Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-03-04

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be scare all the time! wear a charm
against her. When she take Shick
shack think l will go to my fathers
peop' in Canada. But If 1 do she will
have nobody but you when she is en-
rage. And see what is done to you
when we are but out Of the house.
sweetheart"
Peggy busted herself in silence and
threw an object from her which bound
ed among the chimney ruins.
Il am not going to be peg-leg any
more" she announced "I'll not strap
that wooden leg to my knee again"
But you not able to walk" said
Antywine. II carry you," he added, in
afterthougbt.
''Shickshack will take me on the
horse when he comes. F's 50 ugly.
Don't you think peg-leg is ugly,
Antywine:"
II have not consider" he responded;
adding, with French grace, mot any
thing that belong to you is ugly"
my mouth" suggested Peggy. at
will not shut"
1T is like the wild plum" said
Antywine, when the white bud is Just
break through"
Though they had been housemates
almost a year, Peggy and Antywine
felt that they were just discovering
each other. The tall, silent lad had
once in while ventured on some kind
ness to the girl. There was between
them the whimsical sympathy of COM
panions in misery.
"And 1 am so little," continued
Peggy, after silence. People think
I am only ten years old. Ann Rutledge
is large and beautiful"
Mam'selle Ann Rutledge," responded
Antywine, lis too large to be carry.
You are not too large to be carry"
But want to be-" insisted Peggy.
me, l think you will grow," con-
ceded Antywine, indulgently..
do you think 1 will always be
lame?"
II not know. The doctor in Belle
vile cannot say"
THE doctor in Belleville put that
think if try to use my leg. Antywine,
it will grow stronger. But 1 have to
hop yet when Sally takes my crutch
from me-"
''Shickshack think, and me, think
too, she have bring that lameness on
you"
Il never contradicted her when she
told him it was fall; but she knows
when she struck me and how it hurt.
Don't tell him. Antywine. Shickshack
is SO good"
Il think now 1 will give you my charm
to keep of evil.'
What is it?'
He took her hand in the darkness
and laid small image on the palm.
She knew it was something which their
religion taught 2lem to venerate.
mo, Antywine, 1 will not take it
from you"
Keep it." he insisted. II feel better
when am out hunting if you have that
around your neck. She bring evil into
the house. She is worse than Chase
Galerie."
What is the Chasse Galerie?"
Have you never heard of the Chasse
Galerie that fly across the sky at
night?"
How could hear about such things
in che Sac village or at Belleville?"
Antywine proceeded at once to tell
the story of the wild huntsman and
his dogs, and their chase above the
clouds. This led on to feux toilets, or
balls of fire, into which bad spirits
turned themselves to lure sinners into
quagmires. Then loup-garous, or man
wolves made darkness flame with their
eyes, to Peggy's Imagination.
Are your feet or hands cold?" Anty-
wine inquired once in a while. Peggy
answered NO." forgetting she had
hands and feet, her large, excited gaze
fixed on the wonder-world of folk
story. His voice abounded in sympa-
thetic tones. 1t was full and golden,
reaching into distance or sinking to
monotones as he half told and half
sung his peoples legends.
So hour after hour passed; rain con-
tinued to pour down the shingles and
visit them in gusts of spray through
the broken chimney.
1t was a delicious experience to re-
member a lifetime. But as Peggy's
responses became few, Antywine
stretched out his legs and made a
pillow of his lap with a corner of the
blanket, to which her drowsy head
came readily down. He watched and
she slept until darkness faded to the
pallor of dawn.
The noise of horses feet in the heavy
road, for which he had waited so long.
could at last be heard approaching. He
withdrew carefully from the head of
the sleeper, and went out to intercept
the riders.
They were spiashed with mud and
jaded, moving side by side, their tired
horses snortfng fakes of foam. Thus
more than once the men of New Salem
had come back from chasing horse
thieves, less ready, perhaps, to give
the details of the exploit than were
Shickshack and his companion. Both
drew rein when they saw Antywine.