The Portland daily press., 1892-12-13

E EEEEgE Ell H. M sEffqkKRi
"Do YOU know where the Fort Smith
road can be found?'' I asked, plead
ingly.
He looked up innocently and an
swered
Eyes; fust in one place an then in
another"
/ turned away Disguised, and had
not gone far when l heard the old fell
low f3ddling frolicksome tune and l
fancied that it was his way of laughing
at his own drollery.
Believing that I should soon come
upon some unmistaken mark OF clvtliza-
ton and hoping that 1 might then meet
some one civil enough to answer aques-
ton, continued to ride, but evening
came with It's dismal whisperings and
still the forest was trackless. The sun
went down in curdled threat, and soon
dark cloud overspread the sky. l de-
nounced myself in the unmeasured
terms of anger for not having choked
directions out Of that brainless travesty
on human life. Rain, a slow rain that
meant an all-night assignment began
to fall, and was just about to dismount
and feel around for hollow tree when
E saw weak light furnbling it's way
through the gloom. With thrill of
thankfu]ness rode toward it, and soon
coming to sort Of fence halted ana
shouted lusty "helio!'
A door was slowly dragged open. A
mans voice cried:
''Wall?''
"My dear sir, I'm lost and almost
drowned. Have you dog in the
yard?"
"Yas What'll you give me for him?"
''Gracious alive, I don't want him."
"Nuther do l, much"
seBut I do want to get out of this
rain
That's nachul."
Decidedly. VIII the dog bite me If
/ get DOWN."
s'Wall, he mout, as he amt had nuth-
inter eat sense yistidy."
ssBut can'tyyou keep him from biting
me?"
dunno but mout choke him off If
he grabbed holt"
..Look here, didn't see you this af-
ternoon?'
Eyes, reckon you did"
81 thought you were the same man"
$50 did L.
'ssay, is it possible that you are going
to see me ride away In this rain?"
'sDon't believe kin; most too dark. "
ssYou are an internal scoundrel, that's
what you are"
"Well, you mout be maxim up 20
mind too fast. You amt diskivered all
my fine p'ints yit.''
ssAs said once before, didn't be-
lieve that such human being as you
existed on the face of the earth. "
SssWall, Teller KANT allus tell what
he'sagoin' to strike. No man amt so
wise that he mouten't Farm suthin' the
next day"
ssIll try you one more time. May ]
| come into your house?"
.sW'y, O. course. You air puffeckly
welcome" ~
I Jumped down and was soon inside
an and don't know how many chill
dren.
Nov I'll go out and take yo' boss
an feed him, and, nam, you skeer the
stranger up a bit to eat"
They gave me the best they had-in-
deed, they insisted upon my taking the
only bed in the house while they slept
upon the floor. In the morning they
fried me chicken, great culinary
compliment to guest in the backwoods
of the south, and when asked the old
fellow for his bill he looked surprised.
s:W'y, you don't owe me nuthin'," he
said, IAN don't want you ter try ter
make me take nuthin', nuthcr.'
1 thanked him profusely and had
mounted my horse to ride away, when
it occurred to me that had not secured
the direction to the Fort Smith road
ssBy the way" asked, (which direc-
ton did you say it was to the Fort
Smith road?" A.
Didn't say" he answered with his
aggravating drawl.
sAre you going to see me ride off this
way. and that, too, after showing me
such kindness"
s'Hatter see you ride off that way or,
some other, reckin."
An idea struck me and I got down
and went back into the house.
"By the way" asked. chow can I
find the Fort Smith road?''
His manner had undergone COM
plete change. go right out yonder ter
that blasted oak tree, take the path
runnin' ter the right, ride straight
ahead an you'll come to the road"
The crossingsof the threshold meant
aworld of difference to him. Outside
that cabin, all men were the 1cgitimat
prey OF his annoying drollery, but, In
sidegthe house, they were friends whom
he was dclightedgto serve. T1is@s@
a,aT st.ass.... ,s7-sg oprE READ.
vi Il Thanksgiving in the South.
Speaking Of Thanksgiving it is pity
| that it is not more generally observed at