The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-28

W hO
The old lady cleared her throat.
Don't you recollect Rufe Blame, that
ulster come to see her?"
oh, yes, that tall, slim Teller. Want
a bad sort, either. but he couldn't
shoot at all. Bout as much as he
could do to pull a trigger"
oh, what nonsense" exclaimed the
old lady. He was one of the finest
young fellers in the country and would
/ have made Sallie a good husband but
Tor your crazy notwithstanding him
IN case he came around again. And she
would have run off with him, but he
Joined the army and went off to them
1urren lands, plague take 'em, where
ever they are.''
The girl sat with bowed head. The
old man went up to her. Don't take
on he said, affectionately stroking
her hair. Il reckon I am a bit off
UP under my hat. But l won't be
here much longer, and then you and
your mother can have things your
own way. I'm sorry now l said any
thing, for everywhere l heard nothin'
but good about Rufe. Mebbe he'll
come back"
The girl looked up at him. II am
afraid not" she said
Let us hope so. And say, mebbe
~ . lSoi lieu llOW W SIlOOL over InGF6.
They tell me that they practice a
good deal in the army"
The old lady f1ounced about "Sor-
ry he's gone, but still got that shoot
IN nonsense in your head
Now don't call it nonsense, when
tomorrow is the Thanksgivin' shoot
in. I'm goin' and I'll fetch you the
finest turkey in the lot"
The old man was the first contest
ant to arrive upon the ground. The
turkeys, one at a time, were to be
placed on stump, with their heads
showing. A man paid a small sum
for the right to shoot, and each tur-
key he killed belonged to him. The
gathering at the match this year was
larger than usual. Ablin asked why
the distance had been extended, and
some one informed him that it was
on account of-~the improvement in
rifles. 1--WE have made it rule to
use the government ARM" said the
informant.
The old man shook his head, as if
he scented the coming of his defeat.
And when his time came he missed.
Five times he fired and failed. Turn
ing about he saw that his wife and
daughter were paying no attention
to him. They were talking to a man
in blue uniform. He walked up. tot
tering as he went, and Rufe Blame
held out his hand.
80 you got back, have your"
Eyes, sir; have just arrived"
Did you learn to shoot well enough
to kill any of them fellers?"
well, 1 don't know how many
killed"
Crack, went a rife, and the old man
turned about. Them new-fangled
guns of yourn have knocked me out
of turkey or two, I'll tell you that.
don't believe man could stand off
and hit the county with one of them.
And I should think the surest way of
KILN them fellers over there would be
ito scatter pizen where. they could
git it,"
How many turkeys. have they?" the
young man inquired.
: About 49,
How many have been killed."
Not one. They can't be hit"
Let me try my hand"
E "Oh, no." pleaded the girl, clinging
to his arm. IF you miss it will be bad
for us both. He is old and childish and
he will drive you away again"
Don't you worry he replied, smil-
ing upon her. He took his stand and
as fast as they could set up the turkeys
he shot their heads off. Il am giving
a Thanksgiving dinner to the COM
munity,' he said.
When the last shot had been fired the.
old man went up to RUFF and said: "a
Teller asked me what good the war
over yonder had done. Hanged if he
oughtenter be here to-day. Rufe. at
my house they have been maxim prep
arations for a weedin.'
And the bride and the bridegroom
are here said the girl.