Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1902-03-28


warded. He had saved some money
One day, some weeks before. the
thought had come to his mind to ash
Mrs. Hawkins to marry him. Night
after night he lay sleepless, thinking
it over, and Weighing his chances OF
failure or success. Finally he decid-
ed to put It to the test. He called on
Mrs. Hawkins and made known his
desire in his blunt. straightforward
way. No less blunt and straiehtfor-
ward was her answer. She was mar
ried, her husband was still alive. and
IN fact she expected him home that
very evening He had been away for
a long time, but to-day he would re-
turn. Tatton saw the look of Joy
in her eyes, heard the ring of glad
ness in her voice. He turned from
her and left the house As he walked
deiectedly to the front gate, the little
girl ran after him, shyly slipped her
hand into his. and told him not to
look so, that her papa was coming
home that night. Tatton stopped alb
ruptly. took her in his arms, and held
her close for a moment Gently plac-
ing her on her feet again, he contin-
ued his way to the woods, while the
little girl returned and told her
mother what the man had done
When he came to the village the
letter notifying him of Toms death,
was given him. Out by the Old Fort
swamp he brooded over it all. He
wondered in a mechanical way how
much it would cost to reach Ken
tuclSy. Once there, he would shoot
Jenkins. Tom would rest easier in
his grave if he knew OF it.
Late that evening he came to the
Hawkins house. He came late pur-
posely, that he might miss seeing
Mrs. Hawkins husband. AS he ap-
preached the house he took refuge in
the clump of saplings. to see If the
road were clear A glance convinced
him that it was not. Coming towards
him, along the path, were a man and
woman; before them, in childish
glee, ran a little girl. He knew the
three at a glance. As they came
nearer something about the man
seemed familiar. Tatton watched
him closely. The man raised his face
TO look at the fun moon in the east.
There was no mistaking him-it was
Ben Jenkins. Tatton's first emotion
was one of ferocious pleasure. His
blood surged hot within him, and
then ran cold. Already was his enemy
within his reach. He paused not to
think how he came, or why he came;
but pulling out the pistol was pre-
pared to do bloody work. One sec
ond he hesitated and then it was too
late. Softly he replaced the pistol,
and as softly slipped from the sap
ling thicket deeper into the woods.
ut mout scare Mis- Hawkins an
the leetle gal" he muttered; "rll
come back tonight an git him wen
they amt so clost to him"
True to his word, two hours later
he returned with his rifle. Long he
paused in the thicket, but he could
see no one about the house. Finally
he slipped up close to the front door
and lay in hiding. From within came
the sound of voices. Soon Jenkins APP
peared on the small front porch, and
with him came the little girl. She
climbed into his lap as he sat on the
step, and called him 'papa."
Up TO this time Tatton could not
conceive of jenkins relation to
Mrs. Hawkins and her daughter.
With a sudden shock it now came to
him. He remembered having heard
that Hawkins was Mrs. Jenkins
maiden name. For some reason She
had adopted it when her husband
went to Kentucky.
Tatton had just raised his Win
chester when the words Of the little
girl came to his ears. At this mo-
ment, from within doors, came the
sound of Mrs. jenkins voice in song.
Sweetly the words throbbed in his /
ears. It was the old song, dear to |
every loyal heart of the old state, |
"She was bred in old Kentucky" |
Tatton thought the gates of paradise /
had opened, and that this was the
fragment Of an angel song. Enrap-
tured he listened until the last word |
hoated on the night air and died away. |
He dropped the muzzle of his gun,
arose to his feet, softly slipped out to
the pine thiclSet and thence along .
the path to the Old Fort swamp.