Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-09-10
HGW HAWKINS
WAS REGULATED

JlI man 1iHWkluS StOp0 III the NHT0 ONT
side the barn. He was dreamily chewing
the end of a long spear Of timothy, and
gazing over the rail fence, beyond the
broad. sIonine meadow and farther-lying
fields, to where q struggling line of will
lows and elder-bushes. white with bios
SONS. marked the course of a sluggish
creek. Beyond the stream the land lay
Fat and fertile, green with the promise of
rich haryests. and thenN rose slowly in
softly swelling knobs, with here and there
a biz of woodland.
But old Hawkins was not drinking in
the soft, rich beauty of that quiet summer
afternoon. He was occupied with other
things.
It's the third warnin'." he said to him
self, sitting down ON a stone.pile that was
hcaped up in corner of the rail fence
separating the garden-patch from the lane.
A scraggy growth of mayweed bordered
the psthway, and sprouted up through the
frame OF narrow that was lying along
side. The old mans eyes were partially
closed.
wonder when the put 1t there! he
Thought, still chewing his bit of grass.
Must "a been while me n Mandy was to
town, fer l amt no recollection o seem
u rms mornin ; and Know want there
Yesterday"
lie looked at the barn door where an
irregular piece of paper, insecurely fast
ened by few tacks, fluttered in the soft
wind.
It was an ominous-looking thing, and
might well cause old man Hawkins a bit
ofuneasiness, though the only evidence that
y It did was his increased thoughtfulness.
On the upper and right-hand sides was
arude sketch ola long blacksnake whip.
Underneath appeared the following notice:
YOu Aire OFENSiV to tile COMMUNITY.
the CoMitE VIII Be With You Soon.
The signature was in the lower right
hand corner, and consisted of three or four
feathers stuck in big drop of tar.
SWELL" said he. SLOWLY turning and
looking up the lane. .if they're comm, l
presume it's like 'nough they'll be here
tonight, and might Jest as well be ready
for 'em, seein' as they're sot on comm"
He got up. and. taxing down the nm.
friendly notice, walked slowly towards
the house, pausing once or twice to turn
round and take in the Law of the land
about his premises; possibly to see if there
were any indications of his visitors. nos.
sibly to notice from which direction they
would probably approach. and possibly ia
see the way they were most likely to take
when I0py left. AT the door OF the wood
house he met his wife, who WAS lust
starting the Are for snnner
.Did We know you was likely to have
comp'ny this eyeniu'. MandyY"
Good landi No. whoP"
"Dunno. Guess. though. there'll he
more n we want to see. ,cordin' TO this
here notice" And he handed his wife
the scrap of paper with it's TAR and scrawI
'sWhitecaps!" exclaimed the woman II
alarm.
"Y-yep.- drawled the old man no h.
leaned m against the doorcos;ng ant
gazed indifferentIy ont across the falds
aYo,,,ra r;gb, nand,. az ~ ,,,h;.sa.e
and I reckon they'll be here to-night
too"
.sFor mercy sskes. 81 Won dom, saw
What on earth Won goin' IN doT,
.sLet 'em come" responded the old MAJ
with grim smile. land 1 rather tbinJ
some on EMIL wish they bodn,t"
His b,e. be,vv i,,y col ,hs ut, H.. =
Tho Iorga a., y,,,,,th -. ~ Ups
getber and a da,arn,;rad Iooi, iias ~
from tho oioar hIna go. Lii n
staeI tr,ns could ~ -, 81
Of rigid, unyielding conraca His w;f,
who had mi confidence in tho stran,,
and bravery of her husband w.s naya,
theless filled with anxietv. tboupb she yvo
not without N good share NJ tbosa ouoI
ties herself,
..Wbat mokes Won tb;nL tbo,,u h. 10,
Tonight - she astad - w -''
well. We see. it's rho third Time T.,
heerd from 'em and vs 500 y,hat ~
second line a that there notice Savs. .rt
committee will he with Won soon ntarh'
TOO yon don,t ra,,,ns,Lss ~. Nhay \, !"
visited old Jake Snrowlas timn ba r.s
Twin on the farm beyapt pika's Cornar
twas On the n,,lt 81 th1 en- a., DI ~
their last warnin,. Uisn ,.as VOID
suntbin, like This I'm, 7 dan,t 10, na,,,,i',
her how" 80 iei'e''
.rTbat u,s au,f,,,,. ror,xt - e,
fo.ks.v said Mrs U,,,I.;ns M FL VIZ 'e
on into tho k;tcho,, ,v;tt - hs,,. "" g,
of cbins and Iindline .srba,, avn; aus 80 ~
eot over II 0ld Snro,,ia, = a ,iat ne nv,
snakes wopldn,t hita ~, L,,. n,ca
tbouybt tbav'd o,%b, >, h,,rnt IL, i hes
and used the old man like they did I,
"Sot the old cuss down IN soma IA
didn't they?" asked her husband with
chuckle not indicative that n like fa
was threatening him,
"H'm-b'mn apswered b;v wife. ..o.
sim out 'tho,t a st;tnh -, "h1, .o'
bidin' apupder the hna IT, -
him with niece Of rorob IL, sp mI y
'im down in a I,t az tar e. ~ a.