The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-01-13

were Of various ages and sizes. in which
respect they were like unto the dogs,
which also represented wide latitude
OF years and growth. Tatman stepped
up and addressed the taliest boy.
Where's your father? he asked.
"The boy pushed back the tow-colored
name through which he had been star
ing and nodded toward the rear OF the
house. The sharp whack of descend
ing ak striking against hard wood en-
phasized the boys nod. 1t was now ap-
parent that the sound of the chopping |
which had been breaking on the still,
heavy air at intervals since we began
to descend the hill originated on Leach's
premises. In response to the boys 81
lent request to follow him, Tatman and
L fell m with the group OF boys and
girls and dogs and went around to the
back yard. Once in sight of this dreary
spot, we came to q dead stop. The
chopper was an old woman. Her fore
head was a network of wrinkles, Her
hair was yellowish gray. There was
only wisp of it. This was twisted into
a tight little knob at the top OF her
head, all except few thin strings which
had escaped the thralldom OF the comb
and struggled down around her bony
neck. The woman's cheeks were thin
and creased and her eyes were sunken.
Her thin calico gown displayed every
angle of her gaunt, ungainly figure.
Taken all in all, she was very home
", uncouth woman, but somehow there
was something about her that made me
feel timid. Tatman saw my trepidation
and took the initiative. He stepped for
ward and stood directly before the
chopper. She held the ak poised in the
air for moment, then let it sink down
easily on the hickory chunk. She rested
her hands on the handle and bent her
tall body slightly forward.
"'Well,' she said, what do You wantT
"Her steady look disconnected Tat
man, too, for minute, but he braced up
and came to the point without any use
less preliminaries.
"sDoes Hiram Leach live herer he
asked.
ayes she said, stifiy.
"Is he at homer continued Tat
man.
eyes she repeated.
az should like to see him., said Tat
man.
s'The woman grasped the AK handle
tighter and then leaned over little
farther. What you want of him" she
asked.
"Tatman looked at her significantly
I'm the sheriff. he said, bluntly and
cruelty. Perhaps you can guess the
rest
| "The ak dropped to the ground at that
and the woman pressed her. coarse rec
hands to her cheeks, over which snow
I. flakes were drifting like half-frozer
tears. She made no audible reply tt
! Tatman's communication, but the chill
dren, who had gathered close about us
took alarm at the dread word sheriff
! and broke out into concerted wall o
alright, as though they had heard tn
) crack of doom.
: "'Are you Leach's wifeT said Tat
, man.
. emo, his sister. His wife's dead
: Died when this'n was baby she said
laying her hand on the head of tn
: smallest child which had escaped t
: take refuge in the folds of her scan
: skirt. My name is Marthy Leach sh
t added, as an afterthought. I've stage
here ever since the children's mothe
S went and sort o. looked after 'em.'
e "Again Tatman hesitated.
"'You understand my errand her
TIM quite sure, Miss Leach he sait
You have undoubtedly heard the RI
o mors that have been current for week
: past concerning your brother. hay
+ a duty to perform. must scare
k your house.
d 1.-THE woman's thin, hatchet-lik
$ face grew more peaked and haggart
p For moment look of defianc
glowed in her eyes. When that die
=. away she lifted the smallest child int
}. her arms and started toward tn
, house.
IS "'Come on she said. He's in here
o "Tatman and / followed her into
$. long, low room, and the children an
d dogs crowded in at our heels. II
room was almost dark. The great,
h part of what poor light there was WI
,e derived from fitful flame that leapt
20 up from the log in the open fireplac
T. for the windows, which were too sma
,e to admit much light even in the
l. prime condition, were rendered almo
n opaque by the rags which were su
II stituted for the broken panes, and Il
d swirls of snow that coated the few i
is naming ones. A man sat at one CO
n ner of the fireplace. He was coughil
Pr violently when we entered, and n
I'd ticed that the hand he held up to
a lips was almost transparent in
IS thinness. The woman stood silent
st before him until his paroxysm
C. coughing had ended. Then she spok
nv Hi she said, heres two ren cor