The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-01
CHAPTER XIX. Gabriel at the Big Poplar.

Late one afternoon. at a date when the tension between the two races was at its worst. Gabriel chanced to be sitting under the great poplar which was for Years, and no doubt is yet. one of the natural curiosities of Shady Dale. He had been reading, but the light had grown dim as the sun dipped behind the hills. and he now sat with his eyes closed. His seat at the foot of the tree was not far from the public highway. The old poplar was hollow and on one side the bark and a part of the trunk had sloughed away. Here Gabriel and Nan had played housekeeping, many and many a day before the girl had grown tired of her dolls. The hollow formed a com | fortable playhouse. and the youngsters, in addition to housekeeping. had enjoyed little make-believe parties and picnics there. t
 As Gabriel sat leaning against the old poplar. his back to the road and his | eyes closed. he heard the sound of mems voices The conversation was evidently | between country folk who had been spending a part of the day in town. Turning his head. Gabriel saw that there | was three persons. one riding and two walking. Directly opposite the tree where Gabriel sat, they met an acquaint- | ance who was apparently making a be- lated visit to town.
 Hello boys!" said the belated one by way of salutation. T How'd I'd find you in town. an have company on my way home."
 What's the matter, sam?" asked one of the others. f"This ain't no time of day to be gwine away from home" 'Well, I'm jest obliged to git some am- muniion." replied Sam. I've been of to mill mighty nigh all day. an this evenin', about 4 o'clock, whilst my wife was out in the yard. a big buck nigger stopped at the gate an looked at her. She took no notice of him one way or apother. an presently, he ups an says. Hello, Sissy. can't you tell a feller howdy?" He did?"' cried the others. Gabriel could hear their gasps of astonishment and indignation from where he sat.
 He said them very words replied Sam, Hello. Sissy! can't you tell a feller howdy?'
 Did you leave anybody at home?" in- quired one of the others.
 You bet your sweet life!" replied Sam. Johnny Bivins is there. an he ain't no slouch. Jonnny ain't. I says to Molly. says I. Johnny will camp here till I can run to town an git some powder an buckshot.'"
 we have some." one of the others suggested.
 E Better let i'm go an git it." said an- other; we can't have too much in our neck of the woods when things look like they do now. Wen wait for you, Sam, if you'll hurry up."
 Good as wheat" responded Sam. who went rapidly toward town.
 T tell you what, boys. we didn't make up our minds about this business a single minute too soon." remarked one of the three who were waiting for the return of their neighbors. ''Somethin's got to be done. an the sooner it's done. the sooner it'll be over with"
 You're talkin' now with both hands and tongue!" declared one of the others. in 8 tone of admiration.
 You'll see," remarked the one who had proposed to wait, that Sam is jest as ripe as we are. I don't know as I blame the niggers much. Look at it from their side of the fence. They see these d-d white hellians goin' roun' snortin' and preachin' ag'in the whites, an they see us settin' down. hands folded and eyes shet, and they jest natchally think we re whipped and cowed. Can you blame 'em? I hate 'em all right enough. but I don't blame nm"
 Gabriel knew that the man who was SpedklnB was GeOTge ftiVerss small farmer living a short distance in the country. His companions were Tom AL ford and Britt Hanson. and the man who had gone to town for the ammunition was Sam Hathaway.
 Are you right certain an shore that this man Hotchldss Is stayin' wi Mahlon Butts?" George Rivers inquired.
 He lopes out from there every morn in.'" replied Tom Afford.
 'Mahlon alters was the biggest skunk In the woods" remarked Hanson. Hes runnin' for ordinary. I happened to hear him talkin' to a lot of niggers t'other day. and went up.a and cussed him out. I wanted the niggefto see how chicken hearted he is. We'll sirs. he never turned g. feather. I started to spit in his face, and then I happened to think about his wife. Yes. sirs, 1t seemed to me for about the space of a second or two was lookin' right spang in Becky's big eyes. an I jest whirled in my tracks and went on about my business. You-all know Becky Butts-well, there's a woman that comes mighty nigh bein' a saint Why she mar ried sech rapscallon as MahIon, I'll never tell you, an I don't believe she knows herself But she's all that's saved Mahlon."