Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-04-18
HEARTSIE'S 'TONEMENT.
New York Evening Post.

steady and square and drove them
| home. Having fastened one end of a
narrow board to the upper side of the
| wall he drew it down diagOnally across
! the dwarf door and nailed it hard and
/ last, eifectually preventing entrance.
/ This done, he picked up half a dozen
fowls which laid tied together on the
| ground and went to the open door of
the cabin, brushing ruthlessly against
the blooms Of red japonica bush in
his haste.
All was dark inside. The wood in
the fireplace was only smoldering, not
burning The daylight Of the gray
afternoon that stole in through the
heavy shattered window showed that a
woman sat in one corner.
Here. You there" called the man;
you understand that if you rip off that
board and use any corn out Of that
house you so to jail-you and your old
man both You understand"
Il know, but you amt doing us
right" answered the woman. Yves
paid out for the things, not 'scusin'
(eXcepting) the picture what you fetch
ed last. Here's the papers what the
mems give US, every time they been
here"
Il never authorized anybody to col
lect payment, and you owe me clear
SIS, not to say interest, since April. III
send back II a week for that corn and
if you've laid a finger on it you'll be
sorry. Where's your husbands"
81 dunno; out gittin' wood, | reckon.
Since youse token the feather bed and
the pick of the quilts we'll have to
keep up a steady fire to warm by"
We'll, you make 'Riah understand
what say; you hear?'
Mr.. Beckwith amt goin' to touch
nothin," said the woman III a depressed
voice. But you'se mighty hard on us
old people. You amt leave Us even a
pulet to raise frum," eyeing wistfully
the feathered bunch hanging limp and
resigned by their yellow legs. You
couldn't low me dat speckled hen?
She's a sure layer and an awful good
mother. I'd save you a couple OF the
first chickens shea hatch if you'd gree
to it."
The speaker came forward and re
garded her creditor pleadinSly, a re-
pressed eagerness in her manner as
though she half expected he would
comply. She was tall, with a smooth,
shining, bronze-brown skin and good
features, showing little trace Of the
thick lips, fiat nose and receding fore
head Of the typical negro.
"Speckled hen, indeed said the
man, waving her off. I've got her now;
the chickens she might raise l might
never see. I'm up to your tricks! Get
some of your reighDors to raise on
shares with you. Don't NEEDLE with
the courthouse, now he called as he
drove off in his rafting road cart. be
law drove them nails and it will be the
worst for you if you draw any Of them
out"
Heartsie Beckwith stepped outside
after he was gone and looked at the
courthouse door with the teii-tale board
across its face, then she locked palnetl-
cally at the open trap door Of the little
fowlhouse opposite.
1T won't re no use to shut it to-
night" she muttered. Yves ruinated,
plumb ruinated, and there amt nobody
and nothin' to turn to-
Half unconsciously she turned in the
direction Of the long avenue of oaks
that stretched across the big fiat field
IN front Of the cabin. As she stood thus
en- elderly negro in a tattered coat, with
his head tied up in motley collection
of scarfs and strings, came up behind
her
rs that debil gomez" he asked in a
thin, high voice.
Yes. Mr.. Beckwith. He's gone, and
everything gone with him, 'scusin' the
corn and that little handful of pea vines
in the courthouse, what We amt to lay
hands on. Everybody goin' to know
now that Yves been shut up and dis
graced.'
rs YOU show him the papers what the
mems give you in 'side!ation OF the
'taters and cotton and things what we
paw out on de clock debt?'
Eyes. But that make no differ lie
tell it as how we give the things to the
wrong men. rapscallion men what he
amt send TO fetch EN-. He WoulGn
leave me so much as that speckIed men
what's such a regular layer. It's wicked
for anybody to eat hen like that, what
pays for herself over and over every
year"
Come in out of The damp, baby
was all that Mr.. Beckwith said, and as
they entered the cabin, where light
wood knot in the chimney place blazed
m abruptly in welcome, brazen-
tongued clock on the shelf struck thlr-
tom in hurried. uneven tones Mi.
Beckwith's face frightened. It's got
rs in = lot of trouble, but it's mighty
good company" he said. looking up at
the fall clock in its gaudy frame.
peck, peck! as of a sharp bill strik-
ing on bare boards came from the inner
room. Mr.. Beclwith looked at MS VIE
5Tbe Tumplus pullet!' she explained.
"Wbile the bucira and the dog was
runnin' down the otEer fowls it fly IN
there and squat down under the bed, so
inst shut the door and amt say nothin
Seemed like the Lord aimed for we TWO
to keep K; .,,,.,-
reor 'bout four bushel of corn down
vorder in the fence corner, he SAID,
"but il amt gone there Itself. l took
if ont while he was gone to tie sto' for
nails He amt goin' to miss 1t out oil
the main batch.
The rumplus pullet, released from
confinement. stepped out near the mis-
tress, pecl.ag g., the oven, against the the
rim Of which a few crumbs from the
Iasf cooked bread stuck fast.
The pullet's red feathers stuck up
,ortironsIv: it was not progressing
~ j., annoarance. but Heartsie took it up
and stroked it gently. II one Vi az