Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-02-18
BALDY'S LAST TUNE.
BY MARTHA MCuLLo0u WILLIAMS.
tcopyr,.ht, 1s9o, by The Author. !

"Don't, pop, don'sl Whenever you git
the prayin fit, it brings me bad luck.
"Luckl What has luck to do with sech
rs you? There's no chance for You to
lose, except when you want to"
"But mighty heap Of chance for mo
not to win when the other feller holds
all the cyards. Don't be soft, pop. If
whatever it is that sits up above us
keeps any sort of accounts, reckon you
started with such a big credit it ain
nigh balanced yit. Seems to me you
used to read somethin bout him that
saveth soul from death shall hide a
multitude Of sins"
"Silencel How dare you"-
"Dare? I dare anything, because I'm
your son, I reckon. I've heard tell as
you warn't afraid of nothin, not even
satan. Besides I remember that last
camp meetin, the love feast an the hun
dred new converts all crowdin round
an huggin you an tellin you how your
preachin had kept 'em out Of the fire an
birthstone. 1t made me proud OF you,
pop-it did, indeed. Imost felt like I'd
be preacher myself until-well, after
ward"
A swift hardness came upon both
faces. The elder man said grimly:
'Afterward you changed your mind.
Well, you had good reason to do it. !"
Then, dropping his face in his hands
and speaking very low: "Do you know,
jim, if was sure Of heaven-as sure as
Z Fol s,A II ciu fnT
jest one year of the old life-ridin an
preaohin six days in seven an comm
home to the poor little house that held
yor-an Sally choking bit over
the name.
1'Tell me one thing" the other said,
dark red flushing all over his face.
''Did you give up all that for-jest a
horse?''
The old man shrank uneasily from
his sons keen look. He opened his lips
az though to speak, then shut them close,
turned away and began fumbling with
the keys of an old fiddle. Jim went on
remorselessly
"If you did, you must "a been crazy.
Cad, it makes me shiver, man, to think
about that night! 1t was August, sorter
starlight, fog all about, an out Of it
came them yellin fends with torches an
tin pans an COW horns an you in the
middle, all tar an feathers. Then some-
body shouted, Here's the noble Chris
tian gentleman that stole Colonel Clay's
horsel' an don't remember no more
till mornin, an I knew must go away
with you"
"What made you do it, Jim? I've
wanted to ask you often, but somehow l
couldn't seem to fetch it, the father
said wistfully, without looking at his
son.
Jim answered simply, "Because she
said I must. ("
Warm light glowed all over the with
cred, haggard, old face, SO piteously
averted; slow tears dropped over the
tangle Of beard, and the worn lips muir
INJURED softly, "Thank God, held my
peacen
There was scornful speculation in
Jim eye.
81 can't make you out, +" he said after
minute. $50 let's stop talkin foolish
an come down to business. "What are
the tunes for tonight?''
"What's the game?"
''Poker, if they'll let mo in. If not,
TIL try old sledge an vantoon."
"'Black +" Satin II mean he's bluff
I'M Tom Meriweather,' raise him.
If / strike Rock of Ages, call him an
be quick about it. "
"Pop!'
@'Well."
''Do you want to ruin my luck for
good an always? Shorely you wouldn't
dare to play mothers hymn?"
'Why not?' with q reckless laugh
StYour mother gave me her son. Didn't
she love you better than her soul, an do
you think she'd mind what did if it
was to help you?"
"Say you rather But let that tune
alone. You play 500 other ones. It's
Christmas eve, an 1 feel enough like
somethin was about to happen with
out hearin that tune in gamblin den. "
"Well, you won't hear it tonight,
unless there's danger-dreadful danger
ahead. Somehow I'm bit shaky,
too, an all this improyin conversation
we've had hasn' helped to set me up !"
A'Try this---it's the only friend left
u.s." Jim said, pouring glass half full
of whisky and handing it to his father.
-tHalf that, Jimmy - half - jest
enough to make my wits an fingers
nimbie," the old man said, eying the
glass thirstily, but not touching it.
Without word Jim poured part of
the liquor on the floor; then, as his fa-
ther snatched the glass and drained it.,
he said slowly:
1'I'll wait till after the game to drink
damnation to Colonel Clay.
The old man got up with sparkling
ewes. "The blue devils are all gone,
Jim,'' he said, catching up his fiddle
and striking a bar or two of ''Of to
Charleston. *'Keep level head, my
lad. Hear the old woman talk-she'll II
tell you all that's against you tonight,
an not half try"
'I'm afraid it's luck that's against
me- Jim muttered to himself as he fol
lowed his father into the street. "Pve
felt thunder in the air ever since thai
letter from Kentucky told me thai
Colonel Allen Clay had started down
the river to New Orleans.
v
Christmas before the war was thu
southern saturnalia, especially in th'
river towns. White men, black men
men of all intermediate complexions
drank and oaroused and burned powde
in honor Of the day, Christmas eve wa
peculiarly uproarious. Planters from
many miles around came in to sell ant
buy and to end day of furious trading