San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-12-12

Drink"
Drink and cards, or, ruther cards
and drink. The pasteboards started him
down hill; the decanter finished him
But l merely said how / wished old
Dolbear and the madam's carriage was
goin to fetch sissy home in place of me
and Kit, blast her lazy bonesr'
81 don't agree with you about the
carriage Why should we turn to the
Strongs for assistance in every emer
gency? Must the Martins always be
propped up by the Strongs? Can't we
possibly carry ON our family affairs
without their aid?"
Seth looked toward the excited ques-
TONER out of the corners of his blue
eyes-a sheer waste OF energy, for the
red glow of his cigar revealed only the
tip of straight, delicate nose and a SEN
sitive upper lip clothed in silky brown
mustache.
what come over you, Strong? You
1.-The last one in the world to turn ag'in
the gov 'nor's people
Strong struck his heel angrily against
the low dashboard II know what you
want to say. 1, the governors name
sake, who have reaped a handsome ben
eft from my christening in shape of a
four years. course at Singleton college.
am the last one to say sharp things, OF
should be. / wasn't consulted about
choice of names.
"That's SO, but at one time you was
that wrapped up in Adrien Strong,
when you and him was little fellers,
that you was ready to fight anybody
who wouldn't admit he was made out
of superior sort of clay. I"
81 know it. I know that too But
what's the use Of fiinging all my i'm
becility in my teeth at once?"
There was the soothing gentleness Of
a mothers lullaby in Seth's voice as he
answered:
81 don't want to fling nothin in your
teeth, boy I was just sorter outdone to
hear you peckin at the gov nor's folks
They's been good friends to our people
What's come over you, Strong? You've
been down in the mouth ever since you
come home Don't be feared to speak
out, lad Maybe Buddy Seth can help
you, like he useter when you got your
fishin tackle all tangled up and couldn't
ontangle it.
"I'm in worse tangle than that, old
fellow, but / don't see how it would
mend matters to talk about it..
"Git up, mulesp'
Tlrr,,1,L %l,o c<.Il,.occ <l.o ,,.oa1x -
Seth's long whip resounded clear and
sharp The mules broke sullenly into a
heavy trot The smell Of rank vegeta-
ton filled their nostrils Tall, coarse
coffee weeds smote them mercilessly
with damp. ghostly fingers An owl,
disturbed by the unwonted noises be-
low, lifted itself slowly on heavy wings
and fluttered, complaining and plaintive,
to safer refuge. The night wind stir
red the topmost boughs and set them
assigning. 1t was not cheerful drive.
Seth's thoughts had wandered from the
sullen boy by his side to Liza
"I'm feared them weeds'n poster her
nightly If I'd had head with a
pun kin seed, I'd assent out and had
'em chopped down early this mornin
easy enough.
Strong put out his hand to press the
gaunt knee nearest to him.
Buddy Seth, you've got the biggest
and the most unselfish heart in the uni
verse did not mean to be sharp with
you little back, but have been wan
dering in dark labyrinth for month
now to which this weed choked, mud
rutted road is clear travelling"
Seth slapped the hand on his knee
.riumphantly.
81 mowed it. / knowed It'll You
can't hoodwink the buddy that's been
studyin you ever sence you was little
curly head chap in short petticoats. But
/ don't want to force your confidence,
Strong. If you've got anything on your
mind that's worryin you, and you'd like
to share it with Buddy Seth, why just
you heave ahead But / can wait ]
amt no ways impatient, boy"
From under the shadow of the trees
out into the broad, farreaching fields,
where the white bannerets of the open
cotton swayed softly in their russell
bolls, where the yellowing blades of the
r;pened cornstalks rustied against the
sides of the wagon, where much travel
to and from the ginhouses had cut deeper
and more hopelessly into the soft ooze
of the road.
Sissy won't enjoy this ride as much
as she used to enjoy trayelin over this
very road behind Buddy Seth when the
persimmons was ripe. Bless her heartl
Couldn't she put away the ripe persim-
mons, though? hope she amt out
growed all her cute little ways"
Strong did not answer He was not
thinking of Liza The moment of his
temptation had come to him He was
wrestling with himself. Should he tell
Seth everything? He knew no safer
confdant could be found, but would
it do any good? Would he believe it?
From out the broad, fiat cotton fields
into another and narrower strip of
woodland, and then out upon the grass
carpeted cliff called the landing, where
far below them, yellow and sluggish,