San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-05-31
ONE SIDE OF A TALK.


put away early, we gathered around the
fire, each of us in chosen coy corner,
for long, quiet evening, listening to
the wind and the surf, half looking for
a shipwrecked crew to come us, when
brisk footsteps sounded outside and our
friend Robinson Crusoe bounded in,
leather jacket and fishing boots dripping
with rain and salt spray, his cheeks
glowing and his black eyes swapping
with fun.
We all started up with the same quick
question of what was the matter, fancy
ing all sorts of mishaps to his lighthouse
or his dory to account for his appear
ance in the storm and darkness from the
farther side of the always rough chan
mel But he seated himself serenely near
the door, merely saying by way of an
swer: "Well, how's things over your
way? Thank you, marin, won't come
no nearer the fire; Ill set RI down here
with my boots, SOS not to mus yer floor
mp none," hanging his. sleek wet fur
cap on his knee to drip and to dry.
THAT plaguy dory of mine. she leaks
like thunder Dunno how she'll stand
it. laying to your wharf in this way c.
the wind, while set. But | guess she
won't damage none but what | can git
acrost in her. 'Tain't only a couple
O miles anyway"
His shaggy black hair dried in
tangle as he talked, smoothed down
from time to time by hand sent aloft
when not fidgeting with his buttons. or
the chair, or his cap.
81 dunno how my man Friday'll get
along while I'm gone. He's kinder scat
o. that leetle tower O mine, an don't he
hate wuss'n pison havin me gone! By
thunder! But eff he amt old ernuf ter
stay alone nights awhile I'll tell him he'd
better be gettin him another job. Lordl
he's forty-one, an me goin on twenty-five!
An | amt scat Oh, he's big fool!
It's his watch till IL tonight. anyway,
an he can make the old gal go well
enough if he's mind to an don't go ter
dickerin with the machinery"
There was a. shade of anxiety in his
tone; he rose and tiptoed heavily to the
window, peering out to catch a glimpse
of his faraway light.
There she goes" he said. "She's all
right Red, ten: white, five: oh, guess
the old boy knows what he's about, but
he's such an old fool, really, he don't
know half the time which side his breads
buttered."
Sitting down again he stretched one
Io1< ont x.,1sla ha lramual mn from tho
depths of his trousers pocket letter
wrapped in newspaper.
81 come over to see if could borry q
postage stamp" he said; then suddenly
laughed aloud at his thoughts.
a. "Jim's so scat | didn't say a darned
&6Taa how | was comm off after supper. |
Jest set him washin dishes, and that
takes all the mind he's got, an snuck
out an let the dory fly; an when she
struck the water he come a-bustin out
the door on deck; thinks I'd fell over
board, We know; and sings out, pullin
out from the tower, an the wind blow
in-I says, 'Goodby, Jim,' says |, I'm
goin ter leave yer now;' an my Lord! he
stomped int the entry and slammed
the door to. Choking mad, he was. Ny
Lordl guess he hain't got over a-cussin
yeti Allus says when do somethin out
o. common, says he, 'Deuced tomfool.
cry says he:" and Crusoe buffeted hi:
cap in tumult of boyish glee.
when git back he'll be awful glad
but he amt a-goin ter let on, mind; hC
thinks hain't got but half an eye, any
how, an amt never up to his tricks
But / know him, sir-marm, like book
He'll let me haul the old dory up singl,
handed an think he's takin his spite on
that way, but, good Lord! kin run al
round him, as fur as tricks goes. Why
it don't take more mind than I've got il
my collar button to git 'roun ole Friday
Don't mean no reel harm, nor | dom
never RELY hurt him, but he is SIGH al
old fool like to hector him some. Z
it blows hat a puff o wind he's scat e
the tower tumblin down.
THAT night it bowed so-it's tw
weeks come next Monday-I tell yer tn
old gal shook, an that's fack. But, IN
gracious! she's as tight as the hair o.
yer head, an don't scare Inc none. Blu
when we was to supper, an the seas wa
a-bangin an sa-bustin on her, and tn
dishes a-rattlin, jest hit the table leg
clip an says solemn ter Jim, says, jim
we're goner' an he up an down a-pray
in. oh, what'l we do? says he. An
says, 'Jim,' says |, 'mebbe she'll fall {
landward,' says, an by gosh! WASH
he mad when he ketched on!
81 ben washin today. Did yer see IN
washin out7 Washed and ironed san
day. See my shirt? Amt it cleal
Can't | wash goodY" he asked bright