Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-05-03

lJOSs EEJN 4tO anu SDON III lll1 AAtlAt
teeth and tried to rise, bat his paw
hurt him so he whined.
I'm very tired. Waldo. my boy"
said Bonaparte. plaintivcly.
Doss showed his little white teeth
again His master went on with his
work without looking round. There
are some people at whose hands it is
/ best not to look. At last he said:
Come in"
Bonaparte stepped cautiously little
way into the room and left the door
open behind him. He looked at the
boys supper on the table.
Waldo. I've had nothing to eat all
day. I'm very hungry" he said.
Eat" said Waldo after a moment,
bending lower over his dog.
"You won't 20 and tell her that am
here, will you. WaldoE" said Bona
parte. most uneasily. You've heard
how she used me- Waldo? I've been
badly treated. You'll know yourself
what it is some day when you can't
carry on a little conversation with n
lady without having salt meat and pic
klc water thrown at you. Waldo look
at me- Do | look as a gentleman
should?"
But the boy neither looked up nor an
swered and Bonaparte grew more
uneasy
"You wouldn't 20 and tell her that
am here. would your said Bonaparte
whiningly. There's no knowing what
she would do to me. I've such trust in
you. Waldo. I've always thought you
such promising lad, though you
mayn't have known it, Waldo"
Eat" said the boy. 81 shall say
nothing"
Bonapartc. who knew the truth
when another spoke it, closed the door,
carefully putting on the button. Then
he looked to see that the curtain Of the
window was closely pulled down and
seated himself at the table. He was
soon munching the cold meat and
bread Waldo knelt on the floor, bath
ing the foot with hands which the dog
licked lovingly. Once only he glanced
at the table and turned away quickly.
"Ah, yesl | don't wonder that you
can't look at me, Waldo" said Bona
parte. My condition would touch any
heart You see, the water was fatty,
and that has made all the sand stick to
me And my hair" said Bonaparte,
tenderly touching the little fringe at
the back of his head, lis all caked over
like little plank You wouldn't think
it was hair at ALL" said Bonaparte
plaintivcly. Il had to creep all along
the stone walls for fear she'd see me
and with nothing on my head but red
handkerchief tied under my chin, Wal
do, and to hide in a 'sloot' the whole
day, with not a mouthful of food, Wal
do. And she gave me such blow just
here" said Bonaparte.
He had cleared the plate of the hast
morsel when Waldo rose and walked to
the door
"Oh, my Waldo, my dear boy, you
are not going to call her." said Bona
parte, rising anxiously.
81 am going to sleep In the wagon"
said the boy, opening the door.
"Oh, we can both sleep in this bed.
There's plenty of room. Do stay, my
boy, please"
DuI w diuO oiippCh OuA-
at was such little whip, Waldo"
said Bonaparte following him depre-
catingly Il didn't think it would hurt
you so much. 1t was such a little whip.
I'm sure you didn't take the peaches.
You aren't going to call her, Waldo,
are youT
But the boy walked off.
Bonaparte waited till his figure had
passed round the front of the wagon
house and then slipped out. He hid
himself round the corner, but kept
peeping out to see who was coming. He
felt sure the boy was gone to call Tant'
Sannie. His teeth chattered with in
ward cold as he looked round into the
darkness and thought of the snakes
that might bite him, and the dreadful
things that might attack him and the
dead that might arise out of their graves
If he slept out in the field all light. But
more than an hour passed, and no foot
step approached.
Then Bonaparte made his way back
to the cabin. He buttoned the door and
put the table against 1t, and, giving the
dog a kick to silence his whining when
the foot throbbed, he climbed into bed.
He did not put out the light for fear
of the ghost, but, worn out with the
sorrows of the day, was soon asleep
himself.
About o'clock Waldo, lying be-
tween the seats of the horse wagon,
was awakened by gentle touch on
his head
Sitting up, he espied Bonaparte look
ing through one Of the windows with
lighted candle i'm his hand.
I'm about to depart, my dear boy
before my enemies arise, and l could
not leave without coming to bid you
farewell" said Bonaparte.
Waldo looked at him.
81 shall always think of you with af-
fection," said Bonaparte. "And there's
that old hat of yours. If you could let
me have it for keepsake"-
"Take It," said Waldo.
81 thought you would say so so /
brought it with me-" said Bonaparte.
putting 1t on. "The Lord bleGs you,
my dear boy. You haven't few
shilllngs, just trine you don't need,
have your
Take the two shillings that are in
the broken vase"
MAY the blessing Of my God rest
upon you, my dear child" said Bona
parte. MAY he guile and bless you.
Give me your hand"
Waldo folded his arms closely and
lay down.
Farewell adeur' said Bonaparte.
May the blessing Of my God and my |
fathers God rest on you, now and |
evermore."
With these words the head and nose
withdrew themselves, and the light |
vanished from the window.
After n few moments the boy, lying |
in the wagon, heard stealthy footsteps |
as they passed the wagon house and |
made their way down the road. He |
listened as they grew fainter and |
fainter and at last died away alto |
gcther and from that night the foot |
steps of Bonapartc Blenkns were /!
heard no more at the old farm.