Loading...
The Seaforth News, 1932-02-18, Page 6til PAGE SIN` THE SEAFORTH NEWS. THURSDAY, ,FEBRUARY 18, 193a. 401) John Uri Lloyd soasommoimommorealoponigammonimanoes SIM IIEMEM IMON, 111110101.161111111111 (Continued from last week.) CHAPTER -XI'I. "Laolc Out Fo' de. Red -Head Boy" The spring of 1864 carne and pass- ed, the summer's sun mounted into the heavens and shone .bright and hot. Nature and man seemed intent on covering and removing as quickly as possible all traces of the disastrous storm that closed the year 1843 and ushered in 11864. Twisted and broken trees sent out new sprouts, which quickly shrouded the staring scars and wounds. The balmy south loaned new songsters to lurk in ,thickets that had risen again ,from .where, on that fateful night, brush and briar had been beaten against the earth. The prolific rabbit had multiplied, until once more its tnacks were seen in the dust of the pike. The •dove and the yellow -hammer, during the cruel cold spell following the storm, had left their haunts and sought the 'b'arnyard to sit in huddle's upon the fence, and feed with the farmer's fowls about the feet Of domestic animals; but now again the one walked with nodding head in the pike duet,' while the other pecked and thumped merrily upon the topmost bough of the dead beech in the forest. Nature in the flush • of summer had forgotten the painful touch of the dismal winter; and whet in the early spring sten collected the scattered rails and rebuilt their fences, cleaned up the broken tim'be'r, and burned the useless brush and limbs; they too lent a hand in the great scheme of repair ushered in by . the lengthening days and strengthening power of the sun's rays. Before the month of May had passed, scarcely a memento was left to tell of the hur- ricane that brought distress and dis- aster to a continent. Still, an occas- ional reminder could be found im- bedded in the luxuriant grass near Stringtown; ,bl'eachin'g bones that but for the storm df New Year, 1864, mi'gh't yet have been flesh -clad, were familiar to the sight: I stood beside 'Cope fn:the valley of a .meadow; a weather -worn skeleton cuhrbered the ground at our feet. Through the strewn ribs crept the heads of a'•bunch .of young iron -weeds.. The vine ofa wild potato threaded the eyes of the bleaching . skull; the long grass fringed about and pierced through and through the articulated vertebrae a shin -b n oewifhhoo:E at- tached :moulded on the sward. I gave the shin bone a push with my bare foot, and a swarm of ants, uncovered by the act, scampered from beneath, each with white larva in its mouth. I laughed aloud and beat the frightened insects with a stick; the moist earth became a pulp of ,struggling limbs and bodies mixed with loam, and under the rain of blows the slaughtered in- nocents were lost in common ruin, The black .man seemed not to ob- serve the wet; he gave.. no heed to my mufti -crime, but mumbled over his thoughts: "De court arm not fo r niggers, cause niggers ain't white. .If a white man am drunk and a fool, 'he kin swear away de life ofa nigger; if a nigger am sober he aint got sense huff ac- cording to de court to tell what he knows. What's de use of Cupe going to . court,• and tell de truth about de will of Mars'e? Cupe am.a nigger and Dinah am a nigger too." Negroes were permit'te,d to te's'tify in Kentucky if negroes, only were concerned, but in cases where the in- terests of whites were affected, they Ware excluded. ."Dinah saw your master sign his name to the will," said I. "But she am a nigger, and it doan make no difference what she saw; she atm black, and de court dean take her nigger talk," "Ain't it queer about ttsat money?" "There ain't puffin particular about it. De witches and sip:erei.ts wereout flat night. Fo' de Lewd, when Cupe go for de doctah de-'evenin' of de storm, de gold were all .in de ch•ist. When de constable' take possession of oat chist sex' day—dor weren't nuffin to be seen," The old negro leaned over and gaz- ed intently on the object at his feet. He rested one foot on the skull, and whispered: "Dlah ain't no use in fight - in' Providence; de , sign lay dat de gold .was far dat ger!, and, will er no will, it am for :de,gearl. Chile, .ehide, de sperr'its what make de sign kin carry away de gold. • yo," he added: in a hoarse whis- per; "es easy es to point to what's comin' to -morrow; an' gloomy am de sign whakpoint to Cepe an' your",.. I -Ie intent on his soliloquy, ;I ab- sorbed in lisiteniing, alike were obliv- ious to the approach of two men on horseback, who, leading a third horse saddled, but >riderless, having entered the field from the woods road, neared our position. A stick snapping be- nea't'h the hoof of one of the horses caused: me to raise my head, ,bat the noise appeared not to..attract the at ten•tion of my companion. The old negro did not raise his eyes from the face of the'skullrbut iia monotonous undertone said: "Dab am trouble for Cupe and you too, boy; it am in de air an am co'min' fast. 'Told Dinah to take good care of de Susie girl when Cupe ant gone, and 'Sammy Drew, look out for d'e Red -Head Roy." !Having ridden to within a few steps of us, one of the men' alighted, pro- duced a legal paper, placed his hand on the shoulder of Ciipe (who for the first time gazed in his direction) and said: "By order of the Court I . em eam'man'ded to arrest you, Cupid Hardman, and secure your person in in the county jail." 'O'ld Cupe made no reply. The slier- riiff.pointed to the empty saddle. The black man's stolid face gave no evi- dence of emotion; unmoved, he re- peated his former words in a low tone. "Told Dinah to take good care of Susie, and you look out for de 'Red- Haired 'B'ay." 'Then slowly mounted the horse The three turned and rode away' CHAPTER XIV. The Arrest of Cupe. Motionless 1 -stood` over the dis- membered skeleton. Forgotten was the soliloquy of the aged negro, out of mind his story of the past. 'To a child the name of the law is sacred; in a boy's mind tan o'ffi'cer of the law stand's exalted, a'bove and beyond the ordinary human. 'Slowly the three men on hors eback receded in the dis- tance, While I gazed at them with hand -shaded eyes. Their horses walk- ed with downcast heads through the long meadow grass, but whenthe fence that bounded the woods -road was reached and the hats were "put up" a brisk pace replaced the i. walk, and soon the figures disappeared, Neither of the men cast a took back- ward; :not even when waiting for the dismounted officer to replace the bars did 'Cope give a glance in my direc- tion. Just before their forms vanish- ed in the shadows of the drooping' beeches a melod'io'us howl arose in the., distance -a cry that one- who has heard the notes of a Sbut'hern darkey's dog can appreciate—'and all was still again. Then, and not until then, did I move, but as the three passed' into the depths of the forest I turned' and followed a sheep path that led in the opposite direction across the mea low, around the neck df a tangled thicket, through a woodland ,pasture, where, mounting a slight hill, I came within sight' of a log cabin that rested on the slope beyond: the summit. Bare and decollate, the trunk of a tall, shell -bark hickoty area, with top broken off fifty feet .froth the earth, stood near by, a ,re'li'c of trio New,Year storm' 1 A .square enclosure in the garden b'ehin'd the house was marked by -a group of little mounds, on ane of which, shaded by a cedar tree, the grass was younger and of a brighter green than on the others; these were the most con'spicuousobjects about the cabin, :An aged 'regress, her head bound in a red bandanna handkerchief, 'sat in- side, with a child on her knee. She was iconbing the long, dark locks of the little gi:ri, at 'the same time sing- ing iso a rasping tone a weird ditty fiat only -persons reared by or among the b tri d 'could have understood. Unseen 1 stood silent, looking at the two figures; but my ..shadow. striking across the floor caused the old' wo- man to turn quickly. "Cane in off dat (:oor-sol 1 What for you dare do such a fool ..thing as to come to a fren's house' and stop in de open door? You bring trouble air de family sure by such acting up." "Yost," I' said, 'there is trouble, Aunt Dinah." "Come in off oat door -sill, I tole' yon, and took a chair. Doan aniake de trouble worser thata it am, if there ani trouble on your mind." I. entered the room and seated my- self on 0 shuck-bo'ttomed chair. "Now for your trouble. What atm it'?