The new age. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1896-1905, 1906-02-10
SATISFIED.


~oNN-N-~0~~-o.~~
There are many persons who never
heard of Columbus, and some-but not
SO many-who do not know who
Thomas A Edison is. But in his own
realm "BOw-legged Bill" Darling is
more famous than either of them. In
that particular portion of the Mlssis-
slppl Valley which he frequents, not
to know Bow-legged Bill would be IN
unwelcome distinction.
Bill sat one October morning upon
the shady bank of the bayou, pleasant
ly engaged in extracting the luscious
pulp from a ripe papaw, a sack of
which lay at his feet. When papaws
are ripe, pecans are dropping and
squirrels are prime. All these things
were In the bayou woods, and Bill was
happy. Half a dozen coon dogs lay
about In expectant attitudes, waiting
for Bill to turn his attention to more
stable viands than fruit and an an
Client muzzle- loading rife beside a tree
occasionally shared their attention.
Now and then Bill cast reflective
eye upon stranger who was watching
him. The stranger was well dressed
and well fed, Of middle age, but sad
and solemn Of visage.
Look a-yeah, stranger" said Bill
at last. "You-all amt feelin' right
peart- You betteh eat few Of these
yeah papaws They amt nothin bet
teh."
The stranger took one with melan-
choly thanks AS he munched 1t the
sadness gradually faded from his face.
That's something like" he said,
taking another. Like being a boy.
Oh, If l could get away where no one
knows me, and rest, and rest !"
Il don't know you none" said Bill,
cheerfully. "Set right down heah and
rest as long as you-all got a mind tu."
Il want to get out of the world of
business, where I'll never hear the
sound Of my name. I'm sick Of it,"
We'll, stranger" said Bill. that
ought to be easy. 1t amt as If you
was famous, like me. Most everywheh
you go you'll heah my name, but I
amt neveh heard yourn, nav, begging
you'll pardon, l don't want tn. But eff
you want to git away-why, I'm start
in up the bayou right now, and you
can come with me-"
Half an hour later they were in
Bills skiff, far in the bayou Businesses.
The stranger had begun to drink in
deep breaths Of the free air and to
look about with an amazed interest.
He picked up Bills gun and examined
1t and sighted 1t.
ANY coons reund?" he asked.
They disappeared into the woods
that day, and for two weeks Bits ia
vorite resting spot near the mouth of
the bayou knew him not. At last they
came back, the stranger pulling strong
ly and Bill lounging in the stern over
pile of pecans and butternuts.
BILL" said the stranger, Il haven't
been square with you. I'm big spec
ulator, Bill, and a rich man. l want
to give you something's house, a
cabin-boat, q farm-say what you'll
have. You have pulled me through an
awful fit of the blues"
stranger" drawled Bill, lazily, IF
l had a cabin-boat I'd have to take
care of it. If l had house I'd have
to live in 1t. If l had a farm I'd have
to live on it. If 1 had new gun I'd
have to lie it and keep it clean. If 1
owned the biggest business In Sent
Louis I'd have to go to Sent Louis to
run 1t: No, sub, l don't want none Of
'em. I've got six coon dogs now, and
couldn't use another. | don't owe airy
cent for rent, taxes or grub. My hunt
In license is perpetooal and automatic,
and fishin' is free. No, sub, misteh,
thankin' you all the same, they amt
nothin a rich man can do fob me-"