The National tribune., 1902-01-16

long, ana you S0du nt rewarded.
THANK Heaven, the time is short now
i will see Bessie. She will rejoice nj
| sight of me. Bessie is faithful She is
waiting and has waited. oh, so long God
is good George; He is very good to us all
and as He rewarded the patience of Job
so will He reward our patience, even al
this day" r+-.
Van Loon was religious, and through
all his adversities his filth had remained
mistaken. He bowed imeekly to the in
evitable. ever hoped and prayed
The party arrived at the town of St
Charles, where Circuit Court was to be
held. A new Judge had been chosen, q
scrupulOusly upright man who caused La
Boone, Muldrom, and scores of land
swindIers, with their false entries and
shadows of titles. no little concern.
The appearance of Mr.. McNair and the
schOO-master was witnessed by La Boone
and Muldrom, his lieutenant. They were
at the tavern seated on the porch, dis
cussing the probabilities of winning the
case.
I'm not so easy in my mind. friend
Mu!drom, as I'd like t be-" the old rascal
wheezcd to his friend. To lose all that
fine tract seems awful hard on me. Its
just like tearin' my heart-strings right
out
Maybe the court win throw the case
into equity and allot onc-half to each.
put in Muldrom, who had only a vague
notion of what equity was.
La Boone shook his head sadly.
Il amt got much confidence in this
JedGe t favor me. Ye see he warn't my
choice / tried t. elect another man, but il
me. Nearly all on 'em have land that be
longs t. us. Now, f Benton don't git them
French en- Spanish grants confirmed
we're ruined men,"
Il know it, my friend, believe it; and
am also sure Benton will not get them
confirmed"
WHY, amt he all right? Amt he with
us?"
Il don't think he can 1t won't be the
policy of Barton and Scott
"Gh, Barton an Scott are too dom
honest" wheezcd La Boone. They've
got some sort o. sentimental notions that
ought t be knocked out o. their heads
with n club. Them fellers is weak: they
aiE't fit t look after the business interests
o the country. Now. you an me. though
we own thousands o acres o land. what
are we t tn squatters, each ov whom kin
vote jist as much as we? | say, its ali
a blame shame. Yes, blame shame, an
wish that | had the fixin' o the law.
Them squatters and 40-acre fcIlers
wouldn't hey say in things.
1t is well for the country that such men
as la Boone have not the ''fixin' o the
law"
AS Mr.. McNair came into town the
nervousness of La Boone increased very
perceptibly. He seized the hand of his
friend and wheezed:
There's the boy, Muldrom, there's the
boy; now, work on him. Try TO get him
to consent to compromise. Threaten the
girl Tell him we know Eunice's hiding
place, and Wen take her away unless he
consents"
MuIdr0m was induced to try coercion.
and that evening, while George McNair
was taking his usridl walk before retiring,
he encountered the youth
George was nOtH taken wholly by sur
prise, for he had expected some such
r"pctiug. and even before Muldrom began
Lis diplomatic argument was at least in
pant prepared for him.
'Why, how delightful to meet you, Mr..
McNair. Really, this is great pleasure
The hero Of an Indian war is one whom
we should delight to honor. How are
yOu?'
Il am well, Mr.. Muldrom, and hope you
are also" George answered cOldly.
MUIdrom took this as n bad omen, but
as drowning men clutch at straws, and as
Ia Boone and himself were almost in the
last ditch. he was. desperate, and had re-
sort TO desperate incasures.
WISH 10 Iillk NlJU you II IllDIucUtr MI.
McNair Let us walk down to the river
bank and take seats upon the bales of
hay lying there for shipment. We will be
more to ourselves there, and there will be
less fear OF interruption"
''If you have anything to say to Inc,
sir can spare you few moments"
Very well; come on. All, how delight
ful this Spring night: it seems as if we
were dwelling i'll some sort of an earthly
~ ION i.I'
u don't think | am. The kind of life
we live don't give us much chance to read
poetry"
Poetry does not exist in rhyme so much
as in the loftincss of the soul. Poetry
must be felt, not spoken or written. Now,
the noble river, those beautiful boats,
those picturesque hills surrounding our lit
tie city, all seem highly conducive to the
feelings of poetry"
u suppose so." said George as they
seated themselves ON some bales of hay;
but if you have any business matter to
talk about. | would much rather hear
what you have to say"
well. since you have asked me to re-
vert to business, | suppose | will have to
do so, though poetry is much more agree
able. What | have TO say is dignus
vindice nodus. In fact my friend, yGurs
is the only hand which | find capable Of
mloGscning such a knot. Now. to be
brief. multum in paryo, you know. ! refer
to this unfortunate law suit of your
father and Mr.. La Boone. Both are very
honorable. worthy men. Both are good
men. but there is n sad difference of Opin-
ion between them. and they are in court.
Can't we do something to adjust the I'M
pleasant affair"
I'VE might"
What would you SuggcStT
THAT La Boone withdraw the suit
"Ah, my dear hoy, You really could
hardly expect such a humiliating retreat
as that"
"A retreat may not be so humiliating rs
a defeat"
why, my dear sir, your father has no
show to win"
We will know better about that in n
few days"
Now. my dear boy, your father is a
man whom / admire. man | respect, Il
man l love, and win say that anything I
could do consistent with honor would be
done for him"
"Yes. sir"
~ would almost shout for joy If we
could fix IN this unfortunate affair agree
able to both"
81 suppose so, especially if agreeable
to the plaintiff
"Now. come. my dear boy-my Indian
herO-let me admire you even if | must
do SO at n distance
''Oh. admire all you want, and let the