead when night came
went TO bed early. and when the moon
had risen. slipped down stairs. The
old man was snoring. ! would soon
be free The stable was not far away;
would soon be on my horse. Shortly
afterward | stood in a cold perSpiration.
The horse was gone. The dog barked.
| ran down the hill toward the valley
through which flowed the creek that
had caused all my trouble The
valley was there. but where was the
creek? The old fellow had lied TO me.
Travelled all night and until noon the
next day before coming to house.
What a thrill | experienced when rail-
way station arose into view. While
walking up and down the platform. eX-
pecting every moment 10 see my host
and his many kinSmen, saw 4 man sit
ting on the end Of croSS-tie. lie got
up on seeing me, and advancing, said:
Il bet I've had the boss experience Of
any fellow you ever saw. came round
here several days ago to sell fruit trees,
but if ever get out alive I'll join
church and devote the rest OF my life 10
charity. The other day stopped at
hillside house way over yonder, and
the fellow wouldn't charge. me any
thing. but he pretended that | couldn't
get across the creek and made me work
for him and the first thing | knew he
said that | called his girl 'lasses and had
to marry her. He got three days Of
mighty hard work out of mc-but
reckon better be showing on into the
woods. | am afraid he'll find me here
OPIH T. READ.