Evening journal., 1900-02-28


We'll. Riah, is yo' biz-ness press
lngt' asked the colonel sarcastlcaliy. I
As he Strengthened his rotund figure |
Amariah looked from one to the un-
sympathetic face and his own flushed
painfully.
My biz-ness Is mo private than
pressin,' cunnel," be answered with
dignity after a pause
well, you couldn't be mo- private
than with me an Jedge Gary"
My hlz.ness have nothln' to DO
with Judge Gary: s-about-l.issyw
he jerked forth with so visible an
EFFORT that great drops OF Precipitation
stood out on his forehead which he
| wiped away with a large plaid hand
kerchief
"Oh. as to that-if it's bout Lissy."
chuchled the colonel with a knowing |
wink at the judge, "Jedge Gary has
a half interest there. too: mind, jedge. |
I've only said half today"
Amariah's limbs were stin and |
tired. but he would not sit down unin-
vited, and now an angry CLEAN shot
from his dark eyes.
IL see You air very sho Of my gram
fathers place. cunnel an much JOY
may you have-for whatever Is come
by honestly Is boun' 70 be enjoyed
'IIumphw growled the colonel.
"who told you to come here with your
impudent. KNOWN talkr'
Avery Solon." giggled the judge.
The young man felt that he was not
pushing his suit with policy. but his
blood was decidedly up.
You may sneer, iedge an you, Gun
mel may laugh. but as sho' as thar's
a God In heaven that plantation Is
I
terms. that ms folks can't understan'
thar wouldn't n been any suit tween
my father an you. AS for Lissy--I
love her an she-she keers for me;
but so long as | have only po' shell
ter sich as mine to offer her, ! amt
ft TO kiss the groun she walks on.
God viii help me through feel it.
an / warn YOU the Jessup planta-
iion'n never be yoursp
"Whatw yelled the colonel. spring
ing from his chair and glaring suspi-
clously at the two men.
What. | tell you, you lyin rnskill.
that I'm as sartin OF that plantation
las l am OF the-the-the iedge's hon
; esty" laying a heavy hand thrcnten-
lngly on the judges shoulder
5 An 20 show you how sartin / am.
e I promise You that II tomorrow even
5 In that plantation amt in my possess
J sion you cnn have Lissy an'-an'-
$ half my place 20 boot
p softly. colonel" expostulated the
judge.
r "Yes, | mean It," cried the excited
n colonel: "yOu know. jedge / put my
G trust on you: no halfway measures
J. suit me. an you see / am mighty shO'
s of you. cause / never break my
word"
e "Wen, I have 70 word. cunnel
It said Amarlnh, calmly "an' the jedge
n Is my witness" Then before either
k could speak he had vanished among
d the trees.
y The moon was at its full when Am
q nrah shut and fastened the door Of hii
d little room IN the old stable. and 81
bright and soft was the light she gave
that he smothered the feeble flame o
d his candle an Il fickered and wen
le out; then cropping around on his knee
ne he found a plank. very loose a. ON
y. end. and running his hand along th
OF edge drew ont n small. leathern hG
be- and emptied its contents on the fioo
,h gold eagles and q handful of isilve
81 the savings of his life IL had Sc eme
lg Il great deal of money TO Riah- bu
now he realized how little IL ifoui
buy.
IS. 1T amt much." he muttered "bu
't- It might do a good deal. III s0mebod
nc could get at them law papers-if the
w could be en-then-then--n
D. nol' he cried. burying his face In hl
hands. "things come by dishonest
don't do any good It amt in me!
can't cheat and steall'
Slowly he dropped the pieces one b
one into the bag and put them bac
in their hiding place; but his slee
that night was disturbed by strang
dreams. and e'er the sun was fairl
up. ne had left his bed to breathe th
cool morning air. Idly shouldering hi
gun rs was his habit, he once mof
turned his footsteps toward the Je
\ | sup plantation. now gone from hil
= forever.
Colonel Jessup. also desirous of SCI
ing his newly acquired wealth by ca
ly sunrise. had taken his accustOme
seat on his verandah field-glass
hand. and was surveying the beaut
ful wilderness at his leisure.
As Amariah stood looking.
seemed TO him that the tall willow
bent until their heads almost touche
the river; low. rumbling soun
smote his ears the willows bent loy
er. and with n crash. sank into Il
river; the gray OLD mouse tOttefed an
ns trembled. and. with a hoarse RAFT
fn / OF wood and stones, was devOuned
~ the greedy waters.
lcr MY God, the plantation's cavir
ZEE or Amariah gasped as he dashed i
or. to the woodland path TO the hill Je
sups. shouting as he came nearer.
nv Bring men-men. the plantation
ed cavingr' He reused the hands wi
I'm came running 10 the point of land al
m worked with all their might TO sa'
ltv the old cotton-gin and its valuable m
de chinery. Amariah gave orders al
lent himself willingly 10 the almo
tr' hopeless task while Colonel Jessl
In sat stock still in his chair. holdiI
i'm I.issy's hand tight in his own clum
Iclr fingers. In an hour the JessuD pla
mel tation had vanished from earth Ill
he a spectre. and nothing was left 10 e
of il but mass of trees and plan
,ot whirling. down TO the sea.
I'M. Riah." called the colonel. faint
fhe you've worked for me this mOrnl
like my own son. but even nature w