Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-15

she caught the little man unceremoni.
ously by one arm. and thrusting him
roughly TO one side strobe heavily
forward until she paused 10 the centre
of the room facing US with her arms
| akinbo.
Now I'd fist like ter know" she
said savagely. who you uns be. q
breakin into q house, and KILN q
dorg. an a eatin' up everything we
uns got without so much as a sayin'
by yer leave er nuthin' | reckon as
how you ans don't take this we're
cabin fer no tavern?"
| "Madam." / said with q low bow,
/ 1T 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 bloodhound's
heavy bay resounded up the rocky
way" calculated Bungay with tan
cling eyes.
'Drat yer potry, Jed Bungayl ye
/ dew make me tired fe- suah." She
turned back to us, and from her first
words 1t was plainl5 evident she had
been impressed with bu. one sentence
| OF my labored explanation.
did you uns say as how ye'd pay
fe whut ye ct anC fer tibet truck ye
| busted?" she asked doubtfully.
Certainly. mada' /. and took
some money from my pocket as evil
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, sorter reckon as
how bout four bits Ill squar' things
dorgs is mighty durn cheap hereabout
enyhow. Give me Their four bits,
mister, an l reckon II how it II
be all right"
gla ICED at Mrs. Brennan, and the
amused twinkle in her eyes led me
to say heartily. "We had not entirely
completed our meal. but imagined we
saw ghosts"
/ Ghosts" He glanced around APP
prehenslvely.- "'On Heaven and on
thy lady call. and enter tle enchanted
hall!' Wus Their ghost ye saw over
t',ar?" And he pointed toward the
wall opposite.
/ l nodded.
Then | sorter reckon as how
Marian and me wus them ghosts" he
continued, grinning. I'VE sorter reck-
oned az how we wanted ter see who
wus yere afore We come in. I'll
listen tai my fancy hears the clang of
swords. the crash Of spears. These
we're is tough times, stranger. in these
parts. an q man whut has ter perfect
a lovely female hes got ter keep his
eye skinned"
I Maria shifted contemptuously.
"Ye're no great shakes at perfect
in O. me, Jed Bungay. Now you sit
down thar an begin ter fill up.
reckon as how Their Cap an bis gal
will kinder fine with us fer manners"
/ She seated Jed with such extreme
vigor that / looked for the chair %
collapse beneath him as he came
down. but the little man, not in the
least daunted, picked up his knife and
fork with a sigh Of relief.
/ 20 woman! in our hours OF ease
uncertain, coy, and hard to please I"
he murmured. Come. sit down.
! stranger; sit down an share a
soldiers couch. soldiers fare Not
as I'm sojer," be fastened to er-
! plain, but thet's how II is In Their
| 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 sat down
beside her.
You are Confederate. then?"
asked, curious to know upon which
side his sympathies were enlisted in
| the struggle.
He glanced warily at my gray
| jacket, then his shrewd, shifty eyes
" ..ndered to the blue AM yellow cav
airy cloak lying on the floor.
oval. 1 fist don't know. Cap" he
said cautiously. continuing TO eat as
he talked, "as I'm much O. enything
In this yere row. First Their burned
| gray-backs they come sroopin' up
yere, an run off all my horgs; then
Their blame blue-bellies come long
ar cut down every lick O. my corn
| fodder, so tibet I'll be cussed II I amt
bout ready ter fight either side. Any
how | amt did no fightin' yit worth
taIkin' bout. fer Mariar is pow'fui
feared I'd get hurt"
Maria regarded him scornfuily.
Hiding cut, l supposeT"
wal. t amt very healthful FER
us ter be stayin' ct hum much o
Their time. long with that thar Red
Lowrie. an sim Hale, an the rest o
thet cattle round yers."
"Guerillas pretty thick now IN the
| mountains?"
Wal, / dunno; heerd as they wus
dom somethin' down by Their brick
church. but thar's no great SHAKES OF
EN- list round yere. | reckon as how
they knchs 'nough ter keep way from
Jed Bungay-Td pitch EN- far as
ever peasant pitched bar"
You hs-~ no fear Of them, then?"