Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-01-29
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What S come oven you, Strong? You
the last one in the world to turn ag'in
Che gov'nor's people"
Strong struck his heel angrily against
the low dashboard. II know what you
want to say. /, 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 n to say sharp things, or
should be. l wasn't consulted about a
choice of names"
"That's SO, but at II 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 a superior sort of clay"
II know it. I know that too. But
what's the use of flinging all my I'M
becility in my teeth at once?"
There was the soothing gentleness of
a mothers lullaby in Seth's voice as no
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 u people.
What's come v 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
tishin tackle all tangled up and couldn't
ontangle it.
"I'm in a worse tangle than that, old
fellow, but I don't see how it would
mend matters to talk about it"
"Git up, mulesl"
Through the stiffness the crack of
seth's long whip resounded clear and
sharp. The mules broke sullenly into a
heavy trot. The smell Of a 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 futtered, complaining and p~laintive,
to a safer refuge. The night wind STIR
red the topmost boughs and set them
assigning. 1t was not a cheerful drive.
Seth's thoughts had wandered from the
sullen boy by his side to Liza.
''I'm feared them weeds'll poster her
nightly. II I'd had a head with u
pum'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. l did not mean to be sharp with
you a little back, but l have been wan
dering in a dark labyrinth for a month
now to which this weed choked, mud
rutted road is clear travelling"
Seth slapped the hand OH his knee
triumphantly.
81 nowed it. / knowed it'll You
can't hoodwink the buddy that's been
studyin you ever sence you was a little
curly head chap i'll short petticoats. But
I 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 I can wait. l
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
hollis, where the following blades Of the
ripened cornstalks rustled 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 travelin over this
very road behind Buddy Seth when the
persimmons was ripe. Bless her heart!
Couldn't she put away the ripe persim-
mons, though? l 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
confidant could be found, but would
it do any good? Would he believe it?
From out the broad, fiat cotton fields
into another and . strip Of
woodland, and then out upon the grass
carpeted cliff called the landing, where
far below them, yellow and sluggish,
broad and resistless, the Mississippi riv.
er passed by them IN its way to the sea.
Seth drew rein abruptly.
1--WE might as well onhitch right
here and let the beasts Craze round
Plenty Of time to harness up against we
see the Deans lights about brakes
bend"
They tethered the beasts to convenient
saplings and left them to their own de-
vices, No sign Of human habitation on
their side Of the river. Behind them
rose the green wall Of the forest trees
that fringed the plantation on its water
front. Below them, washing the green
lower slopes Of the cliff, the river with
its ceaseless throb and flow.
Across the tawny watery expanse the
glimmering lights Of q sleeping hamlet.
Over them an onyx sky, pierced here
and there at far intervals with a dia-
mond point Of light. The time and the
place invited condolences.
First thing q fire. I told the fellows
the Dean that we was lookin for sis
sy to come down with them. and IL they
seen 2 light On the cliff they was to put
her out at Nevitt'a r they didn't see
no light, they wns to carry her on round
the pint to the wharfboat. You zee, IL
it had been rainin tonight, I shouldn't
the little thing to take this
ride.
The fire was Q lighted, and. BY the
cracking. leaping flames Seth looked
s,,ko 0kucr usc Oo1n trosrh1od fann IT,.