Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-01

Chouchoute hardly knew what he was
pursuing so madly. 1t was rather some
thing that drove him-fear, hope, des-
peration.
He was rushing to the station. because
it seemed to him. naturally, the first
thing to do. There was the faint hope
that his own horse had broken rein and
gone there Of his own accord; but such
hope was almost lost in wretched con-
viction that had seized him the instant
he saw "Gustave the thief" among the
men gathered at Gros Icons
"Heil hei, Bon-a-rein!"
The lights of the railway station were
cleaning ahead, and Chouchoute's hot
ride was almost at an end.
With sudden and strange perversity
of purpose Chouchoute. as he drew closer
upon the station, slackened his horses
speed. A low fence was in his way.
Not long before he would have cleared
it at a bound-for Bon-a-rien could do
such things. Now he cantered easily to
the end of it to so through the gate.
His courage was growing faint and
his heart sinking within him as he drew
nearer and nearer.
He dismounted, and holding the pony
by the name approached with some
trepidation the young station master,
who was taking note of some freight
that had been deposited near the tracks.
"Mr. Hudson" faltered Chouchoute,
did you see my pony 'roun yere any
where? an-an the mail sack?"
Your pony's safe in the woods,
Chou'te. The mail bags on its way to
New Orleans"-
THANK God" breathed the boy.
But that poor little black fellow of
yours has about done it for himself,
guess"
"Wash7 Oh, Mr.. Hudsonl watts
watts happen to Wash?"
Hes inside there. on my mattress.
He's hurt, and he's hurt bad; that's
what's the matter. You see the 10:45
train had come in, and she didn't
make much of stop; she was just
pushing out when, bless me! if that little
chap of yours didn't come tearing along
on Spunky as if Old Harry was behind
him.
"You know how No. % can pull at the
start; and there was that little imp
keeping abreast of her most under the
things wheels
81 shouted at him. | couldn't make
out what he was up to, when blamed if
he didn't pitch the mail bag clean into
the cart Buffalo Bill couldn't have done
it neater.
"Then Spunky. she SHE'D; and Wash
he bounced against the side of that car
and back, like rubber ball, and laid in
the ditch till we carried him inside.
I've wired down the road for DIR.
Campbell to come up on No. IA and do
what he can for him"
Hudson had related these events to
the distracted boy while they made their
way toward the house.
Inside, upon a low pallet, lay the little
negro. breathing heavily, his black face
pinched and ashen with approaching
death. He had wanted no one to touch
him further than to lay him upon the
bed.
The few men and colored women gath
cred in the room were looking upon him
with pity mingled with curiosity.
When he saw Chouchoute he closed
his eyes. and shiver passed through his
small frame. Those about him thought
he was dead. Chouchoute knelt, chok-
ing, at his side and held his hand.
"Oh, Wash, Wash! Wat you did that
for? Wat made you, Wash?"
''Marse Chouchoute," the boy whis-
pered, so low that no one could hear him
but his friend, II was gwine long de
big road, pas Marse Gros Icons, an !
seed Spunky tied dah wild de mail. Dar
warn't minute-I 'clar', Marse Chou
choute, dar warn't minute-to fotch
you. Wat makes my head tu'n 'roun
dat awayY
"Neva mine, Wash; keep still; don't
you try to talk" entreated Chouchoute.
"You amt mad, Marse Chouchoute?"
The lad could only answer with a
hand pressure.
"Dar warn't a minute, so gifts top o
Spunky-l neva seed nuttin cl'ar deroad
like dat. | come long side-de train
an fling de sack. | seed i'm kotch it,
and don't know nuttin mo- 'cep' mis'ry,
till | see you a-comin trough de do.
Mebby Nine Armand know somepin,"
he murmured family, swat gwine make
my-head quit tu'nin round that away
boun to git well; case who-gwine-
watch Marse - Chouchoute?" = Kate
Chopin in Youths Companion.