The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-06-28

- ~ IN btAoi6 LIZ
rowful scene in the barroom had been
added to by the presence of the ason-
lzed mother of the injured girl.
Rather an unfortunate affair. said
the landlord after the people had
left the barroom. Il am angry with
myself and sorry for the child. But
she'd no business here. As for Joe,
II would take a saint to stand his ton
~ue. The next night as Harvey Green
Ieaned over the bar he remarked 70
SIMON: Il don't see anything Of your
particular friend Joe Morgan here to-
nlgnt To his Simon answered that
he never wanted to see him again
and that if he fell down and broke his
neck some night il would tie
q DleSSng TO everybody. 1t soon be
came known that little Mary Morgan
was lying desperately Ill in her miser-
aoIe nome and that it was in response
10 the pleadings of his daughter that
Joe had refrained from making his
usual visit to the tavern. The company
assembled at the bar made many un-
feeling remarks about the matter and
tried to be as jolly IS usual. But
there was an underCurrept Of irrita-
tion-they felt as if their a~musements
had somehow been interfered with by
old Joe Morgan and his child. Mrs.
Slade had zone over to the Morgan
cottage, where she had condUled with
and comforted Mrs. Morgan. and upon
Ai>A tPo IoiC haA vi ll1lo BCf
hands a SO bill.
When next night it became known
that little Mary was probably dyinc,
the company was not so large at the
bar as usual. nor in very good spirits.
They say old Joe has got the man
with the poker after him." remarked
one lounger. Its his second or third
attack, and he's liable TO catch him
this time" Miserable wretch re-
Piled Harvey Green, the sooner he's
off the better. He's only in the way
Of everybody The landlord said
nothing. He stood leaning across the
bar looking more sober than usual.
They had an awful time last night"
continued the first speaker. Joe had
the remen and the wife was alone
with the girl and Joe all night. The
girls going to die. Rather unlucky
for you Simon. I heard some strong
suggestions over at Lawyer Philips
office today. You'H probably be ar
rested for manslauehter." Slade tried
to bulster, but it was Of no use. al
though Harvey Green helped him.
Suddenly came the news hat little
Mary was dead. The GROVE of drinkers
was at once awed into silence. Then
some proposed that a collection be
taken up for Mrs. Morgan. The older
ones all remembered we'll when she
had been a village belle. beautiful and
happy. The collection was "a generous
ore, anu dIteI SiN1IC 1t lI}lO the nailOS
Of Mrs. Slade for delivery. the Gus
toners dropped out in couples. dis
GUESSING the situation and saying to
each other that they would not be
in SHADES shoes for a great deal. ST.
mon Slade closed the bar and silence
reigned through the house. Thus
ended in gloom the strangers Fourth
Night IN a BarroOm.
Nearly five years had glided away
haf0r0 business AGAIN hTO)Iphf the
stranger to Cedarville. Simon Slade
had been indicted for manslaughteT
because of the death of Mary Morgan,
but. through the influence of Judge
Lyman. the indictment had been
Quashed. AS the stage rolled into
the village there was evidence on
every side of changes for the worse.
About the once carefully tended
house and grounds OF JUDGE Ham
mond hung an air Of neglect which
was highly noticeable. Leaning against
one of the pillars of the portico the
traveller saw the Judge. his hat of dis
closing his white hair, his head bowed
evidently in q mood of deep abstrac-
ton His face was still florid. but II
had crown hin and pfnched and
trouble was written in every line. At
the tavern a coarse-looking, rotund.
red-faced man stepped out to meet the
stage in whom the traveller had, at
first glance. some difficulty in recos-
niZing Simon Slade. As marked a
change was everywhere about the inn.
It, too. had grown larger by the addi-
ton of wings. but it had grown oarSer
also. The white and green paint which
had looked so cool and inviting when
the tavern was first opened had been
supplanted by a DULY. dirty brown.
The barroom had been enlarged ana
| trimmed in a eaudy mn with dec
o~rations now dirty and gone to decay.
while cheap. loud pictures hung upon
the walls which. if not absolutely OBJ
scene, were at least suggestive.
The sitting room was but little
changed, except that it was frowSy
where it had been neat, and had a
stale. close, greasy odor. az If it had
not been properly swept or busted Tor
a week. The rooms, which used to
he so neat and clean. were likewise
dusty and dingy and full Of foul air.