Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-11-22
ong since retired from sctive pra.

'NJ"hSS Aito 'hc uiuintud, anu IN u
few minutes we were being received
at the steps of the portico by hand
some young man of about 80, whose
hair was premnturely white, and a
petite matron of near the same age,
whose charm of manner and gracious
bearing brought glimpses of the "old
regime"
They were Squire Sam Riggin ana
wife. Their fathers, Dick RutAer.
ford and Tom Riggin, had long been
gathered to their fathers, the two
farms were joined into one and all
the interests consolidated.
We partook of a glorious dinner
with the higgins and laughed togeth-
er about the incident of 20 years be-
fore when we met Sudie and Sam at
the mouth of the "Lane."
As the doctor and l rode home un-
der the undressing trees, and upon
the carpet of purple, gold and Grim
son that was made by their cast-off
clothing of autumn-dyed leaves, the
old healer told me how it had all
happened.
mo amount Of punishment inflicted
by their respective parents could keep
those youngsters apart. They were
inseparable when it was possible for
them to be together. The little girl
would weave wreaths of jessamine
flowers and vines for Sammy and
Sammy caught hen butterflies and
filled her lap with blue-tinted daisies
fresh from the moss-lined brook that
flowed through the meadow. Whip
pings, threats, confinements, entreat-
les by their parents that they
keep away from each other, did no
good. To the contrary, it seemed the
greater the opposition the more
binding their childish affection.
"Of course, their meetings were
clandestine. They would seek out re-
mote corners in the pastures or hide
among the honeysuckle bushes over
on the ridge and remain for hours
in each others company, perfectly
oblivious to and absolutely uninfu-
enced by the almost assured "spank-
ings" they knew they would receive
when they returned to their homes.
"The days went by and as the
months grew into years, their love
for each other became stronger and
more beautiful. When they said their
simple prayers in the evenings, they
invoked the blessings of this Infinite
on both houses, and when they were
old enough to know and feel the
strength of their friendship, undying
and indissoluble, they pledged them
selves to each other. Tbsy were
standing at the entrance OF the lane
when this was done and he was look.
ing down into eyes that, for him,
rivaled in splendor and brightness
the twinkling stars that danced in
riotous JOY above them. II was in
early spring, just as the johnquiis
were putting forth their yellow heads
to be picked off by the golden gos'
lings. The lights were being put out
in the farmhouses near by and the
youthful lovers knew it was time
they were at home. But they prom
ised to meet early the following
morning and spend the day with each
other, far out in the woods where the
dogwood trees looked like woodland
brides and the red birds hovered
around the rhodoras seemingly to
court the flower that cheapened theii
array.
"1he next morning they met at the
mouth OF the lane, she wearing a
hood as red as the jacket of Tommy
Atkins. They had not gone very
great ways before huge bull at
tracted by the gaudy color of Studies
cape dashed for her, blinded by al
the fury Of challenged beast. Es
cape was impossible. Sammy saw the
danger and threw himself between
the girl and the bull. just as the ami
NAL was about to bear down upor
the helpless boy, two rifle shots rane
out almost simultaneously and the
bull dropped in his tracks and in an
! other instant the fathers OF the
young people were standing by the
side of the dying brute.
With rife in hand they had fol
lowed their children without being
observed, intent and determined upor
breaking off their companionship
Fortunately they were just neal
enough to send messengers of deatl
20 the bull before its cruel horns
could do damage. The two mel
looked kindly upon each other as th'
girl tremblingly clung to the speech
less boy.
"Here. shake my hand, Ruther
ford said higgins, and let us stol
MI this foolishness,' aud before NJ
could conclude his sentence Higgins
rife had fallen to the ground as nj
reached forward to embrace his lont
,stranged friend. Suddenly recover
ing from their emotions, Sammys ia
ther turned to the youths and in
tone Of attempted seriousness eX
claimed: Run along home, sir, ant
get to your books-and-an'' sudie
YOU better get to your room ana tax
off that cape. Your father and ar
going to the tavern
"'Yes, you hurry home, sudie'
spoke up her father, and tell you
mother to have dinner cooked 10
company. Mr.. Rutherford and m
family will be over in little while
Danger OF Ambition.
Men are seldom satisfied, no matte
how much they may accomplish, bu
are constantly requiring themselves t
do more, until their recuperative powe
is SO exhausted that nothing is done a
we'll al it might be if they took time t.
A.