Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-19

! cool 1t; so we went down and climbed into
the penal chariot and fled away toward Jer-
sey with comparatively light hearts.
It was delightful to be under the trees
on the grass, In the pleasant quiet of the
country; to exchange the heat and glare
and WEAKNESS of the city, its pale faces,
heavy eyes, and tired limbs and brains for
the rest and freshness of nature
We would have settled down to biissful
repose, in beautiful shady spot beside a
clear pool, but that Jim, wnO had had the ar
rangement too much On his mind to eat any
breakfast, kept declaring noisily that he
was dying of hunger: that no coyote was
ever torn with the pangs of famine as he
was; and finally prevailed upon us to get
out the lunch before anybody but himself
wanted it.
We nibbled little. then agreed to put the
lunch away and 60 about Oh an exploring
tour to get an appetite. jim, naturally,
didn't feel so restlessly inclined, SO he lay
down on the grass with a book and his
cigarette, and with his hat tipped over his
eyes, to guard the hampers.
know that We were pickickers, wilful,
preIneditated picnickers, and as such fair
sport for the gods. and deserving of no sym
pathy; but when we returned from a long,
rough tramp nearly two hours later. as
hung as Jim had said ne was, to find that
worthy fast asleep, and not crumb of food
In any basket, We We're, none the less, sunk
In despair-even the lovers looked blue.
We reused Jim and told him in tones of
anguish Of the horrible robbery that had
been committed. He sat up sleepily and
said he guessed nothing had been stolen
he gave Teller some stuff; there's plenty
left, l never took thing out of that basket
over there
''No," said Mrs Cameo. almost wildly,
jerking off the lid, there's nothing but
napkins and china and silver in it, except
some wretched picklesr'
''He was hungry, said Jim, land only
gave him a square meal
8 Square meal must be very elastic
term in Texas said Mrs. Cameo.
well ne kept liking things, and l kept
giving them to him. Then he said he had
wife and six children, and | knew they'd
need something"
''And you'd had your dinner" said Mr..
Cameo. morosely.
$50, reckon must have given him
the rest of the cold grub. finished Jim.
Then that punishment which fits the
crime Of picnicking overlook US. We fell
out. There was rancor, there was open re-
elimination and BIT -srness. We forgot our
Christianity. our humanity, our manners;
and were as abusive as picnickers always
are when their fate meets them in what
ever guise it is predestlned tc do-rain, a
fall IN the water, d basket containing the
caH-opener and the corkscrew left at home,
or a wrong road taken by the self-appointed
guide and leader.
Al last Mrs. Cameo said. YEARLY. ssWell
I've got some more of what you call cold
grub az home. tkink we had better go
there and get it. l feel quite weak with
hunger" And we all climbed into the
hated patrol wagon in gloomy silence, and
went back toward home. The lovers looked
wanly into each others eyes as they went |
up over the big, red wheel Jim and Mr.. |
Cameo sat in front. jim driving, while Mrs. |
Cameo and |, In the middle seat looking at
his broad shoulders, exchanged Masonic |
glances expressive of our common hungry |
resentment and anger
We crossed the river, drove through the |
lower part of town. and were going along |
up Eighth avenue when we noticed a noisy |
crowd block or two ahead OF US. The next |
moment there was a Gathering, the sharp |
sounding Of gong, police patrol wagon |
dashed down the avenue, stopped moment |
to take in . disfigured man. protesting !
woman and three or four white-hatted Off !
GERS, turned and drove up the avenue ahead |
of US.
Then it became apparent that we had not |
tasted the full bitterness of the cup ap-
pointed to us. The sight of the speeding |
team ahead was to jim like the smell Of |