Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-04-21


lie dressed like a ghost, all in white
with stars and things on he breast
VIVA all gwine to do?'
For heavens sake, don't try to stoT
him." said the mistress. "If you dc
he'll kill you"
"0h, no. I'm not gwine to stop him
AS soon as l sor him run like de
debbil was after me. Ebery time he
shoot, down comes thousand quail
Never mind the quail. l don't care
how many he kills if he doesn't kill
any one else before we can get rid of
him"
At this juncture the housekeeper en-
tered the room and asked what was
the matter. When informed Of the
facts she smiled and said:
Il saw your lunatic so by my win
dow. He's Tom Thursby, that Virginia
scapegrace."
And sane?" asked Miss Woodbridge.
Perfectly"
Then why appear here in such cos.
tune and ask permission to hunt?"
/ L
querade ball in the city last night. and
not an hour ago saw some of the
masqueraders rolling along in their
carriages on their way home. Perhaps
Mr.. Thursby was one of them and
took a fancy to do some shooting"
But why In such costumew
mo one knows what Tom Thursby
will do. He's singular. But have
heard he is very bright. He'll prob
ably break his neck some day riding
across country. He's a terrible man
on horseback"
"That would he pity" said Miss
Woodbridge sympathetically-"he's so
handsome"
Whether the lady meant that it did
not matter if homely men broke their
necks is not of Importance to this
story The order to send to the asylum
was countermanded, and Mr.. Thursby
was permitted to bang away till mid
day, when he came to the house with
a bagful of quail and asked to see
the mistress. She met him, vainly en-
deayoring to suppress a smile.
Il have only killed these Birds" he
said, .'for the pleasure Of the hunt. l
leave them for their rightful owner"
"You are Mr.. Thursby, l believe,
from Virginia"
Il am, and at your service" A low
bow.
"That you may not think we Tennes-
seeans less hospitable than the people
Of the Old Dominion will ask you'to
remain for a dinner on the birds you
have shot"
'That will certainly be an honor as
well as a pleasure" Another bow.
Miss Woodbridge entertained Mr..
Thursby till the quatls were cooked
and the repast was announced. Then
she took his arm, and they went into
the dining room. Never a smile cross
ed Mr. Thursby's face. His hostess
said nothing about having mistaken
him for a lunatic, and he made no
reference to his fantastic dress.
The servants on the plantation either
had not heard the explanation as to
the guests habiliments, or, II they
had, it made little impression on them.
The opinion among them gained ground
that he was a ha'nt, though many Of
them declared that he was:ea lunatic.
The braver Of the colored children
fattened their noses against the din
ing room window panes to observe the
specter. Aunt Eunice, who had been
Virginia Woodbridge's "mammy," was
very much disturbed.
''Wha' To- yo' niggers let yo' mist'eSs
alone wild dat lunaticker for she
asked the men. "Yo' gwine let him
shoot herT'
At this white headed Uncle Peter
went OF and returned with his gun
and said he was "gwine to kiver de
ha'nt." Miss woodbridge, while dis
secting a quail, discovered him stand |
ing in the doorway leveling a shotgun
at her guest.
For heavens sake, Uncle Peter,
what are you going to dor Don't |
shoot!'
Don yO' bOdder. Missy Ginnie. 1
got de drop on him"
''Oh, that's nothing" said Thursby,
'T've seen him for some time. 1t
hasn't spoiled my appetite"
And he helped himself to another
quail.
Uncle Peter was finally persuaded. to
go away with his gun, and the meal
proceeded. Then when it was finished
Miss Woodbridge and her singular
guest spent some time together in the
drawing room, after which the guest
departed.
Miss Woodbridge was so well pleas,
I'd with Mr.. Thursby that she deeply
he was so freaky. But when
The next day she received from him
several dozen pairs of gloves, with a
etter stating that her leniency with
liih had enabled him to win bet that
he would shoot with her permission on
Ter plantation, she did not consider
lin so freaky after all. Indeed. she
considered him very clever
After this Mr. Thursby continued his
mad praaks at horsemanship and 9TH
II feats. devoted himself TO Miss
and practiced law. His
were divided as to whether
le were really crack Drained or very
lever till he won an important suit
" an expedient similar to the one by
which be had won permission to shoot
N the Woodbridge premises. From
hat ffr,o forrr-ard al aorpod that ~