The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-09


bIued steel, not even thunder head or
mares tail relieving the monotonous
stretch
"Dadburn it," he Kissed from between
his even. white teeth. 4 wonder how
much further it is? If I thought that
pesky, old haysecd lummox was putting
up job on me when he said a mile I'd
60 all the way back for the satisfaction
OF breaking his head with my fist
Whoa, a rabbit, II that's all the sense
you've got III try 70 beat that little
out" He proceeded to work off some OF
his superintendent dissatisfaction upon
his handsome steed reigning him almost
10 his launches and mercilessIy flashing
him with the whip Presently both horse
and rider Gained down aud continued on
their way
The road wound its length of dingy
red tortuously between two broad fields
of stunted corn: the blades of the corn
were tightly twisted from the beat and
drought and TO the dissatisfied pessi-
mistic eyes of the traveller IL was fired
beyond hope
''Ye godsl a shade at last. A mile?"
glancing back, I'D swear I've already
come two" He leaned forward and
stroked his horses arched neck I'm
a cantankerous brute. Dorsett, old boy
You know I love you and am always
ashamed whenever I mistreat you" The
with an answering nicker.
Hurry up. my gal; git to this end;
it's purity nigh twelve. I want you TO
take Dot TO the house; I'm goin' through
the field
The traveller refined in his horse aud.
unobserved took in the scene before
him. large field OF cotton, with Lazy
Lawrence dancing and quivering up and
down the rows, making the desire 10
shut the eyes hard to resist. A female
figure was busily chOpping cotton an
easy stones cast from the worm fence; |
a man. holding two horses by rope halt !
ers. was leaning on the fence.
Tie Dot If you're in a hurry. daddy; !
I won't be long
You know l can't trust Dot. He'd l
be boun' to do some devIlment."
The traveller now rode up and accost- |
ed the man, who, he observed, was about |
middle age. poorly clad. and the left /
sleeve OF his hickory shirt was empty
Good morning. How far is it to
Christians crossroads"
"A quarter or tharabouts." replied the |
man, cycling the travellers horse with /
unconcealed admiration.
"A man in the village told me it was
only mile from there You people
must measure distance by coon skin
with the tail thrown in
''You see, thar's two roads, my road
and the county road. 1 guess you come |,
by the county road. It's two miles and
a half Whar air you goin' uf l may /
make so bold as to ax?"
ITO a mundane Tophet, a place called
Banks" he replied. sarcastically.
why, that's ten miles away across
the river, and you and your horse both
looked considerably tagged"
I'VE are I'm what I guess you'd call
played out"
we hain't much to offer a stranger.
but SIGH as tbs you're welcome. Come.
sheer pot luck and rest over night
Il guess you hain't got no sort Nv
work that the likes Nv me could earn
bed and board at. have your" the trav-
eler questioned. dropping easily into the
old mans own vernacular.
The old man, all untutored in the art
of assembling, slowly and thoughtfully
examined. with critical eye. both horse
and rider. The horse was a Kentucky !
handsome and mettle- !
some The rider was between twenty
five and thirty years OF age, tall and
slight. with handsome, smooth shaver.
boyish face, albeit an esthetic cast of {
lighted by a pair Of big, :
soft blue eyes; his clothes were of the s
finest texture and latest cut; he deport-
ed himself with the ease and grace OF {
one long accustomed to connect with the /
best element Of society. and with whom ]
was a gift OF nature. To the
the old mans face was an in {
teresting study during that mental pro- a
cess. for the workings OF his mind was a,
plainly visible.
NO. guess I hain't What can you |
%" with a depreciatlng glance at the (
slim white hands.
"Oh. ! can grub, pillow, chop cotton. /
and do other things too numerous 70 ,
mention" he replied, looking quizzically I
down al his interrogation for an estimate I
Of just how much faith the old man put
IN his statement.
If so be you like III try you on chop
pin cotton tomorrur cause It's nigh !
harvest time. ThatH leave Dada by {
herself and she cant chop at all. Ny T
name is Ethan Christian. Whatll I call
you?"
"Reuel Blair. So I may count on ,
Job. may y" Il
AS long as YOU want one. yes re-
Piled Mr. Christian. with n significant q
smile that told the young @
nan that he entertained serious doubts
about his earnestness and capability. /
Come Dada. q" he said 10 tho female, 6
whose proximity the young man had not !
Until now noticed. You go 20 the house /
With Mr.. Blair ard I'll go through the q
ield and git the plow we'll need IN tie '
lppcr ncld until after dinner" C.