The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

His Voice Rang Out Loud and Far
reaching.
and all around the country lay wrap
ped In the white silence of winter, he
gathered the lines more firmly between
his fingers and called a jovial word of
encouragement. His voice rang out
loud and farreaching-the only sound
to break the stiffness save the monoto-
nous singsong of the sleigh bells that
struck a vibrant note on the clear air
and the sharp crunching of the hard
ened snow under the passing hoofs.
Another man in Terry's place, doing
his duty against his inclination, would
have performed the task stolidly If
there were no one by to applaud his
action and recognize what a fine fell
low he was. With Terry it was differ
ent. Once starting out to do a thing
he carried his own lightness of heart
into the matter, which was probably
the result of being born under a hap
by star.
There were other reasons in this in
stance besides the performance of his
duty to make Terry happy. He had
never heard that duty done is the souls
freside. Indeed, had he been consult
ed on the subject he would have frank
| ly cast his vote for Wistar's freside,
with the hot toddy going around at
blessed intervals, rather than for any
warmth that might come from his soul
because of his own well doing He
knew little of his soul and cared less.
That was something, according to him,
to be reserved for the time when i'll
ness or old age should overtake him.
At present, with his lusty health and
his gay heart that was bubbling over
with youth despite his years, he disre-
garded the acquaintance entirely. He
had turned his face resolutely toward
the north, and to the north he would
go, though first the provisions would
be duly left at the camp. But he had
no intention of remaining there himself
A glass of grog. another-they could
scarcely offer him less than twoi-and
he would be away again. Like bea-
con, out of the distance, reckoning to
him was the jollity up at Merle. 1t
was there he meant to keep the Christ
mas eve vigil and. moreover, win the
bet Narcisse Velin had made. For
Narcisse, smarting under what he
termed "a slight to bees honOr-r," had
declared that Terry would never be
able to leave Wistar's tavern and the
| jolly crowd assembled there, and the
shanty men would be obliged to do
without their Christmas cheer because
they had chosen so unworthy a bearer
instead of a more capable mamie
would mention no names-and then.
with an evil laugh, he had made
heavy wager that his words would
come true.
! Terry shivered momentarily under
his furs, though he was so we'll wrap
ped up that the cold was powerless to
reach him. How nearly had Narcisse
been right, how nearly had he, Terry
| OConnor, been the loser! The grog
was so good at Wistar's. and Bap-
1ste. the most famous story teller of
them all, had just come in with q new
and wonderful adventure at his
tongues end. and the glow of the fire
was like a gentle hand soothing one
into forgetfulness. Then suddenly he
had remembered the packed sleigh
without, with Danny and Whitefoot
waiting patiently. though mournfully
shaking their bells from time to time
to remind him of themselves. of his
duty and, more than all, of Narcisse
The latter thought was the real spur
to goad him out of the ease into
which he had fallen. So he had left
the tavern, and the surprise his ac-
ton had caused filed him with great
glee.
They'll niver be trough talkin' av
it." he chuckled aloud, 'niverI They'll
say whin they tell their shtories twas
the year, We mind. whin Terry. the lit
tie jool av man, wudn't stay along
wild us, though we besached most be-
guilin', an the grog was that edifyin'
twas its own monymint. He whit out
into the piercin' cold, did that brave
little felly"-Terry's chest swelled with
pardonable pride-"because he'd pass
ed his say SO. He's a square sowl, is
the lad, though there do be some avil-
minded folks as give out that he an
his promises don't walk on the same
side ay the way-now the howly saints
fergive thimr' He tapped the reins
] on the horses backs.
eli, there, me byesr' he shouted.
"'Tis a fine supper yen be havin', an
Narcisse Velin will be afther payin' the
score. Kape a-goin', me beauties. The
moon will be up whin we go into
Merle, an yell be dhroppin' wild ia
tague. But-aisy. now. aisy-there
won't be amy work tomorry, childer.
Oh, Jist We wait an seel They'll be
! afther thinkin' we amt comm, an
Narcisse will say in his Frenchy way:
'Bieng! Didn't toll We so? The bet
Is mine, an little Terry II have to pay
up. Ye can't put no daypindince in a
man av his build, iver' An whilst the
avil wurrds are dhroppin' from his
mouth I'll walk In on thin all as In
consequenshul-like as If was goin' to
fair. That's the tonne the laugh will
be wild me, an Narcisse will want to
stink aft to some remoted place. Oh,
there does be no sinse at all to make
wagers onlesst We be sure av winnin'-
thin We can make thin big"
The thought so pleased him that he
laughed boisterously and ficked the
horses with the whip, much as man
would nudge his neighbor with a
friendly elbow at some witticism.
Then, his merriment abating q trihe,
he began to sing.
Suddenly he broke of in his song,
and his fingers closed tightly over the
slack reins. The horses felt the au-
thoritative touch and came to an in