The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1900-05-31
THE
SMITH GIRLS SLIGHT.
VVVVYV.vv'vVVVV
BY OpIE READ,

BY o7IE READ.
JEFF Slogan and old man Matterson
sat at the kitchen table long after the
remains of supper were cleared away.
1t was night of reminiscence with
the old man, and he told of the bears
aud wolves he had slain in the days
when. Tennessee was young. my old
granddad left me the ritie," said he,
glancing toward corner of the room,
sand many time I've been advised
to have percussion Lock put on it,
but q fiintlock was good enough for
him and it's got to be good enough
for me. 0f course you've seen the
gun. but I'll show it to you again"
"Ifs q beauty" said JEFF.
Well, yes, unless you can find a
better word. And let me tell you
something, but you must not say any
thing about it Granddad was be-
ginning to get pretty old and little
things had begun to bother him. One
ofkis daughters married no-account
! stage-driver, and his half-witted son
cut fellow all to pieces at sawmill.
So he fretted good deal. Well, one
night he was coming home from q
muster, and man named Bridge
Peters with him. All at once grand.
dad stops in the road and says to
Bridge: If I only knowed which one
OF them stars up thar was my unlucky
star, I'd shoot it out Bridge asked
If he thought his gun would tote that
! far, and the old man looted like an
owl Don't you worry about that,
said he just pick out the star you
think is the cause of my bad luck and
ont she goes.
Bridge was q sort Of reckless fell
low, so he looks up, he does,
and says: There she is, that star
OF there about Is feet from the
moon. The old man didn't hesitate a
minute. He raised his gun-this hero
old one right here--and she cracked
like whip-and what do you think
happened? Out went the star like
snufin' a tallow candle. Bridge he
took to his heels, and it was enough
s to scare any man, but granddad didn't
run. BE walked off slow to show the
other stars that he wasn't afraid, but
he begins to git sick at his stomach,
and be the time he got home he could
hardly hold up his head. And, sir, he
laid for four weeks, and then died.
JEFF looked hard at the old man and
said: ST don't believe word of il. "
How do you account for it?"
II account for it by not believ-
ing it; that's how" JEFF was in
aSorrowful mood that night, and was
mot prepared to believe even the most
apparent truth.
what are you thinkin' about,
Jef?,
Liza Smith and her party
'Sorter in the dumps because she
didn't ask you?"
ssWell, I don't like it"
why don't you kill her dog?"
ssWhat good would that do?"
Why, don't you know that the best
way to git even with q high-headed
woman is to kill her dog? It is
there's sort of o charm about it, aud
If you kill woman's dog, and she
don't find out who does it, she'll fall
in love with you. It's a fact; she'll
drap right down into pure love. Say,
that Smith girl has a dog that size
thinks the wcrld OF. Why don't you
kill him as you go by there tonight
on your way homer"
Tn half mind to. Got pistol?"
s.No, but You can take granddad's 8
gun.,'
SIS she loaded?"
ssWith double charge of powder
and slug an inch long"
I'm half inclined to do it,
ssI'll bet the gal draps down into
the purest sort of love. I jest want
to see it; these amt nothin' pulitzer
TO me than fust rate article of love. u
Only when he was out in the road
did JEFF realize that he carried the old
gun upon his shoulder. He halted
and, bare of head, sat upon rock to
let the cool air fan him. From owe,
the hilltop came the bark of the Smith
girls dog. JEFF got up and strobe
along until he came within sight o'
Smiths house. he could hear the
merrymaking of the Smith girl and
her guests. Through a window he
saw the company dancing; and the
Smith girl danced witha fellow named
Alb Squat JEFF hated Squat. He
was cross-eyed and low of brow. HI
thought that he saw her smile al
Squat and he gripped his gun. But
there was no murder in his heart. He
aspired only to assassinate dog. JEFF
saw him coming down the hill.
Tie dog came at gallop, cut &
eaper of delight. and before JEFF could
fire, had licked his hand. Then there
came a gulp of remorse. He put
down his gun, stroked the dog anc
hugged him in his loneliness. 50
wouldn't hurt you, old fellow" hs
said. ''They thrust you into the
darkness, and they don't invite me ou
of it, and so we are brothers. Hello
there is the moon, brim full, JUS
above the trees" The dog whined
.tJust IS we'll shoot at it as to bark q
it, old fellow" he said. He took sigh
and touched the trigger. Off wen
the gun. And then Jeff's heart flew
to his mouth. The moon exploded
and the sky was full of fiery snakes
The dog howled. JEFF dropped tn
gun and, over logs and through
bushes. tore home.
When JEFF reached home the worlt
Z was dark save the pale stars slowl,
Weeping ou. their light. He went t
his room and, sitting at the window
stroye to reason with himself. Blu
it was of no use to reason. He hat