Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-04-19

PRIL 10, 1900
feet in n small tub, and Bonaparte,
who sat on the " Ien sofa, was pull
ing of his shoes and stockings that his
own feet might be washed also. There
were three candles burning in the
room, and he and Tant Sannie sat
close together, with the lean Hottentot
not far off. for when ghosts are about
much light is needed. There is great
strength in numbers. Bonaparte had
completely recovered from the effects
of his fright in the afternoon. and the
numerous doses Of brandy that 1t had
been necessary to administer TO him to
effect his restoration had put him in
q singularly pleasant and amiable
mood
''That boy Waldo said BoEIparte,
rubbing his toes, took himself off cool
ly this morning as soon as the wagon
came and has not done a silver of
work all day. I'll not have that kind
Of thing now I'm master of this farm"
The Hottentot maid translated.
"Ah, expect he's sorry that his IA
thcr's dead" said Tant' Sannie. ITS
nature, you know. | cried the whole
morning when my father died. One
can always get another husband but
one can't get another father" said
Tant' Sannie, casting sidelong glance
at Bonaparte.
BOnaparte expressed a wish to give
Waldo his orders for the next days
work, and accordingly the little woolly
headed KaiIir was sent to call him.
After a considerable time the boy ap-
pearcd and stood in the doorway.
If they had dressed him In one of the
swallowtailed coats and oiled his hair
till the drops fell from it and it lay as
smooth as an elders on sacrament Sun
day, there would still have been some
thing unaEointed in the aspect of the
fellow. As II was, standing there in
his strange old costume, his head pre-
senting much the appearance of hav-
ing been deeply rolled in sand his eye
lids swollen, the hair hanging over his
forehead and a dogged sullenness on
his features, he presented most the ap-
pearance of an III conditioned young
lHffalo
Beloved Lord" cried Tant Sannie,
'how he looks, Come in, boy. Couldn't
you come and say good day to me?
Don't you want some support"
He said he wanted nothing and
turned his heavy eyes away from her.
There's ghost been seen in your
fathers room," said Tant Sannie. "If
you're afraid, you can sleep in the
kitchen"
81 will sleep in our ROOM" said the
boy slowly.
"Well, you can go now," she said,
'but be up early to take the sheep. The
herd
Eyes, be up early, my boy" inter
rupted Bonaparte, smiling. 81 am to
be master Of this farm now, and we
shall be good friends, | trust, very
good friends, If you try to do your
duty, my dear boy"
Waldo turned to go, and Bonaparte,
looking benignly at the candle, stretch
ed out one unstockinged foot, over
which Waldo, looking at nothing in
particular, fell with heavy thud upon
the floor.
"Dear me! l hope you are not hurt,
my boy" said Bonaparte. You'll have
many harder thing than that, though,
before you've gone through life" he
added consolingly as Waldo picked
himself up
The lean Hottentot laughed till the
room rang again, and Tant Sannie tit
tered till her sides ached.
When he had gone. the little maid be-
gan to wash Bonaparte's feet.
40 Lord, beloved Lord, how he did
fall | can't think Of It," cried Tant
Sannie, and she laughed again. 81 al
ways did know he was not right, but
this evening any one could see it," she
added, wiping the tears Of mirth from
her face. His eyes are as wild as If
the devil was In them. He never was
like other children. The dear Lord
knows, If he doesn't walk alone for
hours talking to himself. If you sit in
the room with him, you can see his lips |
moving the whole time, and If you talk
TO him 20 times he doesn't hear you.
Daft eyes-hes as mad as mad can |
be-"
The repetition Of the word mad con- !
yeyed meaning to Bonaparte's mind. |
He left off padding his toes in the wa
ter.
"Mad, mad? | know that kind of |
mad" said Bonaparte, "and | know !
the thing TO give for it the front end |
of little horsewhip, the tip; nice |
thing; takes It out" said Bonaparte.
The Hottentot laughed and trans |
lated.
"No more walking about and talking |
to themselves on this farm now" said !
Bonaparte, mo more mindlng OF sheep |
and reading OF books at the same time. |
The point OF horsewhip Is n little |
thing but think he'll have n taste Of +!
IL before long" Bonaparte rubbed his |
hands and looked pleasantly across his |
nose, and then the three laughed to- !
gcther grlmly.
And Waldo In his cabin crouched In |
the dark in n corner, with his knees |
drawn up TO his chin.