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

"
hyar lately to leave off lookin' at it when
your victuals is coolln' On the table.
It's a man, NAV; n mans stoppln by
our gate, 1 low he's comm in hyar."
shrillcd Becky, ecstatically cinging to
her post at the narrow window. though
both the other children were crowding her
away.
Man" shouted Buchanan. pounding
with his fists on the pane. while the baby
pounded and shouted. too. The mother
came eagerly to look out.
shore 'nough it's Ben Wall and he's
tryin TO get his skiff through the gate
ah-he's made it. too
She opened the door and went out with
cordial greeting in every line of her
worn, young face.
''Howdy, Ben. Light from yore boat
and come in. You're just in time, for
sUppers steamin on the table. Come out
and hev a bite with us. You're the lust
Twin human bcin' that were glimpSed
sense a-Tuesday and hyuer it is a-Friday
The cllilIcn did say a family went down
the road In fiat boat YESTERDAY. but
was back a-washin' an didn't see EN-.
IIow's RoXiny and the baby
The man moored his muddy little boat
10 a porch pillar and she gave him
hand 10 diSembark.
'.Roxiny's pretty middlin'. but the old
Seems like the more shacklin' she gifts the
lighter she bangs on. Hows you all:
'Oh. live and kc<in'. Come out an
set down to supper Come on. young
ones. Becky, you get another plate. Hev
that cheer, Ben. and jist light in and
helf yorself. fur beaten biscuit don't wait
fur manners. Hyur. I'll take yore hat
If you can't find no place fur it.
Mr.. Wall had politely removed it as he
sat down TO the table. being fastidious in
the matter of eating with his hat on, but
rather than allow his hostess to wait upon
him lie threw it on the floor.
oval, Tow. Indy. this is all thrOwed
in free. come down to see If you all
was starved or drownded. ] says to
RoXiny today. I'm gon' down to Hacke-
dorn's and see if any of EN- is alive
says T. I'll iist bet Buck Hackedorn is
layin' @o"t and Indy and them chillen IS
dead says L. And. stidder that. here I
am settin down to the best beaten bis
cults In Washington county. Whatever
Buck may be doin' it's plain his folks
amt Starvin'."
'Iev another cup of coffee. Ben. and
take a bigger piece of the side meat and
some more fried p'taters. Here's apple
butter. and here's a plum spread that's
right good. if did make 1t. No. Becky.
pie time amt come yit; you drink yore
coffee. The young ones don't like their
coffee without no cream in it. but the
and l can't git up thar to milk her
Yes. / see her as I come down.
Whar's yore hosses?"
Buck has the roam, and turned the
II amt met up with coffee like that
sence I eat hyar the last time, Lindy
You do beat the world on coffee. Whar's
the rest of your stock?"
reckon they drownded and the chickens Is
on the back porch nigh about starved.
The corn shed is under water and amt
got much to feed EN-
Then yore man is shore 'nougll layin'
out?"
Shore 'nough. Ever sence Bully Pc
tiers was killed and the feud broke out
agin. Dace Peters has ben huntin' Buck
day and night tell he can't hardly look at
his own home no more. This house is
watched stiddy all the time. and l amt
scin' to let him stay hyur and be shot
down in his own door like his father was.
La. We amt goin' back on my biscuits
that soon, air ye?"
The visitor shook his head regretfuIIy
When dye low that feud's goin' to
end, Indy? 1t shorely can't go on much
longer"
The CHEEKY smile of the delicate young
dread. and her gray eyes clouded with
sorrow as she slowly replied: 1T amt
coin' to end till one of them two men
is shot that's when. fur it's got down to
them two. and there's fourteen lives be-
tween 'en. And ] does hope the good
Lord won't let it be Buck that has to
miss! II amt no quarrel of his'n--it Was
begun before he was born--but he's either
got to shoot or be mark. And they do
say that Dave Peters wouldn't be no great
loss, fur he's a hard case, and he amt
got wife nor child dependin on him.
II RELY think observed the guest. cut
ting broad triangle Of. pie with the
horn-handled knife laid across it for that
purpose. while Indy reached across and
filled his coffee cup for the fourth time.
~ do. that Buck would be Testified in
Ieavin' the country. | RELY think he
wouldn't be blamed, not by them that has
any sense. il he left the country on ac-
count of his woman and the kids. Them's
awful nice kids. Indy. and you amt
strong enough To do right by 'em alone"
His supper finished, Mr.. Wall rose