Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-21
"A Christmas Bullet.

| Old Sam Purdy was THE best rifle
shot in the Ozark mountains. Other
men might boast of their accomplish
ments, fitting at logs in the new
ground clearing, breaking steers, box
| ing. fiddling. and the numerous other
graces that mark social life in a rude
community, BUT no one hoped to gain
the .eminence held by old Sam, for
rifie-shooting was written above all
ether requirements. Sam had killed
two men. and the law had made pre-
tense of taking him to account; but
| the men had been strangers in the
community, Which went far to prove
Jhat the old fellow had acted in self
defense. He was proud. but not super
| cihous. he had gracious way of un-
| bending, of Joining in the airy talk of
| his neighbors. His wife was dead, and
/ his household was presided over by his
| handsome daughter. whom he play
| fully called Mig, on account of her
black and kinky hair. In the neigh
| b0rhood lived a young fellow named
| Boyers, and it was known that he was
in dove with Mig. He had worked one
| season for old Sam, and it was well
known that he was painstaking and
Industrious, but having no accomplish
ments such as Sam was compelled to
! recognize, it was not thought that he
could summon the hardihood to aspire
to the hand of the girl He could read
fine print and could write out a con-
stables sale: he could jump fairly we'll
and swrestle acceptably.- but his fiddang
was poor and his shooting con-
! temptible; and therefore old Sam had
not suspected his ambition. One Sun
day morning Boyers came over to the
houserand took seat on the veranda
where che old man sat .oiling his rifle
The o1H fellow looked up and nodded.
HoN's everything movin, Boyers?'
he asked, resuming his work
An right, l reckon. Is Mig about
! the iAeuse?"
,sIafaeckon so,s4 he answered, and al
athat moment he noticed a slight agita.
Z ton in TIE manner of the young man
.:What5ethe matter with you? Got +
;sfchiH PA
st No., Boyers answered, slowly shak
3 .his head; it's more like fever"
j jIgThat soeS You spoke about Mig
XNhat has she got to do with fever
z lEsfshes got everything TO do wifi
sAe tshe sbIOHgi1t it on e.
a9ha Old hap put his gun on the floor
affhrned pa lqoked hard at the youns
hi y:Elh I'D at. Ketchin' things" sait
4 t14lnies III f6grabs things about as fast a.
III they Hung. as usual khing, but
,fadket ek YOU.
B - iS.sa fever said the youns
.3nfaia b0Nfng far across the valley witt
a dfE4Minsay in his eyes.
E sssss1Nj6h n start the old man straight.
feneH up and cleared his throat. Yes
Ilose is sometimes a fever he said
land sometimes a fever is followed b.
a coldness th at never gifts warm ag'in
1ook here, do YOU mean TO, tell nae tha
t:y0u aove that gifI?. a -
& Yes. sir;s that ssWhy 4 came this
mofhing.1ts ~ aassa ..s3sss
! The Sin fellow sfroksa hi4 griz,
zled beard II hope you'll listg9
Ito me - while II say a. seA
worlds 4 love that child besA|
than anything aon sHhes earth III
Egif1ih apdsessnd + can9 expect to s5s
here a4sany wears longer. but as lese
LIDO stay she i gdtn' 10 stay heE NJ
me, ssss5 i E.s',ssf =
Fl know what YOU think OF her, TIL
4 you4rg man Replies 4 land ais ain.ts ma
q Intention to kake heEr away. We coulf
4 I'VE here with YOU.
The Old man made motion as il
dboplt to sna tch up the gun, sbut he re.
STRAINED hinSeH. II don't think yol
could" said she. IN fact, know II
reason. you eSn't. = $50
| .'But what have. YOU got against me
Mr.. Purdy % ss
~ amt BOT nothin' ag'in you till yol
4 talk about marryin' her. and then Pve
4 got everything ag Fin you. You can SCI
Ihow hard m9tryinssto be quiet, cans
your "
Yes sir; and I'm much obliged te
lyou But we love each other and. have
iagreed to get married. She told me
that might ask you
what putty spell Of weather We
| are liavtn = said the OH man. hooking
out over the woods <6urpling In the
1 autumn air. he ffeek Is clear and
the black hawsSap ripe: fhes hills arr
| blue at the topaSaf old najturs has CHM
| up stherk to 4re<En: the greenbrier has
put IN her red shawl and the owl is
singlm Haes Aokn in the holler. 1t is
thsA Imspf year when she sensible man
stops Methe road and puts his arms on
1.-THE f6nce and thinks. And it don,
strik me that it. the proper time Of
4 pear for tI1esyoun man to die. AMI
Last think, Christmas will soon be
lherf. 4
4 III think understand you. Mr..
1nx,ly. Yowsmean that you'll kill me
- than asesine have. he girl. Z
That s.sphat fasan And !