The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-01-12
A RECONCILIATION.

The fog that had prevailed during the
early hours of the morning disappeared
before the bright rays Of the sun as 1t arose
above the mountains. We had a clear
view Of the Juniata from the point, q mile
above us, where 1t surged around a little
bluff, crowned with clump of budding
trees, until 1t was lost again In a gap In
the dark, green ridges mile below. At
our feet rushed tho swollen river, which
the heavy rains TINT had deluged the coun-
try during the week previous had trans
formed from peaceful little stream into
an angry flood, so that 1t stretched out Its
arIps and despoied many rich farm and
laborer's home. Now 1t was bearing Its
booty on its broad, turbulent bosom to the
valleys below, there to cast 1t aside. On
the day before barn, with frightened
fowl perched high upon Its peaked roof,
had 1oated by tho spot where Sam Soper
and were standing. Several small frame
houses, corncribs and other riokety farm
buildings had gone bobbiDg merrily along
on the swift current; great trees, uprooted
by the greedy waters, barrels, boxes and
household furniture had we seen. To-day
the food was ebbing. Its strength was
gone. The rains had ceased, and for the
first time after many days we could see the
sun overhead.
glanced from the river into the face OF
the man at my side.
II guess, Sam, we will not see any more
houses go by" said, nothing but bar
rels and such uninteresting objects.
suppose, though, they will be Of use to the
people below"
cts an III wind on blows nobody any
good, or Pete Siders sais," he replied SOL
EMMY. 1.-THE folks up the walley'll miss
them bawrels an things, but they'll come
handy to them below ez ketches EN-" T.
laughed.
at Is easy for you to argue In this man
nor, for you are ono Of the fortunate ones,
unless some enc claims that rocking chair
that you rescued from drowning"
A faint smile passed over Soper's face.
1t was quickly gone, and his countenance
resumed Its habtual stolld look.
He replied somewhat gruffly:
.'Ef a feller don't seize his opportunity,
It won't seize him." Ho hesitated. aud
then added, "Ez Pete Siders sails"
TEL me-" I cried, "who is this oracle
Of yours whom you are forever quotingS"
For during my few days acquaintance
with the roughsfellow at my side had
been struck by the fact that he frequently
made use of ancient adages, the credit for
the invention of which was always given
to tho mysterious Siders.
| seated myself upon stumpand await.
ed his reply. He was crude, rather stupid
looking man, clad In rough garb that
betokenod his rural environments-a rag
god cloth cap, heavy, well patched suit,
which had once been of gray material, q
collarlcss shirt and high boots. His hair
had been close cropped u few days before,
in token of the coming of summer, and his
unkempt black beard stood out in bold
contrast to his seeming badness. His
nose was narrow, long and hooked, and
his eyes were deep set beneath shaggy
brows
After long pause he replied to my
question in drawlng tone and with tho
manner of q man perfectly convinced OF
the truth Of what no said:
SEE you uns he'd OF much in your head
ez Pete Siders hez in his leetlo finger,
you'd be a 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:
"No, he don't. He lives up the valley
acrost the river. 1 useter live near him,
toll me an him he'd words an fell out.
You see Pete he was wonderful smart, an
/ was no match fer him. My place almost
lined his, an he mawried my sister. Ho
knowod heap, did Pete, an he'd read
most Of the books they is. You uns nd
hev enjoyed talkin to him, you would, fer
he'd travelled lot in his younger days an
he'd a good ejurcation. An at music.
hcdgins! kin feel tibet old fiddle Of
his n a. goin thoo mo yit. 1t jest mndo
you all bluelikc when he played sorrerfnI
pieces. He tho't heap of thet fiddle, he
did. All, but tell you they Is few mcn
like Pete Slders!"
'How did you ever happen to part with
this paragon, Samf | asked.
"Paragone9" he repeated sadly 81
never hear him called tibet. Mebbo no was
one fer he was most everything How
did we hev wordsS Hawgs-jcst few
hawgs done it. Sometimes think it 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 never
ben able to git off at them times, an when
kin git off allus blame Pete an cal'late
he kin come to see me-"
"It must have been very serious trou.
bleP" said I.
"Hawgs," he replied. "Nawthin but o
few mean pigs. You see, / was Twin up
there three summers ago. made range
ments with Hiram Bender, who he'd Il
farm close be my place, fer him to lot mo
hev three young hawgs in September. l
tended to fatten 'em up an butcher EN-
when 1t come cold. Ono day, In corn
huskin time, goes over to Hiram's to git
'em. When asst him for EN-, lie looks at
me surprised like, an sails, sails he. Why,
Sam, Pete Siders got them pigs. He tol me
you say d he was TO git 'em, an you d pay
me fer 'em, ez you owe him fer his hevin
helped you three days In the woods last
winter was Jest knocked. knowed
Pete was hard up, fer he'd kinder ben
layin off oil summer but never tho't
tibet of him. never let on to Hiram, but
Jest went right over to Pete's place. /
found tibet he'd gone m killed them beasts
an turned 'em into butcherin's. When
tol him what I'd come fer, he drawed
himself up ez fer ez he could, fer he's
leetle man, an sails, Does you mean to
call me theft Then sails, I never owed
you no money. Pete Siders. Sam Soper,
sails he, 'hain't you shame Of callin your
brother.in,law thiefP An then he turns
IN walks into the house an shets the door
In my face. hain't seen him sence, fer /
couldn't stan livin near Pete an not bein
on peaceful groun's with him. I give up
my place there an got job here, 'tendin
the canal lock-"