The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-07-12
SATISFIED.



Thsre are many Ssrsons who never
heard OF Columbus. and some-but NOT
70 many-who do not know who
Thomas A Edison Ia But In bis OWE
realm "Bow-Iegged BIr Darling IL
more famous than either OF them. IL
that particular portion OF the Missis
sippi Valley which be frequents. not
10 know Bow-legged Bill would be ar
unweicome distinction
Bill sat one October morning upos
the shady bank OF the bayou. pleasant
Iy engaged In extracting the luscious
pulp from a ripe papaw. a sack Of
which lay ~ his feet When papa~s
are ripe. pecans are dropping and
squirrels are prime. All these things
were In the bayou woods. and Bill was
happy. Half a dozen cool dogs lay
about In expectant attitudes, waiting
for Bin 10 turn his attention TO more
stable viands than fruit and an u
Gent muzzle loading rife beside a tree
occasionally shared their attention
Now and then Bill cast a reflective
eye upon q stranger who vas watching
him. The stranger was well dressed
and well fed. OF middle age. but sad
and solemn OF visage.
Look a-yeaa. stranger" said Bill
az last. "Sou-ail amt feelin' right
peart You betteh eat a few OF thess
yeah papaws. They ain't nothin' bet
ten
The stranger took one with melan-
choly thanks. As he munched II the
sadness gradually faded from his face
That's something like" be said
taking another. Like being a boy.
oh. II / could get away where no ons
knows me. and rest and rest"
Il don't know you none" said Bill
cheerfuily. Set right down heah and
rest as long as you-ail got = mind tu--
Il want 10 get out OF the World OF
business. where I'll never hear the
sound OF my name. I'm sick OF it,
well. strsngeh." said Bill. that
ought 20 be EASY. II amt M II you
was famous. like me. Most everywheh
you 10 you'll heab my name. but ]
nin't neveh heard yourn. nav. begging
youh pardon. ! don't want tu. But ef
you want to git away-why. I'm start
In up the bayou right now. n you
can come with me"
Half an hour later they were IN
Bills skin. far In the bayou ~fastnessexL
The stranger bad begun 10 drink IN
deep bresths Of the free air and to
look about with an amazed interest
He picked up Bills u and examined
and sighted H.
ANY coons roundY' be asked.
They disappeared into the woods
day. and for two weeks Bii's IA
vorite resting spot near the mouth Of
the bayou knew him not Al las; they
back. the strangcr pulling strong
" and Bill ~lounging IN the stern over
\ pile Of pecans and b%utternuts-
-Bill." said the stranger. Il haven't
been square with you. I'm a big spec
BIZ. and a rich man. ! want
30 give you something house. q
a farm-say what you'll
You have pulled me through an
~ OF the blues"
stranger" drawled Bill. lazily. II
| had a cahin-bont I'd have TO take
,are OF H. II bad a house I'd have
live In Il. IL had a farm ia have
% live on IL II | had a new gun I'd
% lie II and keep II clean II
,wned the biggest business In Sent
I'd have TO. 70 to sent Louis 70
un II No. sub. I don't want none Of
EN- I've got six oon dogs now. and
~se anotheh. I don't owe arg
cnt for rent. taxes or grub. Ny hunt
n license Is perpetooal and automatic
md asb@' Is free. No. sub. misteh-
hsnkin' you all the same. they sinr
a rich man can do fob me-"