The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-08
CHAPTER XIX. Gabriel at the Big Poplar.

Gabriel at the Big Poplar.
 Late one afternoon, at a date when the tension between the two races was at Is worst, Gabriel chanced to be sitting un- der the great poplar which was for years and no doubt Is yet. one of the natural curiosties 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 part of the trunk had sloughed away. Here Gabriel and Nan had played housekeeping many and many day be- fore the girl had grown tired of her dolls The hollow formed comfortable play house. and the youngsters, in addition to housekeeping had enjoyed little malxe-be- iieve parties and picnlcs there.
 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 were three persons, one riding and two walking. Directly opposite the tree where Gabriel sat. they met an acquaintance who was apparently making a belated visit to town.
 Hello, boysp' said the belated one by way of salutation. 'I How'd I'd find you in town, an have company on my way lome."
 Whats the matter, Sam?" asked one of the others. "rhis ain't no time of day to be gwine away from home"
 Well, I'm jest obliged to git some n art1Dn s1 ran1iad tfBna off to mill mighty nigh all day, an this evenn', about four o'clock, whilst my wife was out in the yard, big buck nigger stopped at the gate, an looked at her. She took no notice of him one way or another, an presently, he ups an says, Hello, Sissy! can't you tell a feller howdy?" 4as suU
 He did?'' cried the others. Gabriel could hear their gasps of astonishment and indignation from where he sat. -s.ts
 He said them very words" replied Sam: Hello, Sissyl can't you tell a feller howdy?"
 Did you leave anybody at home ?''' in- auired one of the others. }rt
 You bet your sweet lifer' replied Sam. Johnny Bivins Is there, an he aint no slouch, Johnny ain't I says to Molly, says l, 'Johnny will camp here till 1 can run to town, an git me some
 
 We have some," one of the others suggested
 Better let i'm go on an git it." said another; i've can't have 700 much in out neck of the woods when things look like they do now. We'll wait for you, Sam, if you'll hurry up.'
 "Goot as wheat!' responded Sam, who went rapidly toward town.
 'I tell you what, boys, we didn't make indc oh esf, oIa minute too soon," remarked one of the three who were waiting for the return of their neighbor. "Somethin's got to be done, an the sooler it's cone, the soon- CT it'll be over with
 You're talkin now with both hands and tongueY' declared one of the oth- CTS in a 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 blame the nggcrs much. Look at 1t from their side of the fence. They see these d--d white hellians goin roun, snortin' an preachln' ag'in the whites, an they sec us settln' down, hands fold ed and eyes shet, and they Jest natchally think we're whipped and cowed Can you blame 'em? l hate 'em all right enough but I don't blame en-
 Gabriel knew that the man who was
 
 farmer living short distance In the country. Hiss companions were Tom AL ford and Britt Hanson. and the man who had gone to town for the ammuni- ton was Sam Hathaway.
 Are you right certain an shore that this man Hotchkiss is stayin' wi Nah Ion Butts?7 George Rivers inquired
 He lopes out from there every morn in'," replied Tom Afford.
 fol oil xrac 10 hf0Uacf c rtrt1Ir in the woods" remarked Hanson. Ties runnin' for ordinary I happened to hear him talkin to q lot of niggers t-other day, and I went up anc cussed him out. I wanted the niggers to see now chicken hearted he is We'll sirs. he never turn. ed feather..I started to spit in his face, and then l happened to think about his wife. Yes, srs. it seemed to me for about the space of a second or two that I was loolsin' right spang In Becky's big eyes. an jest whirled in my tracks and went on about my business. You-all know Becky Butts-well. there's a wo- man that comes mighty nigh bein' a saint. Why she married sech rapscallion as Mahlon, I'll never tell you, an don't believe she knows herself. But she's all | that's saved Mahlon.'
 That's the Lords truth" responded | Tom Afford
 Then there was a pause Well" said | Tom afford, after awhile, that Hofch- 1 kiss feller goes out to Mahlon's by fust one road and then the other. You know where Ike Warner lives; we'll Ike's wife is a mighty good-lookin' yaller gal. an when Hotchkiss knows that Ike ain't al | home, he goes by that road I got al l that from nigger that works for me | If Ike ain't at home. he goes in for | drink of water, an then he tells the yalIer gal how to convert Ike into bein radical That's what the gal tells my nigger. We'll, l put flea in Ike's ear t'other day, on night before last Ike | comes to me to borry my pistol. You jNknow that short. singie-barrel she \ans? We'll. I loant it to him on the ex- lless -nderstandin' that he wasn't tc