The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-10-26
Copyright o, a l. MeClurg 4 Co.
Entered AZ Stationcr's Hall. London.

he was a fierce-looking little fellow.
scarcely more than half-grown boy
In size. with round, red face full of
strange wrinkles, and head as oddly
peak-shaped as ever looked upon. 1t
went up exactly like the apex of a
pear, while the upper portion was
utterly bald. He formed a most re-
markable contrast to the tall, raw
boned, angular female who loomed up
like a small mountain just behind him.
II reckon as how you uns he'd quite
a bit of a scrap afora ye laid thet
thar dorg out stranger" he said,
half-angry tone lurking in his deep
voice. 1.-The fleetest hound in all the
North an I'm burned If | fist likes
ther way you uns makes yerselves ct
hum in this yere cabin"
"Shet up, Jed Bungay," cut in his
better-half, sharply, and as she spoke
she caught the little man unceremoni-
ously by one arm, and thrusting him
roughly to one side strode heavily
forward until she paused in the centre
of the room facing us with her arms
akimbo.
Now I'd jist like ter know" she
said savagely, who you uns be,
breakin' into a house, and a KILN a
oorg, an a eatin' up everything we
uns got without 80 much as a sayin'
by yer leave er nuthin'. reckon as
how you uns don't take this yere
cabin fer no tavernf"
Madam" l said with a low bow,
ut is misfortune, not desire, which
has caused US to trespass upon your
hospitality. We will very gladly pay
you literally for any damage done.
am an officer In the Confederate ser.
vice, and the breaking down of our
horses compelled us to take refuge
here in order that this lady might
not be exposed to danger from rowing
gangs of guerillas. The dog attacked
us in the dark, and we killed him in
order to save our lives"
THE deep-mouthed bloodhounds
heavy bay resounded up the rocky
way" calculated Bungay with dan.
cling eyes.
"Drat yer potry, Jed Bungay! ye
dew make me tired fer suah." She
turned back to us, and from her first
words 1t was plainly evident she had
been impressed with but one sentence
of my labored explanation.
Did you uns say as how ye'd pay
fer whut ye ct ane fer thet truck ye
busted?" she asked doubtfully.
Certainly, madam, and took
some money from my pocket as evi-
dence of good faith. What would you
consider due your"
The grim, set face relaxed slightly,
while she permitted her husband to
edge his way little more into the
foreground.
Wal, stranger, l sorter reckon as
how bout four bits Ill squar' things
dorgs n mighty durn cheap hereabout
enyhow. Give me ther four bits,
mister, an reckon as how 1t II
be all right"
! glanced at Mrs. Brennan, and the
amused twinkle in her eyes led me
TO say heartily, I'VE had not entirely
completed our meal, but imagined we
saw ghosts"
Ghosts" He glanced around ap-
prehensively,- ION Heaven and on
thy lady call, and enter the enchanted
hall!' Wus ther ghosts ye saw over
thar!" And he pointed toward the
wall opposite.
nodded
Then | sorter reckon as how |
Mariar and me wus them ghosts" he |
continued, grinning I'VE sorter reck-
oned as how we wanted ter see who |
-wps yere afore we come In. I'll |
listen till my fancy hears the clsng Of |
swords, the crash OF spears These
yere is tough times, stranger, In these
parts, an man whut has ter perfect
a lovely female hes got ter keep his
eye skinned" ,-''- .---s,s,5.----- -'<
Maria shifted cQptemptuously.
--~sS're no great shakes at a perfect
In g me, Jed Bungay, Now you sit
down thar an begin ter fill up. |
reckon as how ther Cap an his gal |
will kinder jine With US fer manners"
She seated Jed With slch extreme
vig6r that | looked for the chair to
collapse beneath him as he came
down, but the little man, not in the
least daunted, picked up his knife and
fork with sigh of relief.
=, 40 woman in our hours of ease
uncertain, coy, and hard to please"
he murmured. Come, sit down,
stranger; sit down an share
soldiers couch, soldiers fare Not
as I'm a sojer," he fastened to ex-
plain, 'but thets how 1t is in ther
book, Say, old woman, kint ye kinder
skier up some coffee fer we uns-
leastwise whut us Confeds call cof-
fee?"
Without much difficulty induced
Mrs. Brennan to draw her chair once
more to the table, and l sat down
beside her.
you are Confederate, then?" /
asked. curious to know upon which
side his sympathies were enlisted In
the struggle.