Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-07-09


with which heirs were sometimes cut
off. 1t was plain that Antywine La
Chance had been cheated by his step
mother.
Don Pedro Lorimer mounted his
horse the following morning, and took
the Notwithstanding road which
separated north and south beside the
Sangamon. He nodded to everybody
he saw along the narrow street. His
departure was as public as his errand
had been, and not unkindly feeling
went with him and would welcome him
again. For man who travelled around
at his own expense, without charging
price, to lecture on the annexation
of Cuba, must be in earnest and from
tiersmen respected a person in earnest
Lincoln usually closed his store
soon after the village supper-time, In
order to recite his daily lesson to
Minter Grayham in the cooper-shop
Few customers were SO belated as TO
need anything at the store when
candles were lighted. Those who
dropped in met to talk and whittle;
and since the nightly study blaze had
begun to show in the cooper-shop these
gossips felt obliged to seek another
rendezvous. The law student therefore
found himself delayed by Shickshack,
who entered with Antywine as he was
about to blow out the lights.
awhat shall show you. Shick.
shack" said Lincoln. The Indian
looked around at country stock:
barrels of New Orleans salt and sugar,
and sacks of coffee; few scant shelves
of calico; hoes, rakes and shovels; a
grand leghorn bonnet or two, of nigh ty
brim and crown; threads. needles and
pins: and all the simple necessities of
people on the edge of civilization. He
shook his head.
ssMe want to talk. Shut the door"
Lincoln closed the door and sat down
on the counter, drawing up his knees
and encircling them with his arms in
favorite attitude for relaxing chat;
motioning his visitors to make use of
the same high bench. Shickshack got
up and curled his legs under him
Indian fashion, but Antywine re-
manned standing by the door. Two
candles on high shelf at the rear
cast swaying shadows of the white man
and the red man and the crowded OBJ
jects in the little store.
81 reckon all New Salem is talking
tonight about the man you were going
to kill when he came to town.
Ls4I, .t. IL at \, 10 n
counselor.
Me wrong to give the war-cry. Me
ought to keep still, and stab him in
the dark! But when see that man me
forget me Christian Indian!"
The whoop might pass muster
better than the stab among Christians, !"
suggested Lincoln.
Shickshack fixed his restless eyes like
the eyes of snapping-turtle on the
rugged and sincere face before him.
Pedro Lorimer is bad white man.
He not one of Don Luis sons"
He says he wants Cuba annexed to
the United States. Is he Cuban
planter?"
The Sac uttered contemptuous
grunt.
mol No planter. No Cuba. He Is
New Orleans man; gambler"
II reckoned So" said Lincoln.
ME live in my tribes country, where
the chief Black Hawk has his village.
Pedro Lorimer come there and trouble
me. If my tribe take my part, all
the people who want their land will
say, These Sacs are dangerous. Drive
them out. So Black Hawk say to me.
You love white men: go to Belleville.'
Me go to Belleville. Think me marry
white woman; she help. An Indian
cannot get a very good white woman.
But me see the Widow La Chance, and
Antywine, her husbands son. Me
getting old; and Antywine is young.
He can take care of the child when
me die. So year ago me marry the
Widow La Chance. The first thing she
hurt the child. And Antywine'--
Shickshack uttered the words deliber-
ately, turning his head toward the
figure at the door-''he is nothing but
a squawi"
Antywine opened the door and went
out, closing it behind him, and sitting
down on the step.
Pedro Lorimer follow to Belleville,
and trouble me there. Me come to
New Salem. The moon has not
changed four times since me come to
New Salem; and he is here to trouble
me againl"
What does he want?" inquired Lin
coin.
"He want the child's money"
HAS Peggy money? How much
has she?"
The Indian held his hands less than
yard apart; the length of full
grown rattlesnake.
"A snakeskin full of gold
What have you done with it?'
me hide it from my white woman
and Pedro Lorimer. Sometimes me
think she divide it with him. if he
could help her get it. All day, all
year, she want that money herself. But
she take what is Antywine's, and was
his fathers, and give him nothing"
Al 81 I.x