The Washington times., 1902-12-07

LLT ELL US a story, Gentleman Joe
unless we are all to cut
i each others throats In this
awful heat"
The sun had gone down, ball Of IL
ouid fire in plled-up clouds Of orange,
,inoed with bronze. The sky was like
conner In all the wide plain not a
breath OF air stirred. The weather was
Of that quality that works madness IN
mems blood: slight provocations
b-ouvbt about uuarrels TO the death.
Gentleman Joe turned slowly round
from his contemplation Of the campfire
we were bound to keep going because Of
the beasts that roamed the plain. at
night. we made it as small as we
dared
oTeu YOU a story. mates? Ny best are
all told"
Gentleman Joe passed his hand
through his scsnty gray locks and mop
ped the perspiration from his face. He
looked round the group with keen, kind
" ewes and smiled.
dig something more out Of your
memory. old man." Big Dan said Gag
erly. Give us a yarn to make us for
get this blooming plain
Well. his language was not as mild as
have put f.: / tone it down for civil
lied folks.
yes. 70 on. old chap who's got a
chance Of sleeping on a night like this?
Give us something 20 think Of besides
the heat"
He was silent a moment before he be-
gan that yarn. His eyes looked far away
over the Erayness Of the plain under the
red moon. Then he said:
Reminds me Of a harvest moon at
home"
Some Of US stirred uneasily. Queer
recollectious came TO most Of us. ex-
pect. but nobody spoke. and he went on:
Il haven't got any Of the usual tales
in my head tonight I guess that moon
-anc-and other things. make me think
Of old England. and OF something that
happened 90 me. Twas queer sort Of
business, and don't say that was
wrong either I've often thought about Il
since. and wondered. ] did what came
into my mind to do at the minute. God
knows I acted for the best-but some
times I wonder whether ] did right-Or
wrong.
I'm getting on in years now. II all
happened many and many year ago.
but Il comes hack TO me tonight as IL IL
was yesterday. ! was a young chap
when I last saw a harvest moon rise
over corn field at home"
Il was courting in harvest time" he
said: I'VE would walk together across
the field Of wheat in the sunset-she and
land the wind would sweep down from
the heath quarter Of a mile away. and
bend the ears Of corn, and make the red
poppies bow their heads Beyond the
wheat held was a field OF barley-gold
and silver she used 20 call them, when
they shone in the sunset light as the
sun dropped behind the elms in the lane.
Round the old church the rocks
wheeled and cawed. Everything looked
90 exactly az it had looked when went
away that ] took heart and began %
think I'd been fool for my fears
But something still held me back
"a boy slouched up % the gate. It
was nobody knew. 20 ] said TO him.
What's to DO in the church today?"
' Wedding be answered. all short,
country fashion.
And whose wedding might It be?'
I asked. wondering whether II was one
o. nay old friends.
Wilder Craven's wedding he said.
Then ] gave great jump and looked
al him
Craven was my name-or rather the
name I'm giving you for mine-and /
though 10 must be my mother he meant
my mother who had been widow for
years and years.
Widow Craven2 I said. after him.
'Yuz. widow Craven; she's going 70