Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-06-17

to bear him up. His courage was gone,
ana burving his face in the short grass,
he cried hopelessly. He did not notice
that q tall. red-faceC man on horse
hack had stopped and was looking at
him He was too tired TO know or 20
care The stranger shifted his rifle ana
spa+ vigorously. but the boy did not
raise his head. Seeing that this
measure had failed, the man then call
ed out brusquely:
whats the matter thar"
The boy slowly assumed a sitting
posture and wiped his nose on his dirty
sleeve.
"NOthin'. =
"Whatr yer cryin' about then?'
Use hongry en- Use tired
"Hongry? Hain't yer had no din
ner?"
"Hain't had no brellfus nuther."
Wizard yer come from?'
mo Business Mounting"
"Whooee, Walk all the way?"
''Yas, suh-en ruined"
''Whar yer gwine?
mo whars JeS' gwine away"
"Gwine away. GWine away from
wharf" asked the man, showing symp-
toms Of Impotence.
"Gwine away from our house. He
,iken ter have kilt me, an | ruined
away. l spec he is kilt nanny" and
the boy began to sob again.
"Who?"
NV p-daddy-BlufOrd Logan"
"Jrmph," the rider calculated con-
temptuously, and sat for a moment
gazing at the woebegone boy. An
,-.,..-., finally said
Vas. suh-I sholy is" answered the
lad eagerly.
.J-h huh, Wal. climb up behine. |
rcckin Sary kin fine yer sump'n nuther
Ter eat
The lad scrambled up by means Of
the riders extended foot. Then the
mountaineer chrped to his horse,
which set off at pace that effeCtually
prccludcd further conversation. No
13It was made for several miles. They
rotraced part of Jim's former route,
left the comparatively level plateau
and crossing several spurs, at last de-
sccnded into a dark glen shut in by
PERCEPTIONS ridges, and covered by
dense forest Entering this, and pass
ing several small fields, they drew rein
in front of a rude but substantial log
house.
'Light-'Hght," said the man; this
is the place"
The boy slid to the ground, and the
man dismountcd. A woman with a
| baby in her arms came to the door
She looked al the boy critically, and at
last calculated, well, | never! Who's
this. Ham,"
"Oh. little Teller l picked up on the
mounting He's run off, an he's hon
cry. Says he's Blueford Logan's wife's
boy"
Then the woman remembered some
thing about Blueford Logan's wife. and
froWned; but as she looked again at
the thin. pathetic figure Of the boy,
her heart was touched, and she re
Tented.
Yer shore does look hongry," she
said Come in an git sump'n ter
eat"
When the man returned from
ut the table. Yer feel some better
now. don't Yer. er-er-" he asked,
hesitating for the name.
Jim. sub. Vas. subj" said the boy
humbIy answering the direct and the
lmplled question.
When the meal was ended the
woman said not unkindly, "Yousc
mighty tired. amt yer?"
Use tired ter DEATH
wal. yander's yer pallet in that
room thar. Lay down en- go ter sleep"
As he disappeared she turned to her
husband. Hes nigh starved an beat
ter DEATH she said. Did yer see
them welts on his arms?''
When breakfast was over the next
morning the mountaineer asked.
"Whar bouts this morning? Bout
ready ter go home?"
II KANT 90 home. He'd beat me ter
death" answered the boy.
"Whar'n yer 60. them"
II dunno. sir. | thought may be you
all" he hesitated, and tried hard to
swallow the lump in his throat-"yOu
all nd femme stay an work fer YER
Did, hey? What kin you do?"
q kin chop wood en- tote water, en-
hoe Gavin. I'd be heap o help
Dunno t | want any boy foolin'
roun'.'
Let him stay-leastways ontiI you
kin see his folks said the woman.
All right. Just. as you say, Sary,"
ana as Han McPeak went off to his
distilling, he saw Jim bravely pegging
away at the woodpile.
Poor little devil.' he said pity
ingly.