Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-26
TOMS STRATEGY.
By HARRY sTrLLwELL EDWARDS.
Copyright, 1879. by The Century Company
All rights reserved.
CHAPTER l.

Copyright, 1879. by The Century Company.
All rights reserved
CHAPTER i.
"wha' yer gwine TO do wi dat gum"
1t was Tempy Taylor who propounded
that question, and she did it in tone
Of voice that would have attracted any
body's attention. She was q tall,
heavy, masculine woman Of some two
hundred odd pounds, and as she straight
ened up over the washtub under the
chinaberry tree at the end Of her cabin
she was indeed formidable looking
figure. Her great black. muscular arms
drooped toward the scrubbing board that
reclined in the tub, and her hands
grasped wet garment upon which she
had been expending some of her prodi-
gious strength. The person addressed
was q small old man whose face was
pretty well covered with q gray, knly
beard. He nervously shifted the weapon
he bore-an ancient muzzle loading
fowling piece, with wire wrapped
stock and reed ramrod--and affected an
easy, concilatory manner.
''Des' gwine down yander ON dc
crick. Ole buck rabbit down dere ev'y
day bout dis time. Spec he oughter be-
en- de pan time Nanny Jo' git heah en-
de morndin. " The voice was drawing
and childlike in its modulations BE
struck the right chord, aud very skill
fully. Nanny Jo' was the mother Of
the amazon at the rub, and had sent
word of her intended visit. The little
old man moved off slowly. with pc
culiar shutting motion. dat posSum
mighty fine back yander, he veniurod,
with n motion Of his head toward the
cabin. but 'tain't gwine ter las all
day
As he passed on. his ear waited for a
harsh summons. but heard only the
mutterings Of his spouse when she
plunged u little more vigorously into
her work. The little strip of pine woods
toward which his face was turned seem
ed 20 approach az a snails pace only.
but he was afraid to change the gait he
had chosen. AS he stepped at last into
the friendly cover Of the trees he stole a
backward glance over his shoulder, and
then abruptly quickcned his motions.
At the same instant his whole manner
changed, and when presently he heard
his name echo through the wood. borne
upon the imperative tones Of pair Of
prodigious female lungs, he laughed
aloud and held ON his way. The woman
at the tub talked TO herself.
Mighty takin on bout Nanny Jo'
all er sudd'n Nanny Jo'l Nanny
Jo'! Heap he kyre bout Nanny jo',
she laughed scorufully. Better be out
en- dat patch pick'n cott'n or On dem
peas. Ef hit wuz lef' ter him dat steer
20 long ter town ter b. sold 'stiddcr de
cott'n bag. know him; he can't fool
me. Gil i'm time an he 90 shpp'n bout
over yunncr at d. Stillson place, de lyin
little debbil." She gave the shirt Of her
absent lord q vicious wiring, rs If she
felt him in il, and lifted mp her voice
obeying a sudden impulse:
"You Torm!" There was no reply ex-
cept a few echoes that Knocked her. He
heah me- " she continued, resuming her
labors, and then she resumed, too, the
thread OF her rcverie. 'Morndin, Sis
Lizer: how yo' he'th terday, ma'ami
Morndin, Sis Chloey; / hope yer feelin
berry we'll, ma am. " She initiated the
insinuating. childlike tones Of her ahse nj
spouse and repeated her scoruful laugh.
Mex time heah bout i'm gwine over
deir III bre'k ev'y bone en- Is trifiin
hide"
Bat Tom was thinking no longer OF
his industrious and indignant spouse.
he was rapidly moving along the new
line Of departure from home and th'
haunts Of the buck rabbit i'll the creek
bottom. He had slight limp, caused
by bale Of cotton rolling against his
leg when he was young. and as he trot-
ted along his funny little figure bobbing
up and down caused the powder horn
under his arm and the shot gourd 70
swing ont and collide fiercely.
4 couple Of miles glided away thus,
when suddenly out from under his feet
a rabbit scurried few yards away, and
pricbing up his ears looked back at the
rude disturber Of his afternoon ranble.
Tom brought the gun down across his
knee, cooked it successfully. the hammer
going back half circle with three dis