The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1910-10-20

again could see aud hear and feel and
think. Turning his eyes about be
found himself lying on a wooden
bench. \ tall man with perpleXed
countenance, wearing big badge
with city Marshal" engraved upon It.
stood over him. A little old woman
in black. with wrnkled face and
sparkling black eyes. was holding q
wet handkerchief against one of his
temples. He was trying TO get these
facts fixed in his mind and connected
with past events when the old woman
began 10 talk.
"'There now, great, big. strong man
That bullet never fetched you-jest
skeeted along the side of your head
and SORT OF paralyzed you for spell
I've heerd Of sech things afore. Con
cussion Is what they names it. Abel
Nv adkins used TO XIII squirrels thai
way barkin' 'em. Abe called IT, You
jest been barked. sir. and you'll be
all right In little bit Feel lots bet
ter already, don't youI You just lay
still awhile longer and let me bathe
your head. You don't know me, !
reckon. and 'taln't surprisin' that you
shouldn't. | come in on that train
from Ala abama to see my son. Big son.
aln't he? Lands. you wouldn't hardly
think he'd ever been baby. would
you? This is my son, SIR
Half turning, the old woman looked
up at the standing man, her Worn face
lighting with a proud aud wonderful
smile. She reached out one veined
and calloused hand and took one Of
her sons. Then, smiling cheerlly down
at the PROSTATE man, she continued to
dip the handkerchief in the waiting
room tin wash basin and gently apply
II 10 his temple
Il amt seen my son before she
continued. 'in eight years One Of my
nephews. Elkanah Price, he's a con
ductor on one of them railroads, and
he got me pass TO come out here.
can stay whole week on 1t, and then
It'll take me back ag'in. jest think,
now. that little boy of mine has got to
be a oilieer--a city marshal Of a whole
town. That's somethin' like a con
stable. amt Il? never knowed he
was officer. He didn't say nothln'
about II in his letters. ] reckon he
thought his old mother d be skeered
about the danger he was In But
laws. | never was much OF hand TO
git skeered. 'Talnt no use heard
them guns a-shootln' while ! was git
tin Of them cars. and ! see smoke
a-comln' ont OF the depot, but ! Jest
walked right along. Then ] see sons
face lookin' out through the window.
! knowed him at oncet. He met me at
the door and squeezed me most TO
death And there you was, sir. a-lyin'
there Jest like you was dead and ]
lowed we'd see what might be done
10 help sot you up
81 think I'll SIT up now" said the
coneussion patient. I'm feelin' pret'
ty fair by this time
He sat. somewhat weakly yet. lean
ing against the wall He was q rug
ged man, big boned aud straight. His
eyes steady and keen. seemed 10 lin
ger upon the face OF the man standing
80 still above him. His look wandered
often from the face he studied to the
marshafs badge upon the others
breast
Yes, yes; you'll be all right said
the old woman patting his arm. III
you don't get TO cuttln' up agin and
havln' folks sh0oiin' at you. Son told
me about you. sir while you was lay
In senseless on the floor Don't you
take Il as meidlesome fer an old wo-
man with son as big as you to talk
about Il. And you mustn't hold no
grudge ag'fn my son for basin' to
shoot at you. A officer has got 10 take
% for tho Ia " It's bis duty~and them
that acts bad and lives wrong has TO
suffer. Don't blame my son any. sir
'Iain't his fault He's always been a
good boy good when be was CROWN
up and kind aud 'bedieni and well be
haved Won't you let me advise you,
sir. not 10 do 10 40 moref BE q good
man and leave liquor alone and live
peaceably aud gcdlY."
The black mittened hand of the old
pleader gently touched the breast Of
the man she addressed. Very earnest
and candid her old. worn face looked.
In her rusty black dress aud antique
bonnet she sat, near the close Of
long life, and cpltomized the expert
ence Of the world sun the man 70
whom she spoke sazed above her head.
contemplating the silent son Of the old /
mother
What does the marshal sayT be