Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-02-21

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gettin', didn.t youi 1 bet you did,
an you thought erbout yourself
an you thought erbout your father,
too, some, maybe, not jest as you
would efyou'd a waited tell mex
dsv or npx' week, bat wasn't there
somebody yuu furgot I Somebody,
too, as was with the whole worP
to you, somebody as would "a gone
down into her grave TO "a saved
you, somebody IS waited an'
watched after the waters went
down, an who is WaitIu' an Natch'
in yet, please God, when every
body else has given you up. Ain't
| right erbout it, little manP
'Ob, Saunders, SauulerS,' said
the boy, taking his friend'a hand,
while the tears streamed down and
we. the pillow, what shall doP
There aIn't no troubIe bout
answerin' that question now, SIun'
ders SAID, 'hard AZ ii is to 60 back
of our wrougdoing an make things
straight, but mothers Is mothers
wherever you put EN-, an maybe
so pd been difunt OF mine had
been left to me longer. But your
way Ia clear enough, an IL amt
such q powerful long journey Fam
Texas TO Louisiana
'Do you mean 1t Saunders said
the boy with a smile on hi" wan
lips, 'and Can go 20 daSP
NO, but It won't Oe very long
bei're yuu start ef you keep on like
this Saunders answered. AN
somehow, OF chap, you've made 1t
mighty easy fur me TO tell yo"
somethiu' I've jesC been Dustin 10
tell you ever sence you've been
|, in here,' and Saunders cleared
his throat, while the boy looked at
him eagerly.
rYou see,' he went on slowly,
MASON warn't quite gone when the
boys picked him up, tho he was
done fur OefO'e you got to bin,
lad; the ponv had fell acrost, him
au' he'd Jest breath enough left t."
tell me all erbout it. PO' old Ma.
sou. They was smile in them
big, dyIn', woman eyes or his when
he looked up at me an said: Didn't
| tell you the l:tlo chap had grlt'
An then he tot ns SomethIn' else.
poor OF partner. Hs toll me he
didn't have nobody 10 the worl
but Jest hIsse'f, bat you could q
kno we'd that by she loHofulness In
his eyes, an' he said to let his sheer
er the cattle 60 to you. Seems ct
he kinder 'specioued things was
pretty BAD with you oue way oF
'nuther, IAN he toll me to let the
COWS 20 the fust chance | got, an
tarn the proceeds over to you.
Wnat do you ssy now to a little
vader ten thousan' dollars to start
hons with.
Poor old Mason tho boy said,
and his eyes vere brimming With
tears as he sat up In bed. Il can
make it up to father nov, Saun'
ders, csu't ~
Two weeks later, when the Val
LEY Qaeen steamed through the
draw bridge at BareVeport, Jefi
stood on her upper decK. glad Will
the prospect of homo near at hand
How dear and familiar evcrN thing
looked! Behind we're the broken
red hill slopes dotted sith cottages
the slender church spires, the
crouchIus, caycrnous warehouses
Of the little eltV; beyond we're th'
black plantatisn lovIandS, thu
great spraying, grAss gro"l
lsvees, aud the dsrH, treacherous
river winding between, shrunkeI
how within It's muddy banks, walt
lug calm and qulescent Tor the
swell Of the sprIug rains to send
sweeping on IN its work OF destruc
ton.
When the whistle blew, and th'
. boat rounded the curve, III sAV
+ with a little psng Of bitterness th
old cottonwood which markrd hi
[ own home landing, bat he spranI
| ashore joyfuIIy before the waveI
Ing stage plank had touched th'
bank. He was not the only pass
? enger for Steel Dust Plantation b
found, as the men who crowde'
after him pushed by, hurrying o.
to the house. JEFF followed eage'
Iy. Was this the homecoming b
, had pictured 80 sften as he rod
! over the dusty prslrisS, or lay o.
D his hospital Get IN those sweet day
of convAlsScencei
q Surely something vas wrong