„ "Cupe has been arrested." The old negress dropped her comb and gazed at me in 'wonder. "Spoke -again, chile." "Cupe, has been arrested. "What fool stuff you giving me? What for should Cupe be arrested? De chicken house am full Of fowl, de pasture am alive with sheep and pigs, de turkey tank all day to de grass- hopper, and de guiney hen cry '"pot - rack, pot -sack' all night ,round dis' cabin. De barael of flour and de meal sack ant full, and de fat sides And de hams ant •d'ripipin'g grease in de smokehouse. What niore do any nig- ger want? ig-gerwiant? What lying fo'o'l was it Who arrest Cupe?". "The sheriff of the county." "Lewd! Laved! but was it not de constablle?", "No, it was the sheriff." "Tore de Laved, de case am seri- ous, surer Des'heriff..d'on''t travel about coaching- niggers 'wih'at grab a thicked for• de toothache." Gradually ,the gravity of the case dawned upon the mind of the old orone, batt only to increase her -in= coherent wrath. She engaged' in a tirade of abuse, questionings and jab- berings in which the sheriff, the law, The liars' i(unknown) who had de- famed Cupe, and lastly poor old Cupe' hhnsel'f, came in each for a full share. of vituperation. Finding myself neglected, I turned to depart; but now the negress, quiet- ing .her. jargon as s'udd'enly as she had begun, said: "You must eat a bite chile. Dinah mustn't fergither ma'n- ners. even 11 you did bring 'trouble.. Sit a minute and eat a bite." ".1 didnt' bring trouble, Aunt Din- ah; the trouble came before I sav you." i "Didn't you come to a friend's, house and stand in de open door?" "Yes, 'butt that did not make the trouble, for Cupe was arrested 'before I came." "You .loan know nuffin' about such tings and you ain't go'li'fied to speak. De door -sill sign kin work both ways. IIf a thing is, it is, and fool argyments oif persons what dean know de sign's power can't change de 'facts. Doan you stand on de door -s'i'll, I axes?" "Yes." "D'oair de trouble come?" "Y'es, 'but—" "De sign was working backward,' ohne; close you 'mouth with dere witties." iShe quickly placed a dish of honey, a loaf of salt -rising light bread and a glass of milk upon the clean table, and once more I ate in that cabin which it seemed my -foots'te'ps could not evade. The girl sat quietly and eyed me; did she remember my furmer visit? During the repass I gave Dinah full. particui'ars concerning Cupe's a'r- res't. As I arose to• depart Dinalh asked: "And what word did Cupe . send to Dinah?" "He said: 4Tei1 Dinah to take good care of the Susie child.' Dinah seemed, please' .with the trust; then she whispered: "And' what. did he say to you, chile?" "He told me to 'Beware of the Red - Head Boy,' but I don't know what he'. meant." "You :will know some day, :honey;, you will know to' your sorrow some day." She leaned •` over and spoke in a low, guttural tone: "De day of trouble am corning, and de Red -Mead Boy alit mixed in de 'evil sign. 'Cape read' de omen:and it :say oat de Red-lI-lead boy and Susie'and you, chile, am edging on to .,certain death. It say dat de Red -Mead Boyllt die sudden and dat you •and-Su:sie''il be de• cause; and dat you'll die sudden, axed' oat de Red - Head Boy and Sttsie'dg be de cause." ".How did he read it, Aunt. Dinah?" "He read it in de giass, de sign glass what points to de act dat ain't been acted." "Amid what of Susie, Aunt Dinah?" "De sign was monstrous curious about de tgearl. Cupe read de omen twice; it was monstrous curious," "Tell the about it, Dinah." ' "De ,honey gear]' was alive sure but folks looks at het as if she was dead. She was sure alive, and she was dead." "H'ow could she be alive and dead, too ?" "Dat am' what trouble Cupe. De sign say she am dead and dat she ani. gone oust of de world, but sure she am still alive. She .was walking and talk - Mg after de sign point to her being gone from out de`w orld. Dere was a sihadow on de face of de glass, de shadow of a great big sign." "You're fooling, Aunt -!Dinah; ho'w. could each of us boys and Susie be the caesc,of the dearth of one another?, That cannot be." "Deed, chile, I aint' 'fooling,. it am de