Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06

NHNXAkNgNHNNNgsNgg19 NA1sa1NggNN92NAg
ed closer to his knee. suddenly turned his
face 10 the river and relieved some emo
ton by few low. fervent CathS. original
and forcefui. They were fairly on the
Backbone now. scraping and rumbling. as
the waves rubbed the Stanch hickory
floors upon the rocks. a passing packet
sent ont curvins roll OF water that Mt
ed and carried the house over the ledge
and flung 1t into the still pool In the
curve OF the bend. with the boat hang
ing high and dry to the porch roof by the
painter. A great bird with tapping wings
circled above and swooped inauiringiy
down upon them once or twice. The man
looked UP at 1t with grim smile.
Nav. we amt invited we TO breakfast
on yit,'' he said. But there's some
gone down river fur ye. Now, Mis- Hack
edorn. when we've settled down some
reckon we kin git these kids out comfort
able"
Indy gave him grateful. smile. and
little Becky Rugged closer. The baby
turned from his mothers neck and held
out his dainty hands with some friendly
remarks in his own dialect. The man
chucked to him in an embarrassed way.
hesitated, and then accepted the child
advances by holding out his hands awk-
wardly. The little one fell forward into
them in trustful surrender.
ooh, you're still thinkin' I'm yore
daddy, air We? Nice daddy you've got, TO
be layn' out fur a. man while his kids is
takin' a pleasure trip down river fur their
health. Has he ben gone so long the
baby's done forgot him.
The older children were highly amused
li 1lx- md Iltl.>t
mans knee he squatted upon the roof
He amt never took to a stranger like
that afore," apologized the mother. Il
don't know what ails him. Look at that,
will ye?' For the baby was bobbing his
curly yellow head unsteadily he be-
slowed damp kisses over the weatherworu
gr;zzled face which he held in place by
the ears.
Let him go it." ordered the man, ward
ing off the mothers hands. Il reckon
amt ben kissed since was his age. Eff
he likes it l amt obiectin'.''
Il lowed maybe you he'd kids Of yore
own, seem you're go good to EN-" ven
tured Indy.
Nav. amt nothin' but farm an
some beasts. My mother she died when L
was young. and my father got-he died
sudden few years back, and my broth
ers-wall. they died kind Of sudden, too,
at different times, the last one only bout
a month ago. and-I'm the last"
"Pshaw, now, amt that too bad? And
You so kind and handy, too. But that's
like my man. only he's got us He's the
last of his folks. too; but they was all
kiled-shot by that Peters gang. But
thar amt notain' to bender yore Settin
married, is thar?"
"Nothin' but the woman. Hyur little
Teller, you've took to me most oWdaciouS,
amt you? My sakes, how tight you kin
hug a Teller. Whoopee. What muscle
YOU hev got! An SO yore daddy is out
KILN Dave Peters. is he?"
What else kin he do" It's got TO be
one or other. an he flowed he'd try hard
to-to-sort Of finish up this trip SOS he
could git some crops in this spring. He
heard Dave was down by Doogan'S Land
In somewhat an he come down this way.
They do say Dave is the toughest and the
savagest of the hull gang-but / never
yet heard 'em say he was coward. Hold
off, Davy. you're just everlastihgly tear
in the man to pieces: the good, kind man
that's a-Savin' our liveS.'
So
"What'd you call this baby?"
Hes named David Mosely fur my
father. Suit it now, Davy."
"Davy-little Dave! So his names
Dave, is it? Vas. low 1 knowed Dave
Nosely. Dave. Ef-that man-Dave
Peters, done anything to his dad I reckon
you'd change his name wouldn't YEP
Indeed. I would that! Ef 1 could only
cit my man to do IT, I'd coax him to leave
the country now, fur we've lost every
mortal thing we he'd except a patch OF
wasiled-out ground without stick or
building or a single beast left on IT, not
even a pore chicken. And 1 reckon Wen
hev to camp under a tree anyway this
summer, so we might as we'll go away
vhar he has chance to live: we couldn't
wuss ourselves. But ne won't do 1t, L
know He'll just say the country amt
big enough fur 'em both. and the last
mans the man that lives. Buck Hacke-
dorm amt no coward.
Nav, ne amt that admitted the man
with the air Of one who knows. You air
in a bad fix he added, refiectively.
Three young ones. And mighty likely
baby. Named Dave! And all kin do is
10 take you down to Doogan's, whar
they've got gov'ment tents up and are
gitin' gov'ment grub. They'll take that
much keer of We thar, but you won't git
no clo'es."
The woman laughed cheerily.
well. that's heap. After last night
all ask is to git my babies safe on dry
land once more and git my man home
alive. and Well thrive all right. Why,
We'll be rich at that: I'll live under tree
and root for berries and be happy"
II reckon We WILL. said the man can
didly working his squeezed face from the
baby's ardent embrace. And. reckon,