The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-17
THE BOY FROM ZEENY."

(continued from Page TweIve.) ------r>---~------~,----- -----~-------~>---~-~--- OLE CHARLY. I FED HIM OTES AN IA AN CORN. HE WON'T NEED NO MORE FER A WEAK. AN BRAND TO. DOC TEI HER GOOD BY"
 It was a curious bit of composition uncouth assuredly. and marred, maybe with an unpardonable profanity-but it served. In the silence and gloom of the old stable, the doctors fingers trembled as he read, and the good wfe's eyes peering anxiously above his heaving shoulder, filled and overfiowed with tears.
 l wish that it were in the veracious sequence of this simple history to give this wayward boy back to the hearts that loved him, and that still in memory enshrine him with affectionate regard {; but the hapless lad-the little ragged tweive-year-old that wandered out of mo- where into town, and wandered into mo- where out of town again-never returned Yet we who knew him In those old days we who were children with him. and in spite of boyish Jealousies and petty bickerlngs, admired the gallant spirit of the lad-are continually meeting with re- minders of him, the last instance of I here refrain from offering:
 For years I have been a wanderer from the dear old town of my nativity, but through all my wanderings a gracious fate has always kept me somewhere in It's pleasant neighborhood, and, in con | sequence, often pay brief visits to the scenes of my long-vanished boyhood. 1t was during such a visit, but a few short years ago, that remembrances of my lost youth were most forcibly recalled by the progress of the County Fair, which insti- tution l was permitted to attend through the kindness of an old chum who drove me over in his buggy.
 Although it was not the day for racing, we found the track surrounder by a dense crowd of clamorous and applausive peo- ple
 What does 1t mean?" I asked my friend, as he guided his horse in and out among the trees toward the edge of the enclosure.
 'Its Professor Andrus. I suspect" he answered, rising in the buggy as he spoke. and peerng eagerly above the heads of the surging multitude.
 And who's Professor AndrusY' ask ed, striking a match against the tire of the now stationary buggy-wheel, and lighting the stump of my cigar
 s'Why, haven't you heard of the famous Professor he answered, laughingly- immediately adding in serious tone; "Professor Andrus Is the famous horse tanner who has been driving the country ] absolutely wild here for two or three davs stand up here where you can seep' he went on excitedly.
 wonder he comesl Isn't that splen- didT'
 | And it was.
 Across the sea of heads, and facing toward us down the track, l caught signt of a glossy span of horses that In thslr nerfect beauty of symmetry, high heads and tossing manes looked as though they were inst ptancing out of some Araplan | dream The animals seemed nude or rem | or harness save but a jeweled strap tndI | crossed the breast of each, together with | 6 slender trace at either side connectins with a jaunty litlIe phaeton whose gut tering wheels siivered the sunshine lnlo sn1inters as they spun. Upon he narrow | scot of the airy vehicle sat the driver: No ,,nes were wound about his hands 10 ebout or lash to goad the horses 10 tha,r telling speed. They were simply directed and controlled by the sraceiui motions of a long and slenoer whip whlcn waved slowly to and fro above their heads. The great crowd cheed- ed the master as he came ne arose deliberately. took off hat and bowed The applause was deafening. Still standing, he whizzed mast us and was gone. But some thing in the manner of the handsome fellow struck me with a strange sense or ia- miliarity. Was 1t the utter disregard Of fear that I saw within his face? Was 1t inc keenness of the eye and the perfect self -possession of the man? Or was It. was 1t the peculiar way in which the right arm had dropped to his side after saiuting to us while curving past us, and did I fancy, for that reason, that the naIm of his hand turned forward as ne stood?
 "Clear the track. therev came a far voice across the ring.-"Dont cross there. fin Gods name! Drive backl'
 The warning came too late. There was an instants breathless silence, then far-away. pent-sounding clash, then ut ter havoc in the crowd The ropes about the ring were broken over, and tumuit- mons tide of people poured across the ring. myself borne on the very foremost wave.
 "Jist the buggy smashed. that's allFs cried A voice. "The hosses hain't hurt ner the man."
 The man referred to was the Professor. caught a glimpse of him as he rose from the grassy bank where he had been flung He was very pale, but calm An uncouth man brought him his silk hat from where 1t had rolled in the dust.
 wish you'd just take this handker- | chief and brush 1t off," said the Pro- lessor; 1T guess I've broke my arm" | It was The Boy from Zeeny.