The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-02-04
fcon,lnued from first Page

n we're going TO begin TO case VI
purity soon. We've been kid a.
plannin' trip back la her folks allie
the fall plonghin's do ie.n
Eggs actly 80 said Butler, wiz
: wss evidently thinking of some
+. thing else. al suppose you've Kline
: o. kalklsted On staying here thre'
years more:''
: .'WciI, e.. Fac; Is, think CT
buy the farm this fall, IL you'll give
: me a reasonable show"
, "Um--m. What do you call 8
reasonable show"
! "Waal; say quarter do"n aud
three years. time"
Butler looked at the huge stack
of wheat which filed the yard, over
which the chickens were fluttaring
and crawling, catching grasshoppers,
. and out OF which the crickets Were
singing innumerably. He smiled
In peculiar way as he said, "Oh,
| won't be hard on yer. But what
! did you expect to pay fr the place.
"Why, about what you offered ii
for before, two thousand five hun
dred, or possibly the three thousand
dollars" he added quickly, ~ he
saw the owner shake hi. head.
This farm is worth five thousand
and five hundred dollars" bald But
Ter, IL careless but decided voice.
What" almos: SIN licked the
astounded Haskins. whats that?
Five thousand: Why, that's dou-
BILE what you offered it for three
years ago.
"Of course; and it's worth 1t. II
was all run down then; now it's in
good shape. You've laid out fifteen
hundred dollars in improvements,
according to your own story"
"But you had nothing to do about
that. It's my work and my money!"
You bet it was; but it, my land"
"But what's to pay me for all
my"
"Ain't you had the use of 'em %
/ replied Butler, smiling calmly into
| his face.
Ha'kins WIS like man struck on
the head with a sand bag; lie couldn't
think; he stammered as he tried to
say: "But-I never ID git the
uSe--Gou'd rob ue. More'n that:
you agreed-you promised that /
could buy or rent at The end of three
years att
That's all right. But 1 didn't
say l. let you carry off the improve
ments, nor that I'd go no renting
the farm at two-fifty. The land is
doubled in value, it don't matter
now; 1t don't enter il to the question;
ana now you can pay me FIVE hun
urea dollar a year rent, or take it
on your own terms at fifty. five
hundred, or-git o t."
lie was turning away when Has.
klhs, the Sweat pouring from his |
lace, fronted him, saying again ::
"But you've done no; hing to make
1t so. You hain't aided a cent. | |
put 1t all there myself, expecting to |
Guy. l worked and sweat to i'm
prove it. l was working for myself
and babes-n
"#ell, why didn't you buy when
offered to sell? What y kickin' about,'
=. I'm kiskln' about payin' You twice
my own things my own fences, my
own Kitchen, my own garden"
Butter laughed. You're too green T.
eat, young Teller. Your improvements
Inc law will sing another tune"
b at trusted your work"
Nev,r trust anybody, nv friend.
Besides, didn't promise not to do this
ching. Why, mar, don't look at me
IKE that, Don't take me for thief
los ths law The s'Iar thing. Every
body does IT,"
II don't care if 'hey do. It's .tsalino
Jest the same. You take three thou.
.and dollars OF my money. The work
D my hsnts snd my wife's." he broke
lo@n At this point. Re was no a STRONG
nsn mentally He c,uld face bardsbin
3 ase,' So toll, but he could face the cold {
ND sneer' ing face of Batter.
Bat DONE take It," said R,,,er
;oo!iy. All you've got TO do is to 90
% j. st as you've been a doin', or or give ,
z.e a 'hou'and dollars dowr, ami a
mortgage at tea per cent on the ress.p
hlskins sat down blindly on a bundle
Il cats near by, and with staring e,es
shu d:ooplng head went went over the
ltuatlon. He was under the lion, nav
he ielt horrible numbness in his heart a
ma limbs. He Was hid in a mist. and a
i'i~ "as Lo II II CUT h
Is itler walked about, looking at the G
luy' stacks OF grain. and pulling nsw d
'nd again few handfuls ou., Smelling d
no heads In his hands and blowing the
20 IL away. he hunmed a little tune
8 he dill so He hsd an accom- modat.
1g air of waiting.
ha> klns Wss in the midst of the terri. y :.
lie toll OF the last year, He was walk. q
us again in the rain and be mud be y
ind his plough. be felt thu dust and 9;
irt or The threshing TIE ferccicus :,
usklng time, with its cutting wind and -,
itlng, cllnging SHOWS, lay hard mon i
i'm. Then be thought of his wife. Cow :,
heerfully cooked and baked, without a.
ollday ard without rest ~ ~
Wei, what do you think of il p, g,
a1nired the cool, hooking, insinuatinp ~
olce of Butler Oh
Il think you're thief and liar D
nouted Haskins. leaping mp "a black. !.
esr'e:t hcun' ~ Buffers smile mad -:
ened him; with sudden lean he u,
aught fork Ia his has ds and vbirled aee
IN the air. "rou'll never rob an. VI
Their mar, damn ye ~ he grated through ~ ~
Is teeth, look Of pitilesa ferccitv in u, III
is accusiDg eyes, III
Butler shrank and qaivered, expect. w y.
lg the blow; stood, held hypnotic Sd n na
J the eyes of the man be had a moment Pc
esore deSpised-a man transformed in. " u,
an avengipg demon But in tbs ~
eadIy hi.sh between the lift Of the was ~
On and its fall there came rush of :"
lit, childish laughter, and then ac-oss ~,
e range of his vision. far away and ~
10, ne saw The sun bright head OF his ~ ~
10y girl, as, with the pretty tottering s pe
IN OF a tsc-year-old, che nayed acros,
g grass of the doe-yard. His hands W.
iaxsd the fork fell to the ground
s head lowered.
Make out y'r deed an moreige. an,
OF n my land, an don't We never
Oas my line a1in IL ", da 11Il Ii. on'