Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-05-17

Inc balNll WAS ScHSltINCi anu ~ 'HN
suggestion his eyes flashed. "Tailor!"
he began. with snort of indignation,
but checked himself. "In the mean
time" he continued, with forced po-
likeness. "I'll trouble We for your
name"
and what if l dinna tell YEP"
asked the shepherd, sweetly.
9TH be the waur for yourself! I'll
Just haze to follow ye."
"Aweel, it's gey lonesome bit O
the road anyway, and I'll be name the
waur o. your company. We can haze
a crack on the way. Ye see" he con-
tinucd, az they set off together 81
Gamma afford to gang to the Jail just
the noo-the wather's over guild; and
I've nae siller to waste on fines"
IF We Gamma pay the fine, to the
jail We maun gang"
wen see if we Gamma find some it'll
er way" said the shepherd, cheerily.
Out we'll no crack about that the
moo. TAX a fill" and he held out a
stump of rank black tobacco.
The bailiff was surly and taciturn.
He was deeply wrathful at being COM
PEELED to follow. and he walked on
ward in stolid silence. The shepherd,
on the other hand, was in particularly
pleasant humor and, considering his
grave delinquency, his conversation
was light hearted to an unseemly de-
gree.
"Guid yowes!" he said, with a wave
of his hand toward the flock. "Ihe
best sheep to be got in the market!
And We would scarcely believe it, but
l bocht them frae the maist black
yird dealer in the country. It's a
queer thing. 1t doesna often happen;
but I've managed it this time;" and
he poked at a goodly sheep with Il
prunt of satisfaction. And | see
we're cycling the dOwgs," he contin-
ued. airilv. "Fine animals! Man, are
they no Just beauties, bath o them?
1t would TAX a lot to beat the black
vim: and for Meg-there's no her
marrow in the countryside amang
sheep; she's gleg yin, and mony a
story could tell about her. Yell ken
that wild bit, ava at the head O the
waiter. ca'ed the Craig Slap? Weel,
it was ae dark winters nicht"- And
he rambled into some story not over
creditable to himself.
So he ratified on, from subject to
subject, story to story, entirely reck'
less of the fact that the baihit pald
him not the least attention. That
minister of the law, albeit at heart he
felt somewhat apprehensive, pre-
served outwardly a dignitied and
scornful silence.
The day was approaching the dark
ening, and the night frost was ting
ling in the faces of the two men when
at last the shepherd halted. They had
come to a place where the stream ran
in pools and shadows, and as far as
the turn in the valley there was no one
in sight.
Meg" cried the shepherd, watch
thae sheep" and he turned toward the
stream.
"Whaur are We gaun?" asked the
bailiff, suspiciously.
"To catch saumon. Are We comin'|
said the shepherd, cheerfully. lie
peered cautiously over the edge of the
bank and drew back in silence. Hush
Here's a grand yin. Haze We gotten
your heuks, baili1f? No? Then III
haze to lend We mine"
"What for?"
"To catch that saumOn."
"Whae?'
"You."
The bailifT laughed scornfully.
"Weel," said the shepherd, III no
pit We in there. Even sma' thing
frichts a saumon. But, that's fine
deep pool Wonder; and I'm thinkin' it's
gcy cauld moo that the suns doom
VIII We catch that saumOn?"
"No."
"Thcn it Gamma be helpit;" and, tuck
ING the small man under his arm, The
shepherd carried him kicking an(
wrigglng to the edge of the pool. II
another moment the unhappy bailif
was standing waist deep in water.
MOO" he continued, laying hi
watch on the grass, I'll gle yc three
minutes TO max up your mind; and j
by that time ye'r%aye obstinate, hea'
over heels We 90 into the deep BIT"
For a minute there was silence be
tween the two men, broken only b,
the swish Of The stream and the lappin!
of the water against the bailiff's body
then the shepherd broke out G~@in.
"No." he said, with the air Of one VIII
has been bordering difficult question
81 Gamma for the life o. me max on
what in tie world CARED ye veniur
sac far frae hame. Ance afore-it wa
lang syne-a bailiff cam here and wha
. he got was a warnin' to them tina
tam after him. He was a big man
but what CARED you, man o you
size. daur l Gamma think. le Wad Cd
: | veel eneuch, I've nae dOOt, amanS IN
: shilpit bodies that bide where yo
: cam frae. But to come here-its
> perfect insult to the muirs. just ii!
! ure you and muckle Jock Shiel'--ar
= at the imaginative picture the she
. herd was convulsed with silent laug
! ter.
e Meanwhile-for he was a console
e tious mana struggle was in pro8re
: in the bailitf's heart. For tie fir
4 minute his resolution stood firm
e his duty. But gradually the ice co
e Of the water seeped through h
S clothes, through his skin, into his vei
t bones. His legs ached and shivers we
t, through his whole body. The CO
g crept steadily upward, seeming to e
pei all the blood from his legs;
y it advanced his resolution began pr
n portionately to wane, and he to thin
f he had better make the best of b
l. business. The struggle with his co
n science was short. He looked at t
f dark, deep hole where the strea
e FLASHED into the pool, and shuddert
It The struggle was over. He had sto
e by his duty long enough. Surely
s would be folly to go further. So VIII