Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-07-29


ic efforts he managed to convey tht
unconscious man to the little log hut
where he lived alone. 1t was many
days before the sufferer could do more
than sit like helpless child in the ole
splint-bottomed rocker and watch the
preacher as he limped back and forth
attending to the wants of his unex'
pected guest. The stranger had beer
badly hurt. The blow on his head
as he came in contact with the low.
hanging limb, had very nearly frac-
tured his skull, and the kick Of the
horse had broken several ribs.
One day there came a letter adj
dressed in a dainty feminine hand, and
the preacher had almost completed his
answer when the hour arrived for him
to start for the little log church. After
he had gone, the invalid saw that the
letter and its unfinished answer lay on
the homemade table, and without any
scruples he proceeded to read both.
"Frum his sweetheart, the invalid
said aloud, as he finished pore leetle
gal. l kin almost seem to see her as !
read them lines. Thar she is, way
back east, waitin for the day when
her lover kin send the money to bring
her out yere to him. The time has
ben mighty long already, she says,
but she'll wait for him if it takes halt
her life. Brave leetle girl Bids him
keep up his courage, for she is shore
he'll soon git the money, for every
body's so generous in the west, and
will pay him well for his work, she is
certain"
The invalid paused, and shook one
hard fist at an imaginary auditor.
"Yas, hang ye Pay him we'll wen
yer souls git bigger. If you was white,
you'd pay more money an do less
pruntin in church. Look at it !" he
went on, with rising wrath. "Yere
man an Christian a-workin the
life outen his crippled body to save
yer souls, an in return ye give him
jest enough to keep him from plum
starvin. All the whole kit of ye air
good for is to raise horses for me to
run off with"
Again he shook his fist at the imagl,
nary auditor.
"That's for yel Look at it ! Yere,
him workin himself to death for yer
souls, an ye pay him so leetle that the
time when he can bring his leetle
waitin' sweetheart west seems years
off Yes, an yere l am a-doin' ye no
good, an stealin' every one o yer
horses | kin git my hands on. In my
case, ye club together an offer a re-
Nv 5000 jist to git me. Give him
starvation wages an have him all the
time, an offer 5000 jist to have Inc
few hours That's reason, amt it?'
Suddenly thought seemed to strike
him, and he brought one hard fist
down on the table with a thump.
"I'll do it, will He shall have
his sweetheart and that mighty quick.
1t was after midnight when the
preacher returned, and it seemed to
the other that he looked paler and
limped more painfully than usual.
"My friend" the preacher said
presently, "I am SO glad you have SC
nearly recovered, for this house can
only shelter you few days longer.
"W'y?" asked the invalid, "air We
gettin' tired o me ?"
Certainly not, but the owner Of this
house has warned me to leave because
l am unable to pay the rent, and
What II ye do now?"
II do not know. Doubtless I'll see
my way out of it all, but l do not now
/"
"Parson, will yer do me favor
one more OIL top o all you've done fol
me?"
GLADLY, i'll can, the young preach.
er replied.
Take this note to the leader Of
the Protective association"
Amos Huddin ?"
That's him. He's a partic 'lar
friend o mine, an II be mighty glad
to see me. Do this right now, an
it'll be the last thing III ask Nv ye.
The door opened softly, and half q
dozen men with weapons in their hands
entered without word. Not move
ment of the invalid's face showed that
he understood the errand that had
brought these stern, silent men to the
cabin.
"Howdyl" he saluted. Take
cheers, gentlemen"