Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-13

Uncle Reuben, while think Uncle Reuben will
never give In until the pistol is fairly in his
nand. VI course We will load with blank car
rldges MY. won't it be Q sight to see those
two old darkies. scared TO death, shaking hands
ana swearing to be eternal friends" and Jack
laughed TN the tears rolled down his cheeks
DO you think you can do il all right
asked Don, who was also laughing at the pic
: .ure orawn 6y his friend, but was little anx-
II to me-"
For the next ten days Jack and Don talked
70 Uncle Remus and Uncle Reuben about
nonor. After long discourse upon that theme
with: 80 you think II dishonorable to associ-
ate with Uncle Reuben, do your
Indeed does, Marse Jack" replied the old
man. well, then. as have told you, ii is far
more siur upon your reputation and eharac-
YER 70 go on in this way. You must fight, and
It is the only thing you can do" And then
JACK explained the art of dueling. while the
poor darby listened with horror-strickeu fea-
lures; Il can only call you honorable when
you tight, Uncle Remus." said Jack.
"Shootin' am de doin OBJ debbirs will" NUT
tered Uncle Remus, but s'pose Use in fur't, :"
and he shivered little at the thought, while
JACK left him that he might give way unheard
10 MS mirth. Uncle Reuben was also prevailed
upon both by Jack and a serious talk by Don
10 70, enter himself as a principal in an .affaire
morning at o'clock in the oak grove at the far
end OF the garden was named, Don and Jack to
provide the weapons
Wednesday morning dawned bright and
warm The birds were twittering cheerily in
the trees by the house, the roses perfumed the
gentle morning breezes, everything seemed
Joyous and gay, except down in the oak grove.
ihere the trees cast cooling shade, the morn
Ing dew gave freshness to the grass and every
thing would have been joyous and gay had it
not been for two figures, which, though per-
fectly silent, lent gloom to all around them.
1t was Uncle Remus. Cold drops of perspira-
One figure, seated upon stump, was motionless.
ton stood upon his forehead, while his chin
rested upon his hands, his elbows supported by
his knees. Once in a while his eyes would roll
toward the blue vault above him and then in
the direction of the house. Misery was de-
picted in every line Of his face and occasionally
his mouth would twitch little.
The other figure, Uncle Reuben, stood re-
Ginning against large tree. A look of deter
mination was family visible upon his ebon
features; but tear trickling down his cheek
betrayed his emotion. which pertained to his
fate rather than being indicative of sorrow. His
position was somewhat limp. and his gaze was
riveted upon the house door in anxious expecta-
ton.
Presently the two boys emerged from the
front entrance. and slowly and solemnly, each
with horse pistol, they approached the COM
6atants. "Deys comm, dey's comm, an de
Lawd hab mussy on ma SOUL" groaned Uncle
kemus. S-s-shut up. yo' brak Niger" NUT
tered Uncle Reuben in what was intended to be
q rebuking growl
The boys, acting in the capacity Of seconds,
arrived just as Uncle Reuben had ceased speak
ing and proceeded in very deliberate manner to
apparently load the pistols. Uncle Remus had
by this time hid his face in his hands. The
seconds now marked off the distance. and, after
taking good look at the ''barkers" told the
w RIM hot tha,,
Come, Uncle Remns, said Jack, his mouth
twitching slightly, here is your pistol. You
must stand there" indicating with his hand
land with your right side facing Uncle
Reuben. When l say three you must fire
straight at him."
Uncle Remus tried to say something, but
could not, SO he took the pistol by the tip end
OF the stock, and, holding it as far from ham as
possible, went to the spot where he was to
stand and shut his eyes tight, muttering
brokenly: Good Lawd, hab m-m- mussy on ma
soul. Good Lawd, h-hab mussy."
Don, Uncle Reuben's second, had likewise
given instructions to that old servant, and
handing him his weapon, told him where and
how to take his stand. Trembling like an
aspen, his teeth chsttering and his eyes stream
ing, Uncle Reuben obeyed. There they stood,
Uncle Remus with his eyes shut, the pistol
pointed toward the ground, Uncle Reuben
holding his shooting iron in both hands, his
eyes rolled upward and his knees knocking
together from fright
The sight was too much for Jack. He ran
OIL short distance, then lay down and rolled
over in the grass. convulsed with silent
laughter. He came back in a moment, and he
and Don cooked the two pistols pointed them
and showed the duelists how to pull the
trigger.
''One." said Jack. sniveling from Uncle
Remus.
Two" said Jack. Groaning from Uncle
Remus
Three" said Jack. Two reports followed
close upon the words and two frightened
darkies were seen running in opposite direc-
tions, but not for long. They were old men,
had been too much for them, and they both.
one but a moment before the other, sank down
exhausted. Don and Jack ran to them and Don,
leaning over Uncle Reuben, said: Are you
hurt. Uncle Reuben?"
.'N-n-no, Marse Don." painted the old darky.
Use not hurt, b-but has l kilt ole Remus? 1
nebber t'ink to hab mu duh on ma soul o
Lawd, 0 Lawd, Use done forgib i'm, Use done
forgib 'im!'
Uncle Remus is all right" answered Don.
II am glad you've como to your senses at last,
and now, Uncle Reuben you must shake hands
with him and be friends or fight again."
''Nebber tech a gun again, nebber p ejacu-
lated Uncle Reuben. Use done forgib i'm
Meanwhile Jack had comforted Uncle Remus
and now the two old fellow servants shook
hands and forgot and fOrgave the past. "Brer
Remus," said Uncle Reuben solemnly, "Tse
sorry TO ma sins; forgib me eff done yo
wrong"
.Brer Reuben" returned Uncle Remus. his
voice still shaky, ''yo' hab done me wrong, ef
yo' t'ink sen Marse wa'buttn toe yo' an
tole i'm yo' done stole de chickns But Use
glad de time am arrove TO we uns toe be frien's.
TO now we can sarve de missus tOgedder, an
when we die, an de time amt fur of. we kin
glib up de ghost-in-peace-an- The
old darby broke down, and Jack and Don were
deeply touched by the display of emotion which
Uncle Remus manifested at the reunion lust
effected, and Uncle Reuben, locking his arm
within that OF his companion, gently led him
toward the quarters, saying, Come Brer Re-
mus, les go an tell de missus dat we'se
brers onct agin, an ask eff she won't disrecko-
member our FUSS knows Use done yo' mean.
an Use sorry. Come"
The same grove, with the same dew upon the
same grass. was, after breakfast, the scene of
quite different transaction from that which
had occurred before the morning meal. True.
there was at both times an element of friend
ship pervading the events of the morning, but
on the first occasion there were four actors In
the drama and hate had turned to friendship.
while on the second occasion but two partici-
had turned to love, accompanied by actions
suitable to such acknowledgment, was the
theme. Then, again, the time occupied by tho
drama before breakfast could not have much
exceeded half an hour, while fully two hours
had elapsed before the grove became silent and
the actors in the little after breakfast had
emerged from its pleasant shade.
why didn't you let me tell you how much I
loved you the other day?" asked Jack after a