Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-05-16

making good Dluh, Mister Editor.
IIoss stealim' In them days was death
on the SPOT. lie snew..we war on him.
His offer would well pay for the
LroSea-,own hoss, and no war a.
banam' that his money would pull
him through. liut, yer see, he didn't
know Mcconnell. Mac had been capn
nj the visiants back in 60, up In Their
BASIN, anu had a name ter keep white.
lie just smiled ut the mans innoccnce.
That's straight blind o your'n pard,
IN 1t stands us TO come In, but we're
thar an hold you over. You look a
lcctlc mite played out, as well as yer
mare. II you'll Jest get down an jine
our little party, it'll stretch yer legs,
an mcbbc ye need stretchin' all over.
lie got little white under the
gills, but slid down without word.
We followed suit, md Agnew threw
over his head Q noose an passin' the
other end over limb Of that lone old
tree, nodded that things war ready,
THAT young fellow was game ter
the last. Never moved muscle.
Seemed kinder like u shame. Neon
nell wcntup to him and said;
"'Now, pard, is everything all right2
Does 1t fit your neck accordin' to
Hoyle?'
"'All right
Have you anything to say why
this ere little picnic shouldn't pro-
cecd?"
'Nothin.'
Have We got any word ter leave to
yer friends? lfye have, make 1t short,
fur we're goin' to break camp inside cr
ten minutes.
"That young Teller took his eyes off
bit OF sate brush fur the FIRST time
and looked us straight In the eyes,
His eyes war blue. took notice of
that, an hi, face was clean and kind
Of pure loolsi Ike didn't seem to I've
takin' much interest in what war goin'
on round him, Kinder had Il fnr-awny,
talkin'-tcr.thc.anscls look Made me
feel as though | didn't count nohow.
Kept thinliin' of something learnt in
Sunday school In Missouri when
warn't bigger nor that basket o
papers. Then he came to- an DRAWN
crulnplcd letter from his pocket,
spoke with kinder trembIe In his
voice,
F" Perhaps you are better scholar
nor be- II you'll jest read that an
be kind cnut to answer II, III tell yer
what ter say.
"McConncll had already passed the
coil Of rope to lin Afnew and he had
drawn 1t tant. He took the letter, an,
as we hung around kinder curious Hike,
he opened It an read out loud.
",.rpwAH. Ga, Jan IL, 1874 My Dear Son
James i'or Ion. worry months have waited
wv - VIZ ii'''' WV niuNu 1uul lttbt tNllT lVIlVI
toyo'r Old mother God llcss YOU, James
mad answt my prayers, that THIS letter may
reach you, thanking YOU Tor yourcycr thousht-
iul caro- for me In my old sse l,nt once moro
TO look In your dear faco und feel that my
haly boy vai nc.r mt would cher ny old
h IT marc than 10 possess I'll the roid III
ID No Whoa aro ynu cuainr haia,, YOU
promised me iht ia the spring on wonld
cone &C; to me. May the eooi God watch
over md prosper you and return my dear boy
TO my old nrlls before die irum yuAr loving
'MuTHpI,
Joe paused and looked vucuntly up
at the ceiling, His eye followed the
drunken Cyratlons Of the yellow wasp
The heavy rumble Of the greatcylmdcr
warned me that the outside pages were
going to press and that more copy
would soon be needed. Still | waited
In silence.
THAT letter did the business.
"McC onncll had had a good cdication
back In Michigan, ind he commenced
In II strong, clear voice, but aforc til.
closing words war out, N war all we
could do ter hear his voice. Yes sir nn
my eyes got weaker nor Il sick hcifcrs.
Factl The rope slackened until it fell
from the hands Of Jim Agncw mud as
the breath Of the mornin' came l.rush.
in through the leaves Of that old tree.
md long shafts o sunlight kinder pros
pcctcd down through the opening
boushs, somcway, my old throat cave
In like an J went ter thinkin' q long,
sunny days on the banks Of the Mis-
souri,, OF my old dorg, an Nv little
sister with eyes jest like this fcler's,
an Of my old NANNY an how she
taught inc to pray. Couldn't help 1t,
Mr.. Editor, but borrowin' n hoss an |
Robin " stage didn't seem big
enough thing to string that boy up fur,
an break his old mothers heart.
Guess Mcconnell war thinkin' o tho
the same why, fur he kind Of revemnt-
ly like folded up that soiled bit o pa
per ind handed 1t to Its owner, an
without word slipped the moose from
his neck, an then In tones as gentle as
a mothers asked
War ye goin' home, strangcr2'
"'Yes.'
'Good-byr
1.-THE boy didn't dare to trust his
voice In thanks knew how he felt.
but he drew from his belt u small bag
OF twentics an offered It to Mac
'llossN
" No, take her an --good.by."
"lIe mounted the mare, while we sot
an watched him out Of sight, an then
like pack o starved coyotes, turned
and silently sneuicd for Boise.
Court was adjourned, verde eot
aside" lie concluded, while | leaned
back, my mind filed with the dramatic
rehearsal,
swell, so long, old man; I'm of,
and the rough old Jehu shuicd out Of
the room all unmindtul Of either the
moral or the artistic pointsof his story.
Overland Monthly.
Love nee Is no definition Men and