Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-05-15

inn Jim crouching in the corner.
.'stranger," said Turley, "this yer is a
family matter. If you are for Magee, say
the word.
"Fatherl" cried jim, hobbling to the
front and grasping his fathers arm.
"You here, eh?" said the father. "I'll
mind this, boy, when I get you homer
80 fatherl" cried the boy, 'shave you
forgot the man who nursed you through
the smallpox, winter before last, down
at the log camps3 Cause, if you have, I
have not. Look at himl You shall not
-"
Turley and his companions had cov-
ered the two men in the cabin with their
rifles but now Turley fell back a step,
staring at the young preacher.
"WhatG" he exclaimed, cit can't be
the same-and yet you favor him might
ily."
"Jim is right" said Lamb. ''I should
have visited you, but l am Magee's
cousin, and seeing the state of feeling
between you all, waited to see what
could be done"
Turley turned to his companions.
"He's right, boys" said he. "Tknow
him now. If he sn't kin to the Ma
cees. I'd fight for him anywhere in the
world. I reckon I owe him my life, for
he stood by me when every one else run
from me. can't touch Wash, with him
standing by. So our jobs up-for to-
night, boys"
The men grumbled, yet seemed to
assent. Wash Magee stood silent, watch
ing Turley, with his finger upon the
trigger of his rife.
Suddenly Cripple jim spraug forward
on his crutch.
"Father," he SAID, "now you and
Wash must shake hands. I know ye
both
''Here you are again." Turley inter
rupted, not sorry to find some one on
whom to vent the disappointment he
really felt. "Always a-meddlin' !"
He pushed the boy away so savagely
that jim dropped his crutch, and was
caught by Lamb, who whispered in his
ear, "Stay with me until your father
gets over this"
Turley and his friends were now leav-
ing, and jim seized his crutch.
"No-no," he said, "I must 60. 7
can't leave father He'll be sorry for
this, when he gets sober-for they've
been drinking! all of EN-"
"But you are worn out. You can't
walk so far. You look feverish.
'Ill make cut to get home, reckon. "
The last the parson saw of him he was
nobbling hurriedly down the trail after
the others.
In the morning, when Turley called
his son, Cripple jim did not answer.
The father had made the fire. Jim's
usual task was to "put on" the break
fast. In the night Huse thought he had
heard the boy moaning, as if in pain,
but half-stupefed himself, he had paid
no attention.
Jack Hardy was with them, though
the other men had gone to their homes.
Turley walked over to Jim's bed and
shook him, but the lads arm fell back
limp, and his flesh felt cold and clammy.
His ewes were half closed, and the pupils
unnaturally set and staring.
The father uttered an exclamation.
Was his feeble, derided, sensitive, yet
always loving boy, his only child, was
he leaving him foreverl
He felt sudden horror, as if he had
found himself his sons murderer. lie
sank on his knees beside the bed.
go" he said to Hardy, "fetch some
one herel Jim's taken bad. Don't stand
therel Don't you see my poor boy is a.
dyin'l"
The man left the cabin at a run.
Turlev raised the boy in his arms, and
rocked him to and fro. He had never
realized the strong ties of nature until
now-now when to feel them was
agony.
Minutes that seemed hours passed be-
fore Hardy returned with two men,
Parson Lamb and Wash Magee.
"They was the fust seed" Hardy
said, apologetically, to Huse, VINO looKeo
at them entreatingly. There was no
epmity in his heart then against any liv-
ing man.
"Can you do suthin' for him| he
asked, as Mr. Lamb felt the lads pulse
and carefully examined him.
nHe has had a congestive chill, l
think" said Lamb. at was probably
brought on by overexertion and expo
sure. They are dangerous, but not al
ways fatal"
Then he busted himself like one who
knew what he was about, while the
father watched him as if life hung upon
his every movement. Magee surveyed
his old enemy with softening features.
At last Jim's breathing grew regular,
his lips lost their purplish hue, his skin
...r, or and his ewes Opened.