The Opelousas courier., 1893-09-16

But I want to tell ye now before you
string out agin, that you can't have
my gal. I'll die first. You know
when I say anything I mean it. You
are a good-natered sort Nv a cuss-in
fact too good-natered-but you are
not fit ter be a husband, and ye can'1
never hev a gal O NINE"
"Say, ole man, I want you ter iist
up an tell me what you object ter me
SO strong fer"
"Wal, in the fust place. you hain't
got no boss"
IT'S that ALP"
"Noap /, you hain't got no cow"
"Anyth'ng else?"
eyes; ye amt got no goou coon
dog"
"What else?'
"Youw won't never have none. I won't
have a son-in-law that has no boss"
"Wal, 1ookee hur, ole man, you've
got all o them things-more than
you'll ever need. Jist suppose you
give me enough to quaIerfy me ter be-
come yer son-in-law? You've got more
stock than you need?'
std see you dead fustl" spoke the
old mar fercely, as he turned away.
'I'm goin' ter have Polly Ann an
one of your best horses afore two
weeks; I feel it in my bones" shouted
the big, jolly fellow, as the old man
started off.
"You won't" shrieked the old man,
grinding his teeth, and vieiously shak-
ing his fit.
"You'll see, ole man. Hit won't do
fer such fine stock as the Rallins and
I4atimefs not ter mix up in matermony
--er haw, haw, haw, haw!"
. * q =
Late in the afternoon, about dark,
old Toms ''turn o corn" was ground
and he was just shouldering it up,
ready to carry it out to his horse when
Tim came up andAmiling, said:
cold man, let me carry. out your
turn, an put it ON your boss. It's too
heavy for you. I don't want ter see
ye kill yerself up, even if I am goin'
ter marry yer gal an inherit yer prop
erty!"
"You go to the ID" vieously
spoke the old fellow between his Teeth,
as he slowly strained the bag to his
shoulder.
"Wait jist a minite, ole pam"
spoke Tim, laughing, "my turn will
be ready in q minite. I am going
your road, and I'm shore you'll want
good company Besides it's an awful
lonesome road" But the old man
was riding away and he didn't hear
Tins last words.
"Confound that ar Tim!" the old
fellow spoke to himself in amused ve1-
alton. "He beats any teller I ever
seed. He'd tickle q dog to hear him
talk. If he only had o boss I might
give in arter a while, but never, never,
aver shall a gal O. mine throw herself
away by marrying a Teller what amt
got no hoss."
Darkness was now filling the road
and shutting out the view of all
things. Suddenly an owl brawled out
almost Immediately in front at an an.
gle of the road. simultaneously, the
horse, being a spirited animal, leaped
far to one side, and then, oh horrors.
the old fellow felt the horse sinking
rapidly into the ground.
"Myl" he shouted, while he of.
tempted to free himself from the ami.
NAL, he's jumped into that big miery
hole" With these words he made q |
desperate scramble to get away from
the horse, but the frightened animal,
sunk now to his body in the slough,
gave a houndering surge, fell to its
side, catching the old fellows leg, and
rolling the bag of meal off on top of
him. Both horse and man were now
securely fast, unable to move.
The old fellow was almost delirious
with fright. There he was, helplessly
fast in the slough. And to add further |
to his terrors, it was turning colder
every minute. OF course, in such o
place, it was only q question of a few
hours when he must perish. And such
o death! A man, in good health, to
begin to die gradually without being
able to summon a single human being
His hands and feet must first get
Gradually, slowly his blood
must go from the surface, until, finally,
II turns to ice in his heart!
He began to pray, and the lips that
never before had trembled in divine
now became fountains of beg
yihg ~exhortation.
Soon he heard the sounds of q
horses hoofs.
Then, like a lightning fash, broke
On his soul the recollection that Tim
.atimer was to follow him on the same
road. He stopped praying and began
10 shout.
"What'g the matter?" asked Tir>
near. care ye ~repentin', ole
man? Is that what yer prayin' about
-tryin' ter git forgiveness for the way
70 been talkin' ter me? Bully for you,
Die man! knowed you waz goin' ter
flop up all right Git on yer horse, !
ole man, I forgive ye. It's too cold to
be- repentin' down tharl Git up an
DO yer prayin' an shoutin' while We
ride alongl"
':Ah. God bless ye, Tim" cried the
old fellow, in tones between a groan
and q shout. TIN hur in the ole
miery holel"
1.-THE nation you are !" shouted Tim
why, what got ye in the notion tet
git down in such or place az that tel
Vented ter be az humble al
nnas'hIe rackon9 Wa the T,orA