The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-09-10

low Johnny, and YOU wanted 10 see
me on shore.'' ':Why! Bobby You
wanted to shoot your dear little Bess
did you? What a naughty boy, pull
down your pantlegs and run along to
bed" and other like soothing words
to these manly young men. Oh it was
bitter. But Ducklegs came to the res
cue as usual. How he fixed it with
the guard, I never knew for We had
all left with our girls for Mrs. Banks
as soon as we landed. We allowed
that old Buck and Ducklegs could fix
it some way, and they must have done
50 for Duck and Connie wasn't far
behind us when we reached our start
ing point.
Right here one Of the strahgest
things happened in our trip. Just as
we were coming up to old Mrs. Banks
some smart Aleck had formed a line or
two of that old detestable refrain
about ''I lay five dollars down" and
the boys were singing it with shout,
awe love these girls of Rockets, We
love them fit to kill,
We could eat them up by piece and
not have half ill,
And I y five dollars down, etc."
Old Mrs. Banks had a rooster in
a coop, rightin the chomney jem under
her window, and she said she heard him
crow just as the storm from the Kitty
Floyd was coming up. That's what she
called our singing, a storm. When
she came down to let the girls IN, she
looked in the coop and 10 and behold,
the rooster was gone. She charged us
with the theft right before the girls
and raised fearful rucus about it.
But gracious, we didn't take her
chicken and ] will swear that on a
stack Of Bibles in three inches OF
heaven. Well, yes, the negroes, they
were there, but they didn't take it,
for I asked old Jess only few days
ago, to tell me the truth about 1t, and
he says, "Before guard boss, we did
Mt take that rooster. Why, we were
50 wore out and bunged up on dat
Boat, dat We wouldn't took even a
pullet. if we saw it in the road"
And now the parting came, the good
bves forever. While We were all tired
and needed rest and sleep still all
seemed ito feel a sadness at the
thought Of parting, one long, eternal
farewell. Hot Spur and Dixie had eeas-
edxo talk Of battles, and drum beats,
and dwerepartingin whispers. Dell and
Hesterkept up thespiteful blcker1ngs'
She told Dell that the next time he
came to leave his manners behind and
borrow someone's else, that would be
more agreeable, the latter cutting
back. that he hoped she had gotten
her full growth in height, wished her
father would not be unkind to her for
wearing his Sunday shoes. Dueklegs
and Connie still talked of stars and
consultations, of Venus and the Pie
iades. but I don't believe Connie
knew a. bit more Of what he was talk
ing them lies,-well all but me. L
were ranged about in the old balcony
talking to their girls, no doubt tell
inc them lies,-well all but one. L
was letting the truth fly for once
When my little blue eyed innocence
stood before me, her hands toying
with the brass buttons on my coat,
raising occasionally those long droop-
ing lashes that. covered those eyes OF
:heavenly blue. she said: II have a
uresentiment, St. Luke, that this IS
to be the end Of 1t al" "
T assured her with all the vehe-
mence of nay verdant youth, that as
long as I was on top Of the earth,
and the sun. the moon and Stars con-
tinped to shine. and all that kind OF
stuff. you know. We parted and pass
ed out of each others life as quietly
and as easily as we had come into 1t.
Whom ve oci away a little distance
thew iollie0 us good, told US to call
again and if they were not at nome 10
leave our cards.
Maggie called after me: .:Take
good care Of your precious SELL 81
Luke, don't get killed if you can help
i When in battle lay close 10 the
ground, or get behind tree: :,
Well, I think I must have followed
her sage advice, else l would not De
tol,1- 10 roll this story.