The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-02-24

alternately. Johanna watched her
brother, claspinR her hands and shud-
dering. When she saw that all the
beasts efforts to release itself were flu
tile. she gave little nervous cry of re-
lief.
"Massy me, N1osev' she exclaimed;
how can we uns Let any sleep with
that there leg a hcldin' to the bed
kiverP''
but she did go to sleep after awhile,
despite the dolorous noises with which
the imprisoned animal testified to it's
dislike of these proceedings. Nose,
however, kept wide awake and watch
full. He was more keenly alive to the
possible perils attaching to SO danger
Gus a neighbour. The dog remained
cowed and subdued.
Morning at length came, when, not"
withstanding Johanna's entreaties,
Nose armed himself with an AK and
and half conquered prisoner. He found,
as he expected, a large panther cling
ing to the wall of the cabin, now deep
ly SCARED by it's claws in vain efforts
to release itself
1t was still furious, though wearied,
and it's eyes shone with a yellow flame.
He dared not approach it closely, so
violent were it's lunges at sight of the
lad; SO. taking Johanna along, they
trudged two miles to Jabe Writings
cabin. Jabe was not at home, but a
long rifle hung over the fireplace.
Carefully loading it, Nose and Johanna
started back. Arriving at their home,
they found the panther good deal as
they had left it, and the dog barking
at the beast with recovered courage.
Now. Jo." said Nose, resting his
gun on the garden fence. Now, 10,
you stand back. I'm agoin' to take
him right ahind the foreshoulder.
See if DON'T
The brute lunged frightfully, utter
ing fierce scream as the ball flew
true, then hung limp and struggling.
Nose reloaded and gave it another
shot, to make sure then; then took off
his hat and gave a youthful imitation
of what afterward was known to fame
as the "Rebel Yell" When his mother
arrived, Nose was quietly sl<inning his
victim, with Johanna watching in dumb
admiration. The bloody spindle and
battered head-Post leaned against the
cabin wall. She looked at her children,
at the dead panther, and finally Mt the
much-valued spindle. Her first words
characterized the contempt of danger
and absence of petty solicitude which
the savage isolations of mountain life
engender ana encourage.
"Good Lord, Mose! she exclaimed.
"Vhat have ye been a-doin' to my
spinnin' wheel?''
while Mrs. Boddle's manner seemed to
divide itself between admiration of
her boys pluck, gratitude at thei,
escape and censure of the reckless
methods pursued an ent the spindle
Finally, after giving each of her chill
dren hug, she de ivered herself judi
cially. as follows:
''If hit weren't that this yere painter
might have ketched the roam heifer as
we uns driv' down the gap, I'd natchel-
~ wear ye both plum out for touchin'
of that there wheel at all!'
''And, gentlemen" concluded old
Nose, cycling the ancient hide affec
tionately, "she was a woman as pint
eddy meant jest what she said. She'd
"a put the wood on me shure. if hadn't
"a had that there painter to show for
nom mil<in' up her spinnin' wheel"
Literally True. -"Your husband
comes home very late, doesn't hep"
asked n prying woman Of her neighbor.
cob no. ma.am. he's ALWAYS In yerY