The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-26
ANINDIANA CAMPAIGN
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presently he SAID again: "Oh, yen ulun
hear anythin'."
The major turned TO glare at his COM
panion in despair and wrath.
whats tn matter with yeh? Can't
yeh shet up?"
"Oh, this here hain't no use. II
go in after imp"
"Well, gimme time, can't yeh?" said
the major. in growl. And as il 10
add more to this reproach he climbed
, the fence that compassed the woods.
looking resentfully back at his COM
panion.
"Well," said Peter. when the major
paused.
The major stepped down upon the
thick carpet of brown leaves that
stretched under the trees. He turned
then to whisper: "You wait here, will
ych?" His face was red with deter
a1ination.
"Well, nor on n minnet," said Peter.
"You-I-we'd better"
'No," said the major. "You wait
here"
He went stealithily into the thickets.
Peter watched him until ne grew to be
n vague siow-moving shadow. From
time TO time he could hear the leaves
cracllle and twigs snap under the
majors awkward tread. Peter, in
tent, breathless, waited for the peal Of
sudden tragedy. Finally the woods
grew silent in solemn and impress
- Io& d. a. n Al
humping of his heart. He began to
look about him TO make sure that moth
ing should spring upon him from the
somber shadows. He scrutinized this
cool gloom before him and at times
he thought he could perceive the NOV
ing of swift silent shapes. He concluded
that he had better go back and try 10
muster some assistance to the major.
AS Peter came through the corn, the
women in the road caught sight of the
glittering figure and screamed. Many
of them began TO run. The little boys.
with all their valor, scurried away in
clouds. Mrs. Joe Peterson, however,
cast glance over her shoulders as she,
with her skirts gathered up. was run
ming as best she could. She instantly
stopped and, in tones of deepest scorn,
called out to the others: "Why, it's o'ny
Pete Witheby." They came faltering
back then, those who had been natural
ly swiftest in the race avoiding the eyes
,f those whose limbs had enabled them
to flee a short distance.
Il ;o<s Inn he
gfunces of vivid interest in the eyes of
the women. To their lightning-like
questions, which hit all sides of the
episode, he opposed n new tranquility
gained from his sudden ascent in i'm
portance. He made no answer to their
clamor. When he had reached the top
of the fence, he called out, command
ingly: Here you, Johnnie, you and
George, run an git my gun. It's hang
in on tn pegs over tn bench in tn
shop"
At this terrible sentence, shudder-
ing cry broke from the women. The
boys named sped down the road, ac-
companied by a retinue of envious COM
panions.
Peter swung his legs over the rail and
faced the woods again. lie twisted his
head once to say: Keep still, can't
yeh? Quit scufflin' aroun'." They
could see by his manner that this was
supreme moment. The grcsip became
notionless and still. Later. Peter
turned to say: "Sssh," to restless boy,
and the air with which he said it smote
them all with awe.
The little boys who had gone after
the gun came pattering along hurried
iy, the weapon borne in the midst of
them. Each was anxious to share in
the honor. The one who had been del
egated to bring it was bullying and di-
recting his comrades.
Peter said: "Sssh!" He took the
gun and poised IL in readiness to sweep
the cornfeld. He scowled at the boys
and whispered, ang~ily: "Why didn't
yeh bring tn powder horn an tn thing
with tn bullets in? told yeh t bring
i'm. I'll send somebody else next
time"
"Yeh didn't tell us" cried the two
boys, shrilly
"Ssshl Quit yeh noise," said Peter.
with violent gesture.
However, this reproof enabled other
boys to recover that peace of mind
which they had lost when seeing their
friends loaded with honors.
The women had cautiously ap-
preached the fence and, from time to
time, whispered feverish questions; but
Peter repuised them savagely, with an
air of being infinitely bothered by their
interference in his intent watch. They
were forced to listen again in silence
to the weird and prophetic chanting
Of the insects and the mystic silSen
rustling of the corn.