The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-12-05


~ Beverly Calhoun next looked
upon II. The sun from his
throne in the mountain tops was smil-
ing down upon the valley the night
aad rayaged while he was on the other
side of the earth. The leaves OF the
4nees were softer green, the white OF
fhe rocks and the yellow Of the road
Eere Of a gentler tint The brown
and green reeds were proudly erect
once more.
The stirring Of the mountain men
had awakened Aunt Fanny, and she IN
Snrn called her mistress from the sur
surisingly peaceful slumber into which
nerfect health had seat her not so
many hours before. At the entrance
30 the improvised bedchamber stood
buckets of water from the spring.
eve have very thoughtful chamber
anaids, remarked Beverly while Aunt
Fanny was putting her hair into pre-
sentable shape. ssAno an energetic
cook" she added us the odor Of brol-
ed meat came to her nostrils.
All cain see nothin' O dat beastes,
Miss Beverly, an Ah-Ah got nah sus-
picions,' said Aunt Fanny, with sepul-
ehral despair in her voice.
NaThey'ye thrown the awful thing
snte the river concluded Beverly.
ADey's cookin' hitr' said Aunt Fanny
solemnly.
4Good heaven, nor cried Beverly
AGo and see, this minute. wouldn's
eat that catlike thing for the whole
world Aunt Fanny came back few
minutes later with the assurance that
fhey were roasting goat meat. The
@kfn Of the midnight visitor was
stretched upon the ground not far
away.
aAnd how is hep asked Beverly,
tanning a hatpin through a helpless
bunch of violets.
He's ve'y specially skun, yo' high
ness"
II don't mean the animal, stupid
~cYo mean at Misteh Goat Man?
He's settin' up an chattin' as if nothin'
harpened He says to me 'at we staht
on ouah way 5es' as soon as yo' all eats
yo' b'eakfus'. De hosses is hitcheo
NO an' y"
4Has everybody else eaten: An i
The only one that hasn'tt:'' % cried Beyer-
~
~,ceptin' me, yo' highness. Ah'm as
hungry as poah mans dawg, an p
@.And he is being kept from the hos
DItai because I am lazy, good for
uothing little Come on, Aunt Fanny;
we haven't a minute to spare. It he
looks very i'll, we do without break
fast"
But Baldos was the most cheerful
man in the party. He was sitting with
mis- back against tree, his r'1ht arm
In q sling of woven reeds biack
patch set upon the proper ey3.
1eYou will pardon me for not rising,
hs,said cheerily, 'sbut, your highness,
il am much too awkward this morning
10 act as betting courtier in the
.oresence Of his sovereign. You have
sssgt s|2.s gsnI1 en-, te.r So well, IN fact
Chat you have suffered for it. Can't
NE start at once?" She was debating
within. herself whether it would be
quite good form to shake hands with
sae reclining hero. In the glare Of the
broad daylight he and his followers
looked more ragged and famished than
before but they also appeared more
picturesquely romantic.
\ When you have eaten Of our humble
fare, your highness-the last meal at
the Hawk and Raven
But I'm not bit hungry"
cit is very considerate Of you, but
equally unreasonable. You must eat
before we start
ST cant bear the thought OF your suf-
fering when we should be hurrying to
a hospital and competent surgeons"
He laughed gayly. "Oh, you needn't
EaugN know it hurts You say we
cannot reach Ganlook before tomor-
yow? Well. we cannot stop here a
nlnnte longer than We Oh, thank
your A ragged servitor had placed a
rude bowl Of meat and some fruit be-
fore her.
esSft down here, your highness, and
preoare yourself for long fast. We
may go until nightfall without food.
Ire game is scarce, and we dare not
venture far into the hills"
Beverly sat at his feet and daintily
began the operation Of picking a bone
wsth her pretty fingers and teeth. Il
am sor..y we have no knives and forks
he apoiGgized.
Il doa'e mind" said she. 81 wish
you wo1,d remove that black patch"
aAias. must resul>e the hated dis
guise. !. chance enemy might recog-
uize ne
~You.-your clothes have been mend-
ed Sic remarked, With fur1ire
glance &C his long legs. The trousers
bad been rudely sewed up and no band
ages were visible. care you-yonr
segs terribly hurt?'
saruh - L,1I,- coro+cbo.} l,,,+ ,o4