Gloucester County Democrat., 1902-08-14

q ragamuffin of boy hand him pa
per, swing the horse's head round and
plunge down the bank. Raising the
lamp above his head, the old man read
the paper. He read second time, as
if to make sure of the contents, and
then, lifting his head like a hound
when it bays, he uttered a series Of
yells that the ridge gave back with
many reverberations. The next mo-
ment he was in the house, and the
next outside with the leap of spring
box. A report followed. He had fired
the gun. Bang! it went again. Rapidly
reloading, he discharged both barrels
and kept on firing until he had saluted
the wilderness and the night eight
times.
"Say, stranger, come out o. thar" he
shouted at the wood shed. 'I amt
a-goin' to hurt nary hair ON yer head"
I came bewildered into the living
room. my face dripping with perspira-
tion. He seized me in his arms and
hugged me until gasped.
'Look at thatY' he said, thrusting
into my hands the paper the boy had
brought.
I read:
Eph Holland, Head Of Beaverkill Creek:
Blaine comedies New York to Cleveland.
He is elected beyond all doubt. Shake!
ED BARNES,
Editor Sullivan County Palladium.
And before 1 could say anything or
ask any questions Eph Holland broke
into a jig step, the while yelling like
a Comanche.
"Likker up, you son O. a gunw he
roared at me, stopping from shortness
of breath. He filled my glass and a
tumbler for himself.
Here's to Grover!' he said. Drink
'er down.
I did not know what my politics
was at that moment, but / drank, and
the stuff sent the blood back to my
heart
''Don't you think it's up to you to ex-
plainY' said I, with siclkly smile,
when he had drained his tumbler.
The old man dropped into chair,
threw back his head and guffawed
until his mirth ended in a violent fit of
coughing.
Nt.sOh, myw he begain and went off
into another explosion.
I did not ll;aan laugh. The old fellows
manner had changed SO completely, ne
had become so friendly, jGylai ana
altogether human with the recovery OF OF
his speech, that l recalled my error of
him with shamefaced feeling.
II thought you were mute, and
yes-crazy," l faltered.
"And that l wanted yer scalp" said
the old man, wiping tears from his
eyes. "But. great Betty, l can't blame
you. Well, stranger, it was this way:
was very much worked up about the
election; hadn't spoke word since
Tilden was beat in 1876; vowed never
would till Democrat was elected.
That was eight years ago"
''How about your hair and beard?
asked, getting interested.
''Them was to grow" said Mr.. Hol-
land "a right smart crop O hair can
be raised in eight years. and l amt
very pretty nohow. When you come
long here last night, | didn't want to
take you in-that's fact-knowin' as
how l couldn't talk yet. But | hated
to turn man and beast away. 1t was
mighty uncomfortable for you. warn't
it?
"Well, rather" said I. drawing a
deep breath.
Dunno what'd ha' happened'-the
old villains grin bespoke enjoyment of
the fright he had inspired-''if the boy
hadn't come long with Ed Barnes
rippin' good news. But s'pose you
could have crawled out O the wood
shed window when l warn't lookin'."
He chuclzled and filed my glass
again and his own.
Then we talked politics and drank
more whisky until cock crew at the
rising of the moon, which was 2
o'clock.
Eph Hollands step was unsteady
when he piloted me up his crazy stairs
to bed, and he stumbled down with q
falsetto whoop for Grover which was
eloquent of his condition.