Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-04-13

Judas PrleSt!' said he, taking out
his wallet again, to look at the trophy.
Tibet air mus be wuth suthin,."
More than a years salary" said |.
He looked up at me with a sharp
whistle of surprise.
Ain no great hand fer sech funny
diddles," said he, as he put the medal
| away.
It's a badge of honor" said I.
1T shows you re brave man"
Got 'nough on EN-" said D'ri.
This ere rip n the forehead's bout
all the badge | need"
It's from the emperor-the great
Napoleon l said. 1T s a mark of his
pleasure"
wall, by Judas Priest!" said D'ri,
Il would MT jump over stump or
stun wall t. please no emp'ror, an
I would mt cut off my leetle finger fer
a hull bushel basket o them air.
hain't a-ightin' fer no honor"
What them" said l.
His face turned very sober. He
pursed his lips, and spat across the
ditch; then gave his mouth a wipe
and glanced thoughtfully at the sky.
Fer liberty" said he, with decision
Same thing my father died fer"
Not to this day have | forgotten it,,
the answer of old Dri, or the look of
| him as he spoke. | was only reckless
| youth fighting for the love of peril and
| adventure. and with too little thought
| of the high purposes of my country.
! The causes of the war were familiar to
me; that proclamation of Mr.. Madi-
son had been discussed freely in our
! home, and | had felt some share in
| the indignation of D'ri and my father.
| This feeling had not been allayed by
! the bloody scenes in which | had had
a part. Now began to feel the great
| passion of the people, and was put to
| shame for a moment.
"Liberty-that is a grand thing to
fight for" said I, after a brief pause.
Swap my blood any time fer thet
air." said D'ri. Il can fight sassy, but
not fer no king but God Almighty.
Don't pay t git all tore up less it S
| fer suthin' purity middlin' yallyble.
! My life amt wuth much, but, ye see,
/ main nutnln else.
We rode awhile in sober thought.
| hearing only a sOugh of the wind above
and the rustling hoof-beat of our
| horses in the rich harvest of the au-
| tumn woods. We were walking slow
| ly over stretch of bare moss when, at
a sharp turn, we came suddenly in
sight of a huge bear that sat facing
us. | drew my pistol as we pulled rein.
firing quickly. The bear ran away
into the brush as l fired another shot,
He S hit" said Dri. leaping off and
| bidding me hold the bit. Then, with a
long stride, he ran after the fleeing
bear. had been waiting near half an
hour when D'ri came back slowly, with
downhearted look.
ct ain no USE" said he. Cant
never git thet bear. He s got flesh
wound high up in his him quarters, an
he S trayellin' fast"
He took fresh chew of tobacco and
mounted his horse.
Terrible pity" he exclaimed shall-
ing his head with some trace of linger-
! ing sorrow. Ray" said he, soberIy,
after a little silence, when ye see a
bear lookin your way, ef ye want i'm,
| always shute at the end thet's toward
| ye"
There was no better bear-hunter in
the north woods than D'ri, and to lose
a hear was for him, no light afIliction.
Cant never break a bears neck by
shutin' i'm in the hin quarters" he
! remarked.
| made no answer
Might Jest es we'll spit n is face"
he added presently; Jest eggzac'ly."
This apt and forceful advice calmed
lingering sense of duty, and he rode
on awhile in silence. The woods were
| glOoming in the early dusk when he
spoke again. Something revived his
! contempt of my education. He had
been trailing after me, and suddenly
! felt his knee.
Tell We this, Ray" said he, in a
kindly tone. Eff ye wan { git bear,
got t mux i'm up a leetle forard-
| right up n the neigh borhoOd NV is
! fo'C's'le. Don't dew no good t shute
is hams. Might es well try t choke
i'm t death by pinchin' is tall
We were out in the open. Roofs
and smoking Chimneys were silhouet-
ted on the Sky, and, halfway up hill,
we could see the candle-lights of the
red tavern. There, in the bar, before
blazing logs in a great fireplace, for
the evening had come chilly, table
was laid for us, and we sat down with
hearty happiness to tankards of old
ale and a smoking haunch. | have
never drunk or eaten with a better
relish. There were half dozen or so
sitting about the bar, and all ears were
for news Of the army and all hands
! for our help. If we asked for more
! potatoes or ale half of them rose to
! proclaim it. Between pipes of Vir-
! ginia tobacco, and old sledge, and
songs Of love and daring, we had a
| al IN