Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-21
I will go after him!" cried the Boer wo-
man as Bonaparte Blenkins wildly fed
into the fields.

Late in the evening Of the same day
Waldo knelt on the floor Of his cabin.
He bathed the foot of his dog which
had been pierced by q thorn. The
bruises on his own back had had five
days to heal in, and, except little
stiffness in his movements, there was
nothing remarkable about the boy.
The troubles Of the young are soon
over. They leave no external mark.
If you wound the tree in its youth, the
bark will quickly cover the cash; but
when the tree is very old, peeling the
bark off and looking carefully, you will
see the scar there still. All that is
buried is not dead.
Waldo poured the warm milk over
the little swollen foot. Doss lay very
quiet, with tears In his eyes. Then
there was tap at the door. In an in.
slant Doss looked wide awake and
winked the tears out from between his
little lids.
"Come in," said Waldo, intent on his
work, and slowly and cautiously the
door opened.
Good evening, Waldo, my boy" said
Bonaparte Blenkins in mild voice,
not venturing more than his nose with
in the door. "How are you this even
ing?'
Doss growled and showed his little
teeth and tried to rise, but his paw
hurt him so he whined.
"I'm very tired, Waldo, my boy"
said Bonaparte, plaintively.
Doss showed his little white teeth
again. His master went on with his
work without looking round. There
are some people at whose hands it is
best not to look. At last he said:
"Come I'M
Bonaparte stepped cautiously little
way Into the room and left the door
open behind him. He looked at the
boys supper on the table.
waldo, I've had nothing to eat all
day. I'm very hungry" he said.
Eat" said Waldo after moment,
bending lower over his dog.
"You won't go and tell her that am
here. will you, Waldo" said Bona
parte, most uneasily. you've heard
how she used me, Waldo? I've been
badly treated. You'll know yourself
what it is some day when you can't
carry on. little conversation with a
lady without having salt meat and pic
kle water thrown at you. Waldo, look
at me. Do l look as gentleman
should?"
But the boy neither looked up nor an
swered, and Bonaparte grew more
uneasy.
ssYou wouldn't so and tell her that
am here, would you? said Bonaparte
whiningly. s"rhere's no knowing what
she would do to me. I've such trust in
you, Waldo. I've always thought you
such promising lad, though you
mayn't have known 1t, Waldo"
Eat" said the boy. II shall say
nothing"
Bonaparte, who knew the truth
when another spoke it. closed the door.
carefully putting on the button. Then
he looked to see that the curtain of the
window was closely pulled down, and
seated himself ut the table. He was
soon munching the cold meat and
bread. Waldo knelt on the floor, bath
ing the foot with hands which the dog
licked lovingly. Once only he glanced
at the table and turned away quickly.
"Ah, yes! don't wonder that you
can't look at me, Waldo" said Bona
parte. "My condition would touch any
heart. You see. the water was fatty,
and that has made all the sand stick to
me. And my hair" said Bonaparte,
tenderly touching the little fringe at
the back Of his head. sis all caked over
like a little plank. You wouldn't think
it was hair at all" said Bonaparte
plaintively. 81 had to creep all along
the stone walls for fear she'd see me
and with nothing on my head but a red
handkerchief tied under my chin, Wal
do. and to hide in 'sloot' the whole
day, with not mouthful of food. Wal
do. And she gave me such blow just
here" said Bonaparte.
He had cleared the plate of the last
morsel,when Waldo rose and walked to
the door.
"Oh, my Waldo, my dear boy, you
are not going to call her." said Bona.
parte, rising an1iously.
II am going to sleep in the wagon"
said the boy. opening the door.
"Oh. we can both sleep in this bed.
There's plenty of room. Do stay, my
boy. please"
But Waldo stepped out.
ut was such little whip. Waldo"
said Bonaparte. following him depre-
catingly. Il didn't think it would hurt
you SO much. 1t was such little whip.
I'm sure you didn't take the peaches.
You aren't going to call her. Waldo,
are your"
But the boy walked off.
Bonaparte waited till his figure had
passed round the front of the wagon
house and then slipped out. he hid
himself round the corner. but kept
peeping out to see who was coming. He
felt sure the boy was gone to call Tant'
Sannie. His teeth chartered with in
ward cold as he looked round into the
darkness and thought or the snakes
that might bite him. and the dreadful
things that might attack him and the
dead th0t might arise o,,t Of their ORC vns