The Newtown bee., 1907-05-31

possible effect of his low-spoken, sug- gestive words. Could he have recalled them few minutes later, he would also thankfully have recalled and gIv- en up that days sport, and gladly pledged himself to more sober observ- ance of following days of memorial.
 At first Joe clutched at the idea as if questioning it's possibility, but the momentary season of doubt was soon dispelled.
 "I'se thoueh ht ob dat yer thing my sef heaps ob times" he began, the de liberation with which he spoke yelling Pent agitation and deceiving Marse Tom as to his swiftly rising excite ment. That filmy borderland of req son. however, over which poor Joe had been dimly lowering, was sudden passed as by the driving force of ap unseen avalanche.
 Suddenly setzing tight hold of his banjo and leaping into the air he cried with a voice heard across the fields:-
 Hi! Yah! Hill Git away darI My son, Julius, alibe, he alibe! I tell you uns all Clar de way thar, I'se gwine to jump de Piper's reel.''
 And fiinging the banjo athwart his shoulder, he danced with the old agil- grace, lowing, whirling, flying across the floor as if dancing for his very life. The hall gradually filled as strollers from outside attracted by the cries and jubilee calls with which Cunl Joe also accompanied himself came gaping in, wondering If the Cun1 had gone clean daft.
 Dancing the Piper's reel, is he?" asked Sambo Link with bated breath; | "wot set i'm on?''
 "I did," said Marse Tom, com plete- | ly sobered, as he watched with an om- | and whirls all unforgotten through 10 | unpracticed years. ''I just hinted Julius might not be dead" he added | ruefully, ''and the old fellows gone | crazy just at the mention" | He's been quar- an spooky ob late, [" Sambo returned, "Lor, LOT, wot'll de end be!'
 For Cun1 Joe was taking such leaps and clicking to such unheard-of time,
 as made the young men, the maidens
 and the children gaze in open-mouthed
 wonder at the flying, scurrying figure. l As Joe paused an instant to bal
 ance his banjo, his quick eye caught
 the look of consternation on Marse Toms face, and the troubled expres- sion of Sambo Link. He at once con. strued them as expressive of doubt As If this added fuel to an already in.
 tense flame he cried louder than be- fore:-
 My boy, dat Julius, he alibe! Hi
 Yah! Hi! he alibe! I tell you uns! him
 as l mourned for deadl Clar de way
 dar!''
 The way was clear enough. Joe fol
 once wanted the whole floor. Those
 who watched shrunk back against ths
 walls, all wondering what the enc
 would be. Marse Tom crouched nea the door. Sambo Link with kind oI
 unspoken sympathy kept near him , the giggling girls were awed into com plete silence by the delirious dance.
 Up and down, from side to side, f1eV CunI Joe, his feet scarcely touchin, the floor even when he clapped witt heels and toes the swift steps of th clog, his banjo strumming wild mel ody the while.
 "I've great mind to catch hold o l him, said Marse Tom. "You let i'm 'lone," warned Samb , Link, "he's mad"
 All at once Joe leaped high; twirle,
 as if driven by electric force from en, ] to end of the floor, his banjo seemingl !? alive with elf-like cries; he spui , around until mere indistinguishab bl 3 mass of flying cOat-tailS, glitterin shoes and, above all, a whitenin ] head. He leaped, bounded forward
 leaped again, whisked ahead like ] whirlwind, but bent forward littl gantic plunge, leaped again-astonish 1ngly; leaped still higher, his feet fail : ly huttertng in space, leaped ono } more, then fell-dead! Stone dead r Up at the 'great house" the docto : said: "Joe died from creeping mani t and reaction sure to come sooner O t later. It is not natural for one of hi 3 race to mourn so deeply or so long Better far that the poor fellow live no longer.'
 "Dted mourning for his son on Deco 3 ration day." said Marse Tom gloomily 2 "One more martyrs grave to deco ' rate, !" smiled the doctor. "Y es, and by everything that's holy I'll decorate it!" sobbed young Mars