The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-08-13

matics" and the cool autumn nights.
81 heard when | was in town that it
were likely enough as Kenney'd be let off
on account of his trial bein' put off so long,
and heer 'em say eff man was KEEP in
prison, say two year or a matter of that
Sort and hadn't had no trial, the law let
him 90, casin' he had been punished enough
with the prisonment. Punished enough
punished enough!'' he cried, "twenty year
in prison wouldn't be enough. Why, man
alive, twas murder-murder and of a
helpless woman A whte-liyered scound-
rel as he is! A cowardly devil Bad
enough eff he had murdered man-worse
for weakly woman. Blood for blood
l say. The Good Book says that plain. y
Mr.. Scruggs had emphasized his remarks
with the corn-shucker which he held. II
was primitive affair, consisting of cylin-
drical piece of wood pointed at one end,
an inch in diameter, and about as long as
a mans hand A leather string fastened
at the upper end and two inches from the
point at the lower end, loose enough for
the hand to pass through, completed the
instruetment, which was universally used
and which served its purpose.
Twice surly Bill had tried to interrupt
the speaker. The subject was plainly dis
tasteful to him. Was it that he did not
like his tender Tidy to hear such "blood
and-thunder" speeches, or was he the
friend of Kenney the murderer? But
Mr.. Scruggs was not to be stopped, for he
was leader of his class, and his audience
generally was attentive.
"What L say bout the lynch-law," he
continued, 'is 'cordin' to reason, pears to
me- Eff the evidence pints to one man as
the one that did the deed, and the lawyers
jes' put off and put off the case, SO they
can say he done had his punishment by
waitin' in jail so long, then law amt no
count, and | say the people oughter take
matters into their own hands and lynch
the man. That's what the Good Book
means, take it, when it says. Be a law
unto yourselves Law amt justice, many
time, to my thinkin'"
"Why, pa" said good-natured Mrs.
Scruggs, anybody might think you was
that blood-thiristy to hear how you talk,
and you is the kind heartedest man aud
the most peaceablest ever l see. You
wouldn't kill fly for meanness.'
"Youre right, wife, but | amt got no
kind-heartedness nor nothin' good for that
man Kenney He didn't had no kind
heartedness for the poor woman he kilt,
sho's you're born. Ef l could get at him
he wouldn't stand no chance with me- |
amt got no maudlin pity for any murderer
| ever hearn on.
"Go long and set down, pa, and git long
out the way. I sho'ly will hit you wild
one of these corn-ears eff you don't mind.
I been adodging' you ever sence you come
round here How can anybody work ?"
Thus exhorted by his consort, Mr..
Scruggs moved out of the range of the fly
ing ears of corn, and after few moments
returned to his work.
As the night wore on the clicking of the
white cron as it flew from the busy hands
marked the seconds and half seconds.
Rough Jokes went round, and many comic
and love songs were sung. After the last
song there fell silence for several mo-
ments, except for the rustling shucks and
the clicking corn. Presently the voice of
Selaney Spicer, Bill Sprouse's right-hand
neighor, was heard. She was a spinster,
tall, thin, and wiry, and she wore a long
black sun-bonnet. Her voice was peculiar.
Clocks jes' like blood ' she said slowly
and sepuchrally, Bill Sprouse started vio-
lenty.
"What ? Where? ?' he muttered huski-
ly. For answer she held up blood-red
ear of corn A moment after he wiped
the cold sweat from his face with his
sleeve
"fhe red ear is sign of weddin'."
cried George Flint. II don't reckon its
your n, Selancy. You'd better give it to
Nancy. Your day is over"
Soon after this the party broke up.
Sim Carver saw Nancy home, and others
selected their companions; but Bill Sprouse
took no notice of Tidy, and with scarce
word he left the place.
1t was 2 clock or more when Bill found
himself on his way home, and yet he loiter-
ed ON the way, stopping to kick the loose
stones in the mountain path, and sitting
long on every worm-fence he had to climb
Once or twice he started as the moonlight
shadows in the bit of wood through which
he passed took living forms to his excited
fancy, and when harmless hare rustled
the leaves besides the path there seemed
small provoeatiop for such deep curses as
he called down upon its defenceless head.
If the old mother was sitting up for him
yet, how weary she must be
Did he not think of her? Yes; he was
thinking Of her; he had thought of her
every step of the way. Amid the shout
ing and the singing and the joking he had
had but one Thought.
His tagging foot steps brought him at
last in sight of the cabin where he lived
with his mother and his brother. There
was no light; the old woman was probably
not sitting up. As he approached nearer
the moon made visible many familiar OBJ