The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-29
Uncle Luther DOWcll'S Wooden Leg.
BY RAY STANDARD BAKER.

eXulting.
We'll, 1 fought fer it." he num-
pied; AN Ibled fer it, I'd a-given
ooth my legs, if necessary; they knew
mat Ihen, after pause, he said
aloud, But | WiSht Tommy'd got if -
He opened the door of his little shop
and went in. His eyes swept the ia
| miliar disorder OF the room. the RUSTY
tools hanging on the wall, the blear-
| raced Ola CLOCK, the pots pans, all the
toys of a second childhood. He was
Slad TO be at home again. for he was
worn out and trembling with the un-
Wonted excitement of the meeting.
Outside the sun shone on the green
prairieS, and there was warm. Duddlv
dust IN the road; but Uncle Luther's
/ blood was thin and cold, and he shiv-
/ cred in the damp interior of the shop.
SO he brought his soldering brazier
from the corner and stirred the Goals
into bright glow. Then he bent over
to warm his hands.
/ Jonathan DoWen came down the
lane between his prosperous fields on
his way to town. Little Dick was with
him. When Uncle Luther saw them
he went to the door and beckoned.
"Come in, Jonathan! Come I'M" he
called.
His face shone with pride, and he
told with feverish eagerness of the new
honor which the day had brought
| him.
Nonsense" interrupted Jonathan
| testify. Don't you know, father, that
you're gettin' too old and feeble to
take part in such things? You amt
able to walk to the graveyard an
back, an you're only stirrin' up trou-
BILE between the families. Uncle Tom
| myll never forgive you
Il know it, he faltered; 81 know
it. Jonathan. Tommy'd ought to have
it. / told 'em so. l said Tommy'd
ought to have it,
The end OF the lane was the end
of Dicks little world, and he turned
and loitered back, humming a tune to
himself. as a child will. Uncle Luther
stood in the doorway and watched
him wistfully. OF a sudden he recall
: ed how Uncle Tommy had looked
when they were boys together.
Jus like Tommy, exactly" he said,
half aloud, gazing fondly at the little
, fellow. Then he bent over him stiffly
and beckoned.
"Come and see gran'pa," he said
smiling enticingly.
Dick crossed his hands behind his
back and looked at Uncle Luther So
berry. He was a sunny haired little
!, fellow, with blue eyes and puckery red
lips, and he stood full in the bright
May sunshine. Uncle Luther regard
ed him seriously.
81 told 'em L didn't want to march,
he said, protestingly. 81 said Tom
my'd do it metter'n | could. But Cap
!. tain Enoch, ner any of 'em, would
listen to me. Don't go way, Dickey,
don't go way, an leave gran'pa," be-
seechingly.
But the little boy was edging away;
he didn't understand, and he was
afraid.
Don't go way" said Uncle Luther,
eagerly; come an see what gran pas
got for Dickey."
He turned and .hobbled painfully
across his shop. He put on his spec
tacles and opened a drawer in his
workbench, and in its depths he found
a stick, of horehound candy. Dick
stood with one pudgy hand resting on
the door frame, peering into the shop
with wide eyes.
Candy" announced Uncle Luther
expressively.
= Dick drew little nearer, glancing
from the candy to his grandfather's
wrinkled face. Uncle Luther waved
the stick like a wizards wand, and
lured Dick nearer and nearer until
dirty little hand closed over the candy.
l Then he reached out Slyly and eau
tiously and gathered Dick in his arms.
"Aint you goin' to kiss gran ?"
he asked eagerly.
But the little boy wriggled away,
and ran out of the door. Uncle Luz
Their watched him lettering up the
lane in the sunshine. sucking his can
dy, until the vision blurred in his dim
| old eyes. Then he returned to his
brazier. He sat down, and drew his
chair almost over it. He bent double,
| with his elbows on his knees and his
head resting on his hands, and there
! he sat alone for a long time. Finally
| he Strengthened up. The subtle
warmth of the fire had stolen through
| all his body He leaned back in his
| chair, his head dropped over to one
side, and his work-worn old hands lay
palm upward on his knees. He was
fast asleep. The brazier under him
continued to glow and send its CHEEKY
comfort stealing up around his chair.
lit had a friendliness and hearty
| warmth that were more than the
kindness of many of the old mans
) friends.
: The dusk of evening came down
and filled the corners with shadows.
And presently q glow that was not all
, in the brazer began to illumine the
centre of the room. A thin, Wavering
mist of smoke curled up around the
old man and crept silently along the
dingy ceiling. A moment later there
was a sharp burst of flame that dis
|
old mans trouser leg rested against
the hot brazier, and the fine fire
gnawed and sparkled in the heavy
cloth. A few shavings on the Uttered
floor of the shop were crisping with
sudden wisps of flame, and the chair
legs were on fire. But Uncle Luther
slep on, wholly unconscious of his
danger.
Jonathan DoWell, returning from
the village, saw a sinister glare in the
shop windows. He rushed into the
room, seized the old man, and lifted
him swiftly to one side. Then he beat
out the fire with a gunny sack
Uncle Luther sat up, trembling and
terrified. His wooden leg was gone.
J 1t had burned almost to the stump.
and the charred remains were still
smoking.
! what won't you do next, father"
he said. you've set yourself on fire,
and nearly burned UP the shop. That
wooden leg of yours cost me just $50,
and it'll be a long time before l can
afford another"
And then he saw dimly the agony
IN, Ii 60 II. e. Il ba cd