The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-04-08
NIARSE JAKE AND RUNAWAY CAGE.
A STORY OF THE DUTCH FORK.
BY COL. D. A. DICKERT.
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(Contia4ed from April 1.)

I (Contl11ed from April l..
That day and night Jake Baldwin
tossed about on a bed Of pain, Like
an old ship on a storm swept sea.
His trouble had been a severe frac-
ture of the knee, but the good old
country physician placed it in band
ages and straps, and expressed him
self quite confidently that "Jake
would be up and about in a weak or
two." Cage was in more mental pain,
if possible, than his young master
was in physical. Jake had taken
the most bitter medicine in remorse
and rocking pain, while Cages was
yet to come. That night he was part
! ly delirious, had fevered dreams, his
mind wandering far away at times.
Now he was with Gage on the en-
chanted island, as it seemed to him,
dancing around the campfire, sur
rounded in its symphony of green and
gold, the green of the island foliage,
the gold the ripping stream, with the
moons reflected rays. Then again
he would see myriads patrolers, cir
cling the camp like an army of wild
horsemen. Then his fevered brain
would revert to the scenes Of reVelry,
at old fiddler Bob's and he would
Laugh in childish glee, at some mag
mary happening. "Shove your bow,
Uncle Bob, shove your bow. Come
down on the home stretch, Eick,'' he
would call out. ..>.>.... -.
Thus the night wore away, his
mother coming up during the night,
not to sympathize with him though,
she was too wrought up over the dis
grace of her son being caught by
"patterolers at negro hoe down."
She chided him with such soothing .ez-
pressions as "SerEed you right, if it
wasn't for the disgrace I would not
care the wrapping's of finger. Just
see what you get by being led by that
worthless nigger. I do wish he would
be sold to the spectators and sent
to the far country. Just as I always
expected. This is one time you ought
to be ashamed for your family, If not
for yourself" Such words are real
ly comforting to a man who has done
wrong and feels it far more bitterly
than those who are animadverting up
on the crime. This III time eonsola-
ton, coming at time too, when a
man is conscience stricken and peni-
tent over some folly Or indiscretion
that is now unrecallable, is heaping
red hot Goals upon his head.
Near day break, while the moon
was shedding its full glory through
the open window, its silvery rays fall
ing upon the face Of Jake, he fell IN
to a fitful sleep. But by his many
hunting jaurts, and runaway life, his,
hearing had become almost prefer
mutually acute. Asleep as he was he
had kind Of subeonseiousness Of
some one being in the room, and to
the hail, "Who is there.'' "Me,
Marse Jake, how you FEEL" came
from Cage. He had stealthily crept
up stairs into Jake's room. At the
sound of Cages voice, mild temper
ed and forgiving as he usually was,
Jake Baldwin was instantly seized
with violent rage. He charged Cage
with being the author Of all his
troubles and pain, by his lurid pic
lures Of runaway life, and he hated
him for it. Cage began talking IN a
sorrowing tone, taed to sooth the con-
ficting emotions that were raging IN
his young masters breast, and tue
anger soon passed away. They both
soon began to talk IL their old time
confidential manner. Jake expressed
great remorse at being the real eul~
prit of the foolish episode, one he
could so easily have prevented, and
now Cage must be violently punished
for his folly.
"Ner mind bout dat Marse Jake.
I knows dey is gwine to rub my feath-
ers the wrong way dis time for true,
but I don't kere, I is dis lac Corleys
old Jack uster say, when dey was
whippin him for gamlin, Dam mig
ger who can't stan hell little
while. ," at which Jake smiled good