Year: 1872

AAAAAAS ~ y
covering q space of seven or eight feet in d.
ameter.


He was man of medium height, but stout
and pursy, so that it seemed almost an effort
for him to stoop to pick up the knots which he
was adding to the pile. From his very obesi-
ty, he was sluggish and ungainly in his move
ments He was so absorbed in his occupation
that his visitor had time to pause and remark
his appearance. His heavy, red face, had in
it but little expression of any kind; but Cap
tain Player, who prided himself upon his
talent for reading character, thought it wore
a troubled and dissatisfied look, as if his mat.
rimonial troubles were preying upon his
thoughts and rendered him uneasy. There
we're cat-like lines about the dull, sensual
mouth that, to close observer, were suai-
ciently suggestive of character. One could
not look at them without thinking of cat,
with sharp retractile claws, toying with some
poor, helpless mouse, that was made to suffer
all the pangs of hundred deaths. His dull,
massive head, was covered by dense growth
of light-colored hair, and his shaggy eyebrows,
nearly white in hue, overhung his grey eyes,
that had in them, at once, an expression of
timidity, helplessness, and brutality. They
were full of trouble now, and as he silently
heaped up pine knots on the blazing fire, he
looked like one who was laboring without any
other motive than to substitute perplexity of
hands for perplexity Of thought, and to rid
himself of anxiety by toll.


The negro who was assisting him, seemed
like one who appreciated the. mood Of his
master, and trembled lest a word or gesture
might change it into wrath that would fall
upon himself. Now and then be glanced STU
pidly at his master but, dull as was his ex-
preston, it was full of awe and fear, and his
teeth fairly chartered like one in an ague,
while his black skin wore leathery hue.


Captain Player, who had paused for mo.
ment only to take in the scene advanced to-
wards the spot where they stood, but the noise
of the roaring fire, the clouds of smoke, and
the preoccupation of the coal-burners-for
such at present was their employment-pre-
vented them from noting his presence until he
was within an arms reach of the spot where
they stood.


Galloway, despite his dull lethargic temper
ament, was almost as much startled by his
sudden appearanoe, as though he had fallen
from the clouds He suffered the pine knots
he was bearing to fall from his hands, made
sudden step backward, and shuddered like
one who has unexpectedly encountered an ap-
partition.


"Why, Toni" exclaimed hecaptain, laugh
ing heartily, as he advanced with outstretched
hand, II didn't dream you would let an old
neighbor and friend startle you SO badly"


Galloway, who was really startled until his
face grew pale and his dull lip quivered, dus-
ted his blackened hands against his sides, and,
with sckly and sardonic smile upon his
lips that still quivered nervously, murmured
out some words of welcome and apology, and
took the profered hand of the captain.


"Well, Tom l'' exclaimed Captain Player,
glancing around, "this tells the tale!"


"Tels the tale9" echoed Galloway, staring
at him in stupid bewilderment.


Eyes; it tells how it is that you get on so
we'll with your business-driving it, and never
letting it drive you. Here you are with
pile of Goals under your coal shed, enough to
last you year, taking advantage of an idle
time to add something more to the heap, in
stead of waiting until they are wanted. You
don't murder time as many Of us do,'


Galloway glanced around wildly again, from
the negro who stood with chattering teeth
leaning against pillar of the shed, within
few feet of them, to the blazing pile, and then
again stared uneasily into the face Of his visi-
tor as though he were in a dream and but
half comprehended what had been said to him.


"Poor fellow" said Captain Player to him.
self-"he takes it hard-his wife's leaving
him. 1t has knocked him all up in heap!
Toms more feeling man than we all gave
him credit for"


"Come, George p said Galloway, speaking
to the negro with the same mild and uneasy
expression of face that had attracted the cap
tains attention and excited his pity-"throw
on more knots; and mind don't let them
burn down! I wish to make pilel Rake
out, and throw on water as fast as the knots
burn to coal. Be careful, Georgep


The captains attention was now more par
ticularly drawn to the negro. He was an OBJ
servant man-so far as mere externals
were concerned-and the coat Of the negro
caught his eye and arrested his attention. 1t
was coarse, gray coat, we'll buttoned around
him with FIVE buttons, all Of military fash
ion. The two upper buttons were of brass,
the next was white bell button, such as cav
alrymen often wear, and the next two were Of
some white metal with palmetto in relief
But this was not all the leathery face of the
would have been ghastly pale but
for his African skin-his staring eyes, and his
chattering teeth, caught his attention and ex-
cited his benevolent compassion.


tom v-the captain had an irresistible
fondness for employing terms of familiarity
"look at your boy, George. He will be on
the sick list unless something is done for him
speedily. He has almost an ague upon him
now, and looks almost as leathery as an old
shoe that has had months rain upon it. You
had better give him a glass of whisky to
brace him up"


"Maybe it will help us all, captain" said
g. Il L. snknndad In