Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-07-18

tural growl.
Dick Beckett doubtless the reader
has recognized him) was at first too
much astonished 20 be at himself.
As soon as he began 20 pull his wits
together. however, the whole truth
became more than a suspicion in his
mind
"Who hurt We, Daddy Burns?" he
demanded in his natural tone of voice.
"War il that air Pierre Rsmeau?"
Perhaps hearing Burns repeat the
gre at robbers name had suggested the |
thought to Dick Beckett, or it may |
have risen out Of the prevalent habit /
OF laying everything cruel and other
wise unaccountable at the feet of |
Rameau.
Dick knelt down beside the old |
man. aud. still holding his gun IN one
hand, felt OF the wound, after pulling
away the reut clothes from around IL.
In vain he tried % arouse him.
"Well-well-tut, tut, tut" no
splrttered.
r sing again 70 his feet and stand
ing with nest OF his weight on his
crooked leg. he contemplated the situa-
ton, while with the fingers of his left
hand he worried the frowzy red hair
that hung under the brim of his bat
tered cap
Poor ole daddy" he exclaimed,
after while He 90 seem TO be
bout done for.'
Dick possessed executive ability OF
a sort, aud when he got his faculties
rightly put together tuere was no such
a thing as his giving up to circum-
/ stances contrary to his wish. He ex-
amined Burns aud found that he was
not yet dying. The next thina was to
save him. This looked like a forlorn
hope, but he would try it az all events.
So he caught the lingering horse and
: with its aid bore Burns through the
: wood 10 his cabin.
Here insert a short paragraph from
the Honey Island Records. The
reader viii feel, in reading 1t, watt
from the old reckless life Of the FROM
tier
"Dick Beckett. 1t goes on 20 say,
found shc preacher in q sad conl-
ton when he reached home with him,
which il was after dark az the time,
and be struck a light. The wound
was tear in the side dug 10y pistol
bullet that had been amazingly fat
tened Oh a silver watch afore doing 10.
i will save him. said Dick Beckett.
who was a good nurse besides o dis
tracing fiddler. and. belize, he had
original medicine-strange roots and
such Some do say be did possess a
root of the mau-plant which he
salvcd the hurt with. Sure enough, any
way he cured him bctimes. What they
DO say. also. is that Dick Beckett did
fiddle and play proiane musk unto
the preacher what time be couya-
iesced. even such tunes as sugar in
the Gourd' and "Ridiug on Rail-.
No doubt, however. this matters not.
seeing that the preacher survived and
az last went on his way.
In the French version Of the story
there is a statement not 90 be found ia
the other accounts.
lit cannot be denied" runs this
creole document. which appears 90 ba
q rough translation OF some lost Eng
lish writing-'It cannot bee denied
that Burns. the preacher, did swear
. vengeance on Pierre Rameau. tie robe
. Der .lorbau is tlc French word uscJl,
aud did express himself in lam guag-
dreadful in its nature. Some think
that this Dick Beckett had hdulcd all
the piety and tenderness ST religion
q ont of the old mans soul. for. aite,
this, he is nightly changed IA las
temper aud disposition, and somc u-e
, perate acts are sot down 90 his credit.
Dick Beckett himself. in his extreme
ID H.r. d Nrr.
things long since done. was sometimes
ready % talk about Burns; but even
the garruhty of nearly century o
; years did not overcome certain tan
4 TALKING discretion. The most that b,
, would tell was 10 the effect that Burns
u seemed a little "onsettiedin is uppel
story Wen e got well.
eyes" he would remark, Il mem
Der how e lootcd wen e mp an toll
: me goodbye au' went of o. s'arch fol
Pierre Eamcau. Twas oh q Thurs
ID day morniu' an e said:
"'Farewell Dick. / 80 INTO Hone.
/, Island an woe he upon that lnferna
darn rascal what stole my chilei
% Doubtless this seemed 20 the age
Gddler tue exact language Of Burns
y but 10 does not sound like him. IL W
~ cannot wholly believe that there coul
" have been change so sudden and 81
Z, radical IN the character Of one wn
- hal been for so many years SINGER
- and singularly Undetermined preach
:. er, we must, at least. give due weigh
- 20 the evidence tending 20 prove It.
- One thing Is pretty conclusively set
=. tied: Burns did penetrate 70 the N
nermOst Businesses of Honey ISLAND
and. not finding Pierre Rameau there