The Washington times., 1895-04-21

and twice ere Silas reached the house the
jug was slightly diminished in weight As
ne neared the gateway his eyes caught
strange sound. He stopped, threw up his
head. and listened IL was a fiddle that
he heard, aud the tune vas a rapid and riot
ouE one. In an almost frightened whisper
he exclaimed:
'sho's you bawn, Mahs Dan gwine to
fall frun grace en- 90 on q bus"
AS soon as Silas entered the room his
master noticed that the secret OF the jug had
been discovered, but he Gid not reprimazd
the messenger. Ho had provided q glass
and some W ater for himself, Snd EithoutaDy
ado be took liberal drink OF grog, which
silss, with Unaffected interest IN the dark
landscape without pretsndedn nottosee. Then
Mr. Tucker handed Silas a jorum, saying as
be cid SO, with little chuckle:
Give me toast, Silas."
Yes, Cuh," said Silas, "de Eame ole
'toss',' kahs Dan. what / used TO give yin,
Heah's q belf TO tho redbird,
Likewise TO the wreu-
Peace 10 de Wimmen,
En- heaven to de men, sub -
Even before Silas had swallowed his
forum, MI Tucker, still lightly chuckling
had began TO finger the strings and the
air OF Money Musk was family twit-
tering from the bow As il suddenly over
mastered by the conjuring tune, he threw
himself in a chair and began 10 play with
vigor. Silas dropped his cid hat in cor
uer or the rom and moved about neTvously.
''Ah, you old rascalI" said his master,
pausins TO key up his E, 4 know what
you want. You want Charleston Gals a."
Hush, Nshs Dan, fun goodness FAKE.
Ef you wuZ TO strike up dat old chune, /
shoty would have TO shake dis foot"
Mr.. Tucker unused awhile, gazing into
the fire and softly picking the air OF
Charleston Gals" Then he dreamiIy
helped hiEiEelf 10 another drink and re-
sumed the bow.
Dance 8 little If you wish to, snas,"
he gently said. Before he had played dozen
notes old 8ilss began TO a1incs some steps,
and before he had reached dA cspo silaS
was in full swing his master snlilingly
approving the agility OF his capers The
fire seemed TO burn brighter for the music
and the dance. Even the crystal peadeRta
OF the great lamp on tho table siittered
with uHcoRIEloR brillisncy and occasionally
tinkled q chisie. The warmth and the light
OF other days were stealing into Mr..
fuckers veins and eyes and SilAs felt ence
more like young buck.
Alas for the fate of ali Joyl Just at that
moment the door opened and Mrs. Polly
Tucker stood on ths thrsahold, a statue of
dismSy. She had found her aunt away from
home, tbs house ell locked up, and so she
had forthwith returned
Air. fuckers back wss toward the door,
and he continued to ers " the bow in ignor-
ance Of his awful predicament But Silas
saw hiG mistress. And its on. tho awful
duplicity OF q sly old c0sn! Affecting not
to have seen her. in moment his dancing
step WAS changed TO q ssrt OF mouTnfGl
promenade, and as he approached his
master with clsFped hands and upturned
eyes he repr0ached him in q voice Of lSmen-
tation, saying:
how kin you do dat, lIahs Dan? How
kin you reEk you soul, Huh, a-playin' OF dat
wicked fiddle? 'ScuGe nae, my deah mahs-
ten, but mus, / mus baig you to member
70 Eollum premise
What the"
Looking around lfr. Tucker met the eyes
Of hiE wife. SilHS a { the same moment OBJ
served her, and with sn extravssaRt obei-
sRnco precipitStely Elided from tho room.
Dan did rot quail Ender the gaze of his
wife. Instantly all the daredevil OF his an
ceEtral blood came to his assistance. Pre-
facing the fire. and returning the fiddle TO
hiH chin, he said in mock luSubrious
tone, bat without any irreVcrence OF soul:
We viii now have the dOIolosy and be
dismissed'
ButhH audience vss gone. The door was
closed, ard he heard Mrs. fuckers foot
steps going upstaiu.
Slowly rising, be replaced the fiddle and
the bow in the little closet over the high
mantelpiece. After eyeinG the jug some
what Gffectionately for a moment he reso-
lutely SteppcG it up and act ii away. Then
he, too, mounted the EtGirE. His wife did
not Kill him, for his grsvestone, now al
most llesible in the briSrsro bury
ingground at Silver Shoals Church, on
the Y8dkin River, dated at least ten years
after this his last spree" teStifies that
be fell aSlecp peacefully and happily, be-
loved and honored by all who knew him.
Perhaps it was well for Dan Tucker that
he had such a wife.