St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-07-04

butcher 'em when Il come cold. Ons
day. in corn huskin' time. goes over t.
Hiram's to git 'em. When ast him fer
. 'em, he looks at me surprised like, an
sails, sails he: Why, Sam, Pete Sidera
got them pigs. He toll me you sayd he
was to git 'em an you'd pay me fer 'em,
ez you owed him fer his hevin' helped
you three days in the woods last winter.
l was jest knocked. knowed Pete was
hard up, fer he'd kinder ben layin' of
all summer, but I never tho't thet OF
him. never let on to Hiram, but jest
went right over to Pete's place. found
thet he'd gone an killed them beasts,
an turned 'em into butcherin's. When
toll him what I'd come fer. he drawed
himself up ez fer ez he could, fer he's a
leetle man, an sails: Does you mean to
call me thief?' Then 1 sails: Inever
owed you no money. Pete Siders.' Sam
Soper,' sails he, 'hain't you satisfied Of
calm your brother-in-law thief! An
then he turns an walks into the house,
an shets the door in my face. hain't
seen him sencc, fer couldn't stan livin'
near Pete an not bein' on peaceful
groun's with him. give up me place.
an got a job here, 'tendin' the canal
lock-"
"And sometimes you think you were
to blame?" asked.
Sometimes" he replied. "Pete he he'd
curious ways, an I don't b'Iieve he
meant no harm. Io'tn't hev called him
a thief"
Soper suddenly started to his feet,
and, shading his eyes with his hands,
gazed up the river.
"a fiddle!" he cried. ''Out on the
river! l heard it plain. There it ID
ag'in!"
1 sprang to his side, and looked up
the stream at black objec to which he
was pointing. 1t was a boat: and we
could see a man sitting in it's stern.
rocking to and fro. Then 1 heard .
quick succession of harsh. grating notes,
low, but distinct, and saw that the
man was fiddling.
''It's Pete!" cried my companion.
''Thet's his playin' an that's him. Look
at the boat! Why it won't stay up an
hour!"
The craft was sunk low In the water,
and was sweeping rapidly toward US
on the turbulent stream; but the fid-
dler seemed unconscious of his danger,
for he swung to and fro in q maudlin
manner. running his bow madly over
the strings of his instrument.
Its Pete's way" Soper exclaimed.
He don't know what he's doin', fer he's
ben at the liquor ag'in."
As he spoke he stripped of his coat
and boots.
"What are you doing!" 4 cried, seiz-
ing his arm. 'You are not going out il
such a fiood!"
The boat was bearing rapidly toward
us; every motion of its maudlin occu-
rant was now plainly discernible; every
note of his aimless music was distinctly
audible.
"Nawthin' else to do" came the quiet
reply. ''They's rocks an rapids below,
an thet boat 'ud never live through
'em."
With that Soper ran out into the river
In q moment he was over his depth;
then he struck out into the stream.
1fis was not a masters stroke. He
beat the swiftly flowing water conyul-
sisely with his hands, and seemed to be
making almost superhuEan efforts t.
reach point that he believed the boat
would pass. His progress was slow,
snd the current bore him down the
river. His efforts would have been
vain had not the runaway craft taken
sudden swerve toward him. It was a.
most on him. Then saw him raise his
long arm high above him and grasp the
bow. Instantly the boat turned it's nose
toward the shore, and breathed more
freely.
Siders sprang from his place, and with |
unsteady steps began to make his way
toward the man who was risking his |
own life to save him. The craft gave q |
quick lurch over on one side so that the |
water rushed in and almost filled it.
Get down." / screamed.
LET go there!" yelled Siders, fran
tically. you'll upset me. you fool!"
He raised his fiddle and struck wildly |
at Soper, hut his blow fell shoI I of its |
mark; he lost his balance and tcppled |
into the bottom of the boat. which |
righted itself, but none too koon. Siders
quickly recovered and cautiously /
crawled forward.
cit OF there!" he yelled.
Soper made no answer, for he was u.
most exhausted. He clung more des-
rcratcly to the craft, which was now
within hundred feet of the shore.
The fiddle whirled through the air and
crashed down on his head. Still he
clung on. With cry Of disappointment
Siders fell into the bottom of the boat.
ran out into the water, seized the
craft, and dragged it ashore.
When he heard the keel CRATE on the
gravel, Sam Soper released his hold and
fell into my arms unconscious. / lifted
him out on the bank. Across his fore
head there was great gash from which
the blood flowed freely.
Some men came to my aid from
neighboring field. and helped me to
carry the injured man to his home,
which stood a few hundred yards back
from the river. The wonderful Siders,
who had partially recovered his senses
Ly reason of his immersion, followed ms.
He explained that he had spent the
night fiddling It party and had at
daybreax started for his home. The
last thing that he remembered clearly
was getting into . boat to cross the
river.
When Sam Soper recovered conscious
ness . half an hour later he asked for
his brother-in-law, and n Siders sank
into . chair at his bedside he held ou.
his hand and said:
"Pete, I think I'll 60 over the river
to live agin, fer low w.s to blame"
Il low you was, too. Sam" mumbled
the other, taking the pronered hand.
But don't bear you no spite. IN. =.
Sun.
a Ho00 ThE0O6
The other day . young man from
London arrived in . northern city, and