Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-07-20
CHAPTER XX1IL

icaSl IL ne uIuu IL was not the IA0lt
OF Pap and Mirandy. The two old
people did everything in their power
to add TO the comfort Of their guests.
''Its been a long time" Pap remark
ed, 'sence Sims had any comfort, an
he may never have any ag'iR In this
world, so Well give him all we can
while we have the chanst."
Pore Sim" Mrs. Sampson said. with
Il sigh.
pore SimP' Pap repeated. signing
too.
Il wish he'd go away" Mrs. Samp-
son said, ''whar they couldn't never
end him."
81 wish so, too" Pap agreed, but he
won't. Lord he won't bulge a inch.
I've argyed an reasoned an begged. but
it amt done no good. He's got his
pegs sot to stay. an stay he will"
Yes. an I'm afeard, Pap. that they'll
hang him"
Il dunno. I'm shore. They may not
do so bad as that. but they'll send him
to prison anyhow"
That other man lows he can save
him. But, Lord, Pap. he can't do it,
'Co'se he can't. Lord a-massy. khat
Teller can't do nothin for Sim. Guess
he'd like to well enough, but likin to do
a thing an doin ii are two different
things. No. street He can't lift fin
ger TO save Sim"
No, but he's pow'ful in earnest bout
1T, an 1 b'lieve he thinks he can"
MY land, l can't see what he tigers
that he'll do
Neither do l. but 1 reckon he thinks
he'll do somethin."
thinkin, though. that he mought be Jest
a-talkin that Away to sorter chirk Sim
mp bit"
Lord. he mought jest as well save
mis- breath then, cause Sim amt takin
no hope from what he is a-promisin.'
Nary a grain, he amt. can see
that jest as plain as the ears on
mule"
wonder how that man happened to
come home with Sim anyhow"
Y dunno, except Sim said he was
Jest sot an determined to come"
WAL, l guess II don't matter much
whar he is, for he amt got many more
days In this world nohow. he was
shot clean through that time Sim car
ried him Off the battlefield, an his
wound never got plumb well, an now
It's -GSened fresh an tuck to bleedin.
He Bws it's liable to bleed in'ard Jest
any minute, an when II gifts to doin
that he's done"
He is so. That was rale brave OF
Sim, the way he done. carryin that fell
Ter way from the battle. want it?"
MY land. I'd sesso. Didn't hardly
reckon it was I'm Sim to do that away"
Me nuther. But, Lord, you can't
never tell what a walked up dogll do
by lookin at him when he's asleep"
That's so. An Sim jest begun to git
sorter walked up fore he went away.
You mind how he done Jim Thorn that
night at the storer'
Land OF Goshen, Mirandy. | reckon
i do. An that minds me. l wonder
what Loueesy'll think when she hears
Sims come back?"
II amt no idea"
II wish he hadn't never "a come"
Lord, Pap, so do I. 1 hate to think
bout what may happen to him"
$50 do /. I'm goin to try ag'in in the
mornin to git him to go away"
Sim entered the room, and Pan and
Mira andy lapsed into silence. Whether
Pap would have succeeded the next
morning in persuading Sim to go re-
mains matte IF doubt, for he never
had a chance to try.
Before Sim had left his bed Sam
Morgan came with a state warrant TO
arrest him. Mary Mann had discover
ed In some way that Sim had returned,
and she'reported it to Jim Thorn. The
Halter, overanxious to bring Sim to ius
tice, had hurried before Squire Beeson
and sworn QUIT the warrant.
The squire's sympathies were with
Sim, but he had his official duties to
perform, no matter how disagreeable
they might be. Sam Morgan, too. who
still held the office Of township consta-
eble, sympathized with Sim. although
he believed him guilty When be CAM
10 make the arrest, he said with an mir
OF apology:
Il hate to do it, Sim: / do shore.
never done anything | hated to do
wussn l hate to do this, al If h.
my way bout il I'd ruther l.,
switched"
That's all right, Sarl," Sim replied.
I'm not blansin you rcCc."
'Of course you know how IN fixyl.
SIM" Sam went on. 'Tm standIn
right betwixt my own inclinations an
the law, an, no matter how much I'd
Alike to give way to the fust, the laws
got the right an has got TO be needed.
When feller's fillin responsible of
lice under the law, he can't do as he
wants to. He's jest got to shet his eyes
40 his friendships an his personal likes
an dislikes an not see nary another
thing but the law an duty, cause
when he goes into office he sw' airs Il
solemn oath that he'll do jest tina,
away"
Eyes, / know, Sam, and amt think
an hard Of you"
I'm glad you look at 1t that way
Sim, cause we was allus good friends
an l don't want you to feel hurt at me
But, my land, Sim, you don't know