Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-19
IN DYl OF ~sIHKIT N0UIf'I.'
By HARRY sT1LLwELL EDWARDS.
copyright, 1875, by The Century Company.
Al rights reserved.
CHAPTER III.


"Lah, sakes, Ezekiel. what ails yuh,
boy:'' Again the shadow Of the great
mountain was deepening over the little
cottage when. footsore, bruised, weary
and disconsolatc, Ezekiel Sykes dragged
himself through the open gate and drop
ped his boots upon the floor Of the
porch. his coat beside them. His moth
er's salutation reused him, and he rails
ed quizzical face TO hers-a face which
surely only a mother could have recog-
nized. A faint smile filtered among the
few clearings upon il, dim ghost of
his old smile.
BEN ter tn yam side Of the noun
tin. ma" He sank upon the top step
and rested his chin upon his hand. AN
/ hain't er-torkin much erbout hit ter
night -
The woman checked her second ex-
clamation. She was used TO the young
mans moods, and besides the results Of
the fist and skull fights were perfectly
familiar 10 her in that rough country Of
grcen whisky and exciting elections
But for Ezekiel to come home in these
piping days Of peace bearing evidences
Of having figured on the losing side Of
scrimmagc was altogether novel
Ezekiel" she said, tell yer ma
how hit conner erbout?" Ezekiel elected
n stream Of tobacco juice from between
his swollen lips and wiped them gently
with the back of his hand
"Hit all come nv one subbinder un
ncr thet ar ear; hit was damned whe.
war er-pullin ont er my coat an my
arm hit war sticlin ter tn sleeve. L
tn mount in hitse'f he'd or fell thar hN
'u'd ar BEN erhout ther size er thet ny
lick. But, ma, cook suihin quick. Hit =
ben nigh ontcr two mortul days sence
eat. didn't want nobody or-laughin
at Ezekiel Sykes, an 80 i come honggry
all IN way back.
"Why. sakes erlive, the boy mus be
er-perishin Sit right thar, Ezekiel, All
don't yuh move peg tell git er pono
er bread an CT pot or coffee. y
The good woman hustled of and dis
appeared. While this brief scene wa
cnacting Dorinda stood within the shad-
ows Of her little room. her fingers clasp
ed and eyes set eagerly upon the pair.
Her mothers form had but disappeared
in the kitchen when she glided out and
sank upon her knees at the young man 5
side. her hand upon his shoulder.
IL. u.t-nrs sia ht.f.nflp1
''Lemmc do suthin fur yuhl Are yuh
hurted bad. Zeke?"
He gazcd ut her with his one open
eye full minute before replying. The
look was SO comical, SO utterly foreign
to him. 50 pathetic withal. that she
finally throw her head back and laughed
until the valley seemed 10 swarm with
silycry echoes. Ezekiel blinked wisely
nj her
"D'rindy." he said. ''yuh better
laugh fur two. / ain ekil ter any ter
night.
And so she did Her emotion. which
was deeper than the occasion, ran OF in
laughter that approached the hystericaL
"Oh. Zeker' she gasped "S'posin
thet ar pictur' man he'd er took yuh ter
day." Zeke's queer smile came out
again, gamboled pitifully in the small
clcarings Of his countenance and went
back with suddenness that was gro
tesque.' The girl was still holding her
sides. bu, presently she wiped her eyes
with her apron
"Oh. Zckor' she said 'I'm so sorry!
What kin do fur yuh?"
''Natur' is er-callin fur suthin ter go
innaris,' - he declared oracularly, "scch
es ma gits up, an reck'n as how natur
ought ter b. calm fur suthin ter go
outside. Git some water, D'rindy. If
hit hadn or b. N fur thet ar leadin sub
binder But the girl had glided into
her room and caught up her crock She
sped out to the little rivulet, sparkling
icy cold from the spring. Presently she
came back with il full and placed it on
the step.
"Now. Zeke," she said, ''yuh jes
set down thar ON tn mex step an lay
yer head in my lap-so! Now keep
still" Her plump little hand cupped