The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-09


aspect by heart lie had nevea been so
much as fifty miles away from Il. Hand
In hand with Ellen he had roamed over
every foot of II. bench and level and
hill slope. or sat IN his rough porch,
watching Il grow green In SPRING sun
shine. or laugh into summer LEAKAGE. or
russle with fat harvests IN the red and
russell time. He had watched through
the rain. and the fine weather. In the
snow az dawn, az dark.
There was no need 20 open hts eyes
until he came 20 the gate. The mules
would keep the road Of their own mo
tion-besides he could drive there II Il
were black dark and himself stone blind.
They must be coming on 60 the big rock
now. The road made sharp turn there
he drew little on the near rein. aud
smiled 20 feet the wagon swing without
the least Jar.
Suddenly the mules Enorted stopping
In their tracks Jimmy was alrao5t
pitched upon shelr backs A. he scram-
Sled upright he heard a cracking. hiss
ing noise-a hot red flare struck him W N
the sting 81 a hash. He stared "a minute,
uucomprehending. then feli back. moaning
aud covering his eyes. Flames leuped.
licking. dartine, from every window OF
his house The roof was smoking furi-
ously In another minute the fire would
break through. Men were kindiing other
fires In che outhouses. Ahshire watched
them. his hands in his pockets. faint
gratificd smile about his hpg
The mules backed and tremhied. ard
even reared a little. but Jimmy drove
them relenilersiy forward. The read was
so narrow he must drive into the lot
before he could turn. Ahshlre stood a.
the gate OF IL. He started at sight Of
Jimmy. '1eft anything" he asked. Il
hope q was nothing OF consequence. You
see, I'm about making a clean sweep"
PILLARS OF fire shot up from the house.
painting all she dun valley with their
own scarlet glow. They were 80 fierce
the wind scarce could bend them even
AZ the tip and make OF them flaming
banners IN the sky. The house was TIM
der-try. and burned with a roar like that
Of q hurricane. II reused Elien's uumbed
senses She struggled up 40 her knees.
looking wildly about her. then with a
scream. leaped to the ground and darted
toward the door shrisking. My baby!
My little babyl Have you eft Il there
TO hurnT''
Jimmy held her. struggling and painting.
THE baby dled-and she went out OF her
head" he said 70 Abshire duly. Il
fetched her hack-T thought It might help
her-and that maybe YOU"
1T was foolish and perfectly useless"
Abshire said. irritnbly See here Daw-
&on. can't YOU understand You-shia
house-was in my way. | determined to
buy and burn Il as soon "a begun
building. You can easily find a better
one you have still some money"
Excuse my comm Mir. AhEhlrer'
Jimmy said. lifting his wife into the wagon
as he spoke: 1T was foolish. ought
10 a-lsnown you could not he made 90 zee
sheres things in this world money can't
either buy. or do"
The roof fen IN as he spoke sending
showers OF sparks and flaming brands
far around One OF the brands fell upon
Dawaon's hare hand. burning IL slightly.
Another struck Ahshlre on the cheek. but
glanced OF harmless. Ellen had grown
quiet. looking about her with frightened
eyes. She gazed al Abshire vacantly,
then said. as though speaking 60 some
thing unseen: You say he shall be burn
ed yet-and with FIRE OF his own max
ing.
"a was only a mad womau's ravlng. But
long after the wagon had rumbied out
OF sight, when all the fires had sunk to
gllrnsnssing hanks OF Goals, Abshire walk
ing home at the head OF his hired men.
shivered, as though stricken with deadly
cold.
Abshire was Just Jimmy Dawson's age
El=nlf ne EAA inc greater PARK OF
hig big fortune He was not a native.
He had been drawn 10 the county By the
mineral riches OF a district lying some
thing deeper in the hills. lie had bought
the lands for a song. then set no mines
and furnaces upon them. Mysterious
transactions vaguely spoken OF as deals.
had taken them of his hands. leaving
him a clear million. magnihcently invest
al Then he had decided to go IN for the
already all the land at the head OF che
valley There he built a big gray stone
house. sheltered. yet airy made green
lawns about a. and set orchards and
gardens and vineyards. ring fence ran
round 1t an hut he was graAous-any-
bs,iy was welcome 20 80 through his gates
and along his well-kept private roads.
Indeed, he was gracious TO everybody,
when once ne was rid Of the Dawsons.
They did noe prove iroublesome-even
as a memory. He heard vaguely that
they had gone away. Some said Ellen
had come back 40 herself, others that
she was sin nlghty. All agreed that
Jimmy would take excellent care OF her
and since she was not violent. Il was
wen he had her TO care for. Abshiro
listened with exactly the proper degree
OF sympathy. The speakers decided he
could not have anything on his con-
scienee-he never made the least EFFORT
10 change the conversation. The truth
was he was bent on proving 70 himself
that he had nos. In that. rs In most
other things. he had great success.
StiIl. when he began playing at poll
tics, he kept rather out OF sight. He
made che party elates. naming Judges,
congressman and such like and pulled
the wires whereby his puppets should
put them through. Place honors for
himself he put aside. The leaders de-
cided in their inner minds that he was
either very disiuterested. or very am
bilious IL might be he played for the
game. not the stakes II might be also
he aimed az she highest things. so did
not wish 20 make himself cheap and
hackneysd as a holder Of those less ex-
allied.
He was a bachelor. His mother and
bevy OF orphan nIeces Kept house FOR
him. II was open house the year round.
and came easily 20 be the center OF
things social and things political IN
that part OF Tho country. He had nne
parties indoors for his specially chosen
friends. and barhecues. lawn dances and
so on, for his friends and the county be-
side
Something momentous happenss ~
one OF the lawn dances. Abshire pro-
posed to Margaret wycsh. She looked
up al him. colorinK family. aud said with
the teaws hard breath: Il will marry you
when you are Governor OF the state"
Then she ran away. She was proud
ana aYubltious~rnore ambitious for him
,tnr a,,nr fnr hereeif She wanted him