The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-31

81
He Was, Himself, q Peasant.
moved the lid and peered within. Ap-
parently his survey was not satisfac-
tory. for he replaced the cover,
clasped his fingers over his knees and
half closed his eyes.
where's the fish?"
The boy, .thoughtfully regarding the
flames. started; when he had left the
child and Beppo. unconsciously he had
dropped 1t, bit this he did not now
explain. II didn't bring one."
Didn't bring one?"
NO." said the boy. flushing slightly.
"And not a bone or scrap In the
larder! Niggardly fishermen! A small
enough wage-for going to sea and
helping them"
"Oh. I could have had what l want
cd. And they are not niggardly!
ONLY forgot"
Forgot" The man lifted his hands.
but any further evidence of surprise
or expostulation was interrupted by q
sudden ebullition in the pot.
Left to his thoughts, the boy stepped
to the window; for some time stood
motionless, gazing through q forest
rift at the end of which uprose the
top OF an Aladdin.like structure. by
an optical Illusion become a part OF
that locality; conJuror's castle IN
the wood!
THE Mount looks near tonight,
Sanchez!"
"Near?" The man took from its
hook tho pot and set 1t on the table.
mot too near to suit the governor,
perhaps!"
And why should 1t suit him ?"
drawing a stool to the table and sit.
ting down.
Because he must be 80 fond OF
looking at the forest"
ard does that-please him?"
How could It fail to-? Isn't II a
nico wood? Oh. yes, I'll warrant you
he finds 1t to his liking. And all the
lands about the forest that used to be-
long to the old Seigneurs, and which
the peasants have taken--waste lands
they have tiiled-he must think them
very hne to look at, now! And what
q hubbub there would be, II the lazy
peasants had to pay their metayage.
and hre-tax and road-tax-and all the
other taxes-the way the other peas
ants do--to him--'
What do you mean?"
Nothing" The mans Jaw closed
like steel trap. The porridge Is
burned"
And with no further word the meal
proceeded. The man. first TO finish.
lighted his pipe. moved again to the
fre. and. maintaining q taciturnity
that had become more or less habit
ual, stoiidly devoted himself to tho
solace OF the weed and the compan.
ionship Of his own reflections. Once
or twice the boy seemed about to
speak and did not: finally, however,
ne leaned forward. . more resolute
light In his sparkling black eyes.
you never learned to read, San
chex?"
At the unexpected question. the
smoke puffed suddenly from the mans
lips. Not l."
Nor writer
The man made rough gesture.
Nor sail to the moon" hs returned
der1siveiy. Read! Rubbish! Write?
What for! Does It bring moro fish
TO your nets?"
"Who-could show me how to read
and writer
Your" Sanchez stared.
why not?"
Books are the tools of the devil!"
declared Sanchez shortly. There
was black man here today with a
paper--a writ think he called it,
or a service OF some kind-anyhow,
u must have been in Latin" violently,
TOR such gibberish. l never heard
and"
The boy rose. People who can't
read and write are low and Ignorant "
"Eh? What's come over your"
MY father was a gentleman"
Your fatb ber!-yes--"
And Seigneur!--"
"A Seigneur truly"
And | mean to be one!" said the
boy suddenly, closing bis fists
"Oh, oh! So that's it?" derisively
You! A Seigneur? Whose mother
WHO could teach me7" Determined