The Robesonian., 1909-04-01
that the trail had left the main

the west side of Blues bridge.
This ride of more than an hour,
through dense gallberry bushes
which frequently hid the path,
was as lonely a one as ever a
poor boy took. Imaginations
were like grim specters. They
seemed to say, "you are going to
Virginia at a great cost, and have
only five dollars, and if you go to
a hotel somewhere, it will take a
week to get help from home. "
There were no railroads in that
country, no telephones, and but
one line of telegraph from Fay
etteville south and west. Tears
came to the boys relief, and his
hopes revived. 1t was high noon.
Horse and rider were tired. l
rode up to a substantial building
on the north side of the road, and
knocked at the door to make en-
quiries. An elderly woman met
me with more of hostility than
hospitality. She chad left her
dinner smoking on the table and
the tired, hungry boy could re-
cognize some of the good things.
After resting about fifteen min
utes on the front steps, l arose,
mounted my horse and continued
my journey. AS l rode, I reflect
ed, that she had a perfect legal
right to feed the dogs on what
was left, and ignore a tired,
hungry boy, but she missed a
fine opportunity to obey the
teachings of the Master. An
hour later, | found acquaintances
in Wright Council and his moth
er, who treated me kindly.
Tins tracks were so distinct
now that I rode in a gallop. hop
ing to overtake him soon. AT
dusk, I drew rein at a crossroads
where lived Mrs. McGilvery,
known in the sand hills as miss
McGilberry." They seemed to be
comfortably fixed, and I was
hopeful of rest and refreshment.
I tied Sumpter at the gate, and
attempted to walk in, but three
great, grinning ours blocked the
way, and it took two big boys
all they could do to prevent them
from doing me great injury.
They conducted me to the room
occupied by a very deaf woman,
whom l took to be the queen OF
the ranch. She had, besides the
boys, six "darters, leach of which
felt it her special privilege ano
high prerogative to communicate
to the deaf mother all that l haC
to say. At my strange voice the
ours would bark fercely. AL
plans and propositions must be
presented to the pompous, self
important court. She was a!
ugly as homemade sin" The
fates were against me. When
asked a question which any O.
the gang might have answered
the old woman, with her hand t
her ear, would explode the ques
ton, What did he say?"
The ''gals" had formed a cir
t Gle around the maternal chair
the boys and the dogs only
: trifle further away.
What did he say, gals?"
r All screamed out: He's lost
7 horse"
5 The concert was babel, an
she screamed again, "What?'
He's lost, lost, horse, horse
j horse!'
: Finally she caught on, an
Z. said, He's been here mister
t but he's gone. -
t Then said I, meekly, "Ca
! | spend the night with you?'
y What did he say?" choru
}, of voices and howls of dogs!
: He wants to stay all night.
: ''What?" He wants, h
/ wants, to stay, to stay all nigh
J, all night. %
a "What?"
S He wants, wants to sta
$ night, night
g The truth dawned on hermint
l. and lifting holy hands, wit
7, voice trembling with horror, 81
1T exclaimed:
[ mo, no, no, no! No strang
Y. in my house among all my ga
ar No! no!!''
y "Then," quoth I, what mu
I do? I don't want to sleep
s. the wire grass.
l Chorus babeled again, and {
o. ter the stormI learned that I cot
It. find shelter eight miles furth
ct on, at Luke Gibson's. He ke
y. public house. AS l stepped {
a the boys said, There goes n
OF Gibson now.
ed At Gibson's my horse was fl
of and in due time l was invited
'er supper, where | had what
Sc. English friend calls cam q
1is heggs", which I enjoyed hu
nd ly. A man in the neighborht
S. had taken up my horse, and
nd his house, early next morning
- hasted. On my arrival l fol
oso Swept Over Niagara.
'rds This terrible calamity often hapl
,ad- because careless boatman ignores