Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1895-04-25

ihuV u SUrdiBnt DINO U your ii, pdrui
an it stands us to come in, but we're
thar an hold you over. You look d
leetle mite played out, as well as yer
mare. If you'll jest get down an jine
our little party, it'll stretch yer legs
an mebbe ye need stretchin' all over.
"He got little white under the
gills, but slid down without a word.
We followed suit, and Agnew threw
over his head a moose, 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 shame. McCon.
nell went up to him and said
"'Now, pard, is everything all right9
Does 1t fit your neck saceordin' to
Hoyle?
"'All right
Have you anything to say why
this ere little picnic shouldn't pro
ceed?"
"'Nothin'.' fa4 N1rtJ fa
"'Have ye got any word ter leave to
yer friends? If We have, make it short,
fur we're goin' to break camp inside er
ten minutes
THAT young feller took his eyes off
a bit of sage brush fur the first time
and looked us straight in the eyes.
His eyes war blue. l took notice OF
that, an his face was clean and kind
of pure loolli n. He didn't seem to be
takin' much interest in what war goin'
on round him. Kinder had far-away,
talkin kin-ter-the-angels look Made me
feel as though l didn't count nohow.
Kept thinlSin' of something learnt in
Sunday school in Missouri when l
warn't bigger nor that basket O.
papers. Then he came to, an drawin'
crumpled letter from his pocket,
spoke with kinder tremble in his
voice:
Perhaps you are a better scholar
nor be. If you'll jest read that an
be kind enuf to answer it, I'll tell yer
what ter say
Mcconnell had already passed the
coil of rope to Jim Agnew and he had
drawn it taut He took the letter, an,
as we hung around kinder curious like,
he opened it an read out loud:
"ETowAH, Ca, Jan. 18, 1874 My Dear Son
James: For long weary months have waited
for news from you, since your last dear letter
to your old mother. God bless you, James,
and answer my prayers, that this letter may
reach you, thanking you for your ever thought
f,,l fo,-t IN, oil n,,t1
to look In your dear face and feel that my
baby boy was near me would cheer my old
heart more than to possess all the gold In
Idaho. When are you coming homer You
promised me that in tho spring you would
como back to me. May the good God watch
over and prosper you and return my dear boy
to my old arms before die. From your loving
"'MoTHER.'"
Joe paused and looked vacantly up
at the ceiling. His eye followed the
drunken gyrations of the yellow wasp.
The heavy rumble of the great cylinder
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.
4hNOOhltCll lltiet lluu ~ ROOt
back in Michigan, and he commenced
in strong, clear voice, but afore the
closing words war out, it war all we
could do ter hear his voice. Yes, sir, an
my eyes got weaker nor a sick heifers.
Fact! The rope slac kened until it fell
from the hands of Jim Agnew, and as
the breath of the mornin' came a-rush-
in through the leaves of that old tree,
and long shafts O. sunlight kinder pros
pected down through the opening
boughs, someway, my old throat caved
in like an l went ter thinkin' o. long,
sunny days ON the banks of the Mis-.
souri,, of my old dorg, an Nv little
sister with eyes jest like this feller's,
an of my old nanny an how she
taught me to pray. Couldn't help 1t,
Mr.. Editor, but borrowin' o hoss an
robbin' stage didn't seem big
enough thing to string that boy up fur,
an break his old mothers heart.
Guess Mcconnell war thinkin' % the
the same way, fur he kind of reverent-
ly like folded up that soiled bit O. pa
per anu udullCQ IL w lOo OWAGls dn
without a word slipped the moose from
his neck, an then in tones as gentle as
a mothers asked:
"'War ye goin' home, stranger%
"'Yesp
'Good-byp
"The boy didn't dare to trust his
voice in thanks. knew how he felt,
but he drew from his belt small bag
of twenties an offered it to Mac.
"'Hossp
"'No, take her, an'-good-by."
'IIe mounted the mare, while we sot
an watched him out of sight, an then
like pack O. starved coyotes, turned
and silently sneaked for Boise.
Court was adjourned, verdic' sot
aside" he concluded, while leaned
back, my mind filed with the dramatic
rehearsal.
swell, SO long, old man; I'm off,
and the rough old Jehu shu filed out OF
the room, all unmindful of either the
mo- >tbe artistic points of his story.
~ Monthly.
needs no definition Men and