The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-08-06
A RECONCILIATION.

Tho fog that had prevailed during the
early hours of the morning disappeared
before the bright rays Of the sun n it arose
above the mountains. We had clear
view of the Junlata from the point, mile
above US, where 1t surged around q little
bluff, crowned with clump Of budding
trees, until Is was lost again In gap In
the dark, green ridges mile below. At
our feet rushed the swollen river, which
the heavy rains that had deluged the coun.
try during the week previous had trans.
formed from a peaceful little stream into
an angry flood, SO that 1t stretched out its
arms and despoiled many rich farm and
laborer's home Now it was bearing its
booty on Its broad, turbulent bosom to the
valleys below, there to cast 1t aside On
the day before q barn, with frightened
fowl perched high upon its peaked roof
had floated by the spot where Sam Soper
and ! were standing. Several small frame
houses, corncribs and other rickety farm
buildings had gone bobbing merrily along
Oh the swift CURRENT great trees, uprooted
| by the greedy waters, barrels, boxes and
household furniture had we seen. Today
the flood was ebbing. Its strength was
gone. The rains had ceased, and for the
| first timo after many days we could SEQ the
sun ovel..Sad.
glanced from the river into the face Of
the man at my sido
II guess, Sam, we will not SEQ any more
houses go by" said, nothing but bar
rels and such embarrassing objects. I
suppose though, they will be Of use to the
people below"
tits an III wind OF blows nobody any
good, OF Pete Siders sails, he replied SOL
EMMY. "The folks up the walleyll miss
them bawrels an things, but they'll come
handy to them below ez kotches EN-
l laughed.
ut is easy for you to arguoi in this man
ner, for you are one Of the fortunate ones,
unless some one claims that rocking chair
that you rescued from drowning"
faint smile passed over Soper's face.
1t was quickly gone and his countsnance
resumed Its habitual stolid look.
He replied somewhat grutly:
Ell a Teller don't seize bis opportunity,
1t won't seize him." He hesitated, and
then added, "Ez Pete Siders sals"
Tell me-" cried, "wbo Is this oracle
ofyours whom you are forever quotingp'
For during my few days acquaintance
with the rough fellow at my side bad
been struck by the fact that he frequently
made use of ancient adages the credit for
the invention Of which was always given
to the mysterious Sders.
seated myself upon stump and await
ed his reply. He was crude, rather stupid
looking man, clad In q rough garb that
betOkened his rural environments-a rag
ged cloth cap, heavy, we'll patched suit,
which had once been of gray material, q
collarless shirt and high boots. His hair
had been close cropped few days before,
in token of the coming of summer, and his
unkelnpt black beard stood out In bold
contrast to his seeming badness. His
nose was harrow, long and hooked, and
his eyes were deep set beneath shaggy
brows.
After long pause he replied to my
question in drawling tone and with tho
manner of man perfectly convinced Of
the truth Of what he said:
"Ef you uns he'd ez much in your head
ez Pete Siders hez In his leetle finger,
you'd be smart man."
but who Is hep" exclaimed. II have
visited this valley yearly since was boy,
yet never before heard of him. He does |
not live hereabout, does hep
Soper seated himself beside me and re-
piled:
mo, he don't. He lives up the valley
acrost the river. l useter live near him,
tell me IN him he'd words an fell out.
You see Pete he was wonderful smart, an
was no match fer him. Ny place almost
Jined his, an he mawried my sister. He |
knowed heap, did Pete, an he'd read
most Of the books they Is. You uns 'ud
hev enjoyed talkin to him, you would, fer
he'd travelled a lot in his younger days an
he'd a good ejurcation. An at MUSIC
hedginsl l kin feel tibet old fiddle Of
his'n agoin thoo me yit. 1t jest mado
you all bluelike when no played sorrcrful
pieces He tho't heap of tibet fiddle, he
did. All, but tell you they is few men
like Pete Sdersr'
How did you ever happen to part with
this paragon Samf" asked.
"Paragonop" he repeated sadly. 81
never hear him called tibet. Mebbe he was
one fer he was most everything. How
did wo hev words? Hawgs--jest few
hawgs done it. Sometimes | think 1t was
my fault, an on them days when low
I'm to blame allus intend to go over to
his place an make up. But I've mover
ben able to git off at them times, an when
kin git off allus blame Pete an callate
he kin come to see me-"
1T must have been very serious trou.
ble2" said l.
"Hawgs" he replied. "Nawthin but
lew monn pigs. You sec, was Twin up
here three summers ago Imade range
nents with Hiram Bender, who he'd o
arm close be my place, fer him to let me-
rev three young bawgs in September l
ad 10 fatt I
when 1t come cold. One day, In corn
luskin time, goes over to Hiram's to git
ON, When asst him fer EN-, he looks at
ne surprised like, an sails, sails he. why,
sam, Pete Siders got them pigs. He tol me
'ou say'd he was to git EN-, an you'd pay
he fer EN-, OF you owe him fer his hevin
elped you three days In the woods last
winter was Jest knocked. knowed
Pete was hard up, fer he'd kinder ben
ayn off all summer, but never tho't
bet of him. never let on to Hiram, but
9st went right over to Pete's place. l
Dund tibet he'd gone an killed them BEASTS
n turned em into butcherin's. When I
81 him what I'd come fer, he drawed
insolf up ey fer OF he could, fer he's a
,etle man, an sails, Does you mean 10
Nj me theft Then sails, i never owed
Ou no money, fete SlOerS. sam Soper,
,is he, 'hain't you shame Of calm your
lother-in-law theft An then he turns
n walks into the house an shets the door
my face. hain't seen him sence, fer /
,uldn't stan liyin near Peto an not bein
4 peaceful groun's with him. l give up
y place there an got job hero, 'tsndin
10 canal look.
And sometimes you think you were TO
ame2'' asked.
"Sometimes," he replied. "Pete he he'd
lr'ous ways, an don't b'iieve he meant
D harm. I oushtn't hev called him
lief"
Soper suddenly started to his feet, and, :
lading his eyes with his hands, gazed up -
10 river.
"A tiddle" he cried. "Out on the riyeri
heard 1t plain. There 1t Is aginr'
sprang to his side and looked up the
ream at black object to which he was
hitting. 1t was boat, npd We could
G man sitting In its stem, rocking to
ID fro. Then heard quick succession
harsh, grating notes. low, but DISTINCT
ID saw that the man was flddlng.