The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-01-04

There are many psrsoss who sevW heaSd
OF Colunbus, and sons--but sct % many
who do not know who Thcmss A. Edi.
sou 10. But In his own realm "Bow-lssesd
Bill" Darling 10 more famous than either Of
them. In that particular portion Of The
Aissi,sippi Valley which he FREQ usnts, not
to know Bow.leggcd Bill would ss "A un-
welcome distinction.
Bill sat one October morning upon The
shady bank Of the bayou, pleasantly On.
gagged In extracting the luscious pulp from
q ripe papaw, . 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
BIN WAS happy. Half . dozen coon dogs
lay about 10 expsctsnt attitudes, waiting
for Bill to turn his attention to more stabls
vlands than fruit, and an ancient mussls-
loading rife beside tree occasionally shar.
cd their attention.
Now and then Bill cast . reflective eye
upon stranger who was Watching him.
The stranger WAS well-dresssd and we'll
fed, Of middle ags, but sad and solemn Of
visage.
Look a-veah, stranger, said Bill at last.
You-all amt fselin' right psart. You bot
teh eat few Of these yeah papaws. They
ain't nothin' betteh.
The stranger took one with neis ucholy
thanks. Al he munchsd It the sadness
gradually faded from his face.
That's something like, bs said, taking an
other, Like being boy. Oh, III could
get away where no one knows me, and rest,
and rest
don't know you none, said Bill, cheer.
fully. Bet right down hsah and rest -
long - you-All got mind tn.
Iwant to get out Of the world Of basi-
ness, where III never hear the sound Of my
name. I'm sick ofit!
Well, stranger, said Bill, that ought 70
be easy. 1t ain't ~ II you was famous.
like me. Most sverywhsh you 70 you'll
heah my name, but Amt nevsh heard
yourn, nav, begging youh pardon, don't
want to. But Of you want to Kit away
why, I'm startin' up the bayou right now,
and you can come with mo.
Hall an hour later they were in Bills
skiff far Ia the bayou fastnsssss, Tbs
stranger had begun to drink In deep brsaths
Of the free cir and to look abont with an
amazed interest. He picked up Bill's gun
and examined 1t and sighted II.
Any coons roundi he asked.
The disappeared into the woods that day,
and for two weeks Bll's favorite resting
spot near the mouth Of the bayou Iknsw
him not. At last they came back, the
stranger pulling strongly and Bill loung.
Ing In the stern over spile Of pecans and
butternuts.
Bill, said the stranger, haven't bssn
square with you. I'm . big spectator,
Bill, and rich man. want 10 give yea
somsthing--s house, acabin-boat, . farm
say what you'll hsvs. You have pullsd me
through an awful At Of the blues.
strangeh, drawlsd Bin, laxily, II / had .
cabin boat I'd have TO take care Of It. III
had house I'd have to live In II. II I bad
= farm I'D have to pay taxes on Il. III
had new gun I'd have TO lie Il and keep Il
cean. II owned the biggest business In
Sent Louis I'D have TO 70 to Sent Louis 10
run II. No, sub, don't want none Of 'em.
I've got six coon dogs now, aud couldn't
use abotheh. don't owe sry . cent for
rent, taxes or grub. Ny huntin' license y
perpstooal and automatic, and nshis' 10
free. No, sub, mistsb, thastin' you oil the
same, they sIn't nothin' rich man can do
fah ma.