The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-10-12
rooms-fhen morning, and Natchez.

rOOmS-tnen morning, anu Ndtcnez.
The address was to be delivered in
the afternoon, and when the time came
the General led him over to the hall to
hear the speech, Imprisoned him with
out ball in corner, and there he had
to sit The address was long, academic
and dull, and the sufferer mused:
II don't see why Shottle ever called
you a remarkable character"
Everybody came about the General
to take his hand. Young women told
him that they had never been so
thrilled. Drace lied to him. too. swore
him an orator.
Let us walk of alone" said the
General.
Slowly they walked at first, but after
a time the old gentleman struck a
brisker pace. toward the River.
Nov. my boy. as we've got through
with those bcaters Of dust out Of old
carpets. well have sr'rs fnn. Old
Colonel Pemhe 70
home with him, and he has delight
full house. gracious wire and hsud-
some daughter, but had to decline.
I've stood about as much now as l
can. Wen go down to old Tobe Ma
sons tavern, under the hill. Tobe Is
a gentle old fellow. never killed but
three men. One Of them shot Tobe's
leg OF and now he wears peg; and 1
want to tell you that when he un-
straps it and hops around in fight,
he's right meddlesome. At a trial In
the courthouse here not long ago, the
Judge issued an order that all deadly
weapons must be left with the deputy
sheriffs at the door-and sir, they
made old Tobe take of his wooden
leg"
The tavern was as tough a place as
river men could make It. Built Of logs.
bricks, stone and clapboards. It looked
like an architectural stagger, trying
to climb the hill. In the main room
was the bar. Herein Tobe gave his
famous 'possum feasts and dances.
when the spirit Of liquor mounted high
enough to swing Its partner of the
ground.
swell, I'll be knocked in the head
for steer |" old Tobe cried out, stump
ing toward the General. "I haven't
seed you since the River tuck fire.
Well. well! Thinkin' about you the
other day. . Glad to shake your
hand, Mr.. Drace. Set right down."
''Tobe, I'm glad to see you," said the
General. "And fetch us about two
quarts of that summer-grape wine. Let
me tell you about it, Drace. We have
wild grape here that gets ripe along
in August. It's much larger and Is not
sour like the fox-grape, and Its vine
likes to climb about sassafras sap
ling. And then you see an umbrella Of
grapes. Now don't say word till
you've had good taste of 1t. Tobe
makes 1t himself, and he'll fetch US
some that's at least twenty-five years
old. Here we are" wa
The wine was as red as blood, cool
and yet warm Its flavor was the rip
ened sweetness Of the spirit Of autumn.
1t was as mellow as the scent Of the
apple at harvest time.
"what DO you think Of II, heyf"
"Uncle Howard, are you sure that
this was not made by Bacchus instead
Of Tobe?''
''Good, my boy Enjoying yourselfT
Eyes, I'm doing nne, General. You
see, 1 can't express myself ~ well a.
you can. l haven't as much to draw
from. You've not only book-knowl-
edge but experience. worth more So
cially than all the libraries In the
world"
You hit 1t of well. But what is
better than 1t all7 Moral freedom.
This table here is rough, with one
rheumatic leg slightly drawn; these
chairs we sit In, bottomed with strips
of hickory bark. would be scorned at
a sherif's sale; but sir, Mark Antony.
in his first triumph. his chariot drawn
by lions, was not more regal than we
are at this moment, enthroned and
sceptered with moral freedom. Pour
ont. for as that same Antony said:
'Scrnt not my cups.lTobe, where's
thrt old scoundrel who used to play
The Arkansaw Traveler'?"
ITO be Continued)
1