pointing of de sign.' Id can't be done, you say, but de sign say it ntu'st be done, and Cttpe' slay it wild' be done. But de omen sayd'at before fulfilment of de ,spell in de. time to come de Red- f -lead Boy must sit alone in de cabin of Susie.' .Listen, chile; there ain't Ito harm to conte till he sit all alone in Susie''s 'cheer in de night. Tao well acqu'a'inted with, the super- stitions Of the ¢iegroes to consider ,this prophetic outburst,`I smiled and turn, ed to depart. The ofd crone stepped outside, the doorway, took me by the hand, and looked me steadily in the face, "And D'ioa'h say too, watch out for de Re'd-React Boy-" '• CHAPTER XIV. Court Day. Stringtown is situated' eight miles from the "county seat" of Stringtown County, where stood the„counrty jail, In order to reach this important spot, the traveller from String 'town fol- lows: the Mt. Carmel pike to Mt. Carmel Church, and then branches to the. Turkey Foot road, which foll'ow's a creek bed 'four miles to its source. On the summit of this rise stands the village •honoured by holding the courtehous'e of 'Stringtown 'County. •Like other 'county seats, in Ken- tucky, at the time under . considera- tion this. was subject several times a year to the flow and ebb of a human tide. The tide was high in Court week, but -during the 'intermediate periodis stagnation prevailed, • At the time of Quarterly 'Cous't its June, from every section of the coun- ty-, on the first day of Court week, men on horseback could be seen "go- ing to Confit." These as a rule started in• pairs, or ;parties of three or four; isolated groups upon them coalesced but as they journeyed onward the by - wails merged into, main road's and the isolated groups upon them : coalesced. until, when dh,e vi111agc wais reached, a "steady stream of h'or'semen came Pouring into its main avenue. Ia this county seat, even to the very day before Court .convened," stag- nation ruled supreme. The two groc- ery stores were open for traffic be- tween Court periods, but attracted. none but home patrons; the two tav- erns were ready for business, but oven :their bar -rooms were quiet and the long rows of shed stalls adjacent to each tavern were emgty, and the horse racks in front of the groceries, and the tavern's were vacant, The court -house, built like a church, ex- cepting that it was the proud• pos- sessor of a second story and four wh'itewa'shed round brick pillars in front, stood, the day before Court with closed eyes; the iron gate was locked, the pepper -grass and shep- herd's purse grew high and .luxuriant between the flat -rack' paving stones, and the dagafenne'l covered the edges and far in't'o the 'erect unmolested even about the long rows of Horse. racks that bounded "Count-tH'ouse Square." In the ear'l'y 'morning each hot sum mer day, a 'little business was done in each -store; the barkeepers Pound occasion to wash a few glasses and bruise a little mint; the barefooted boy drove his cow to and from 'the pasture, and a .smell of frying ham or bacon and browning corn:bread or biscuit, hung at breakfast time about each re'sdience. But as the sun Mount- ed into the sky -a universal lethargy settled over the •s'corchin'g vil'la'ge, and not until the slanting shadows of evening fell did life reappear. The i,dle.sojou'rner might spend 'his time :in this lazy village; and :between Court periods, even: to the day before Court, find -nothing ' m'or'e exciting than an ocoels'eonal dog fight, -unless, perchance, it were 'a quarrel betwe'e'n the owners of the dogs. Lazily the sun .came up ,the day before Court, lazily the inha:bitanits of this sluggish village m'o'ved, when they did stove; lazily the, stray pig meandered along the side of the iii; paved streets, picking up an oc- casional ' morsel; lazily a flotk of gab- bling geese' 'wad'd'ed through the dusty road seeking: the nearly dried' creek bed adjacent to the village; laz- ily the unshaven barkeeper„ with :clos- ed eyes, stat b.e'fore the inn on the flat stone pavement in his tipped -back+ chair. One could, no't easily have found a creature in this village that was not infecteid by the lazy sten, Which, day by day, crept through the sky an'd. 'leisurely sank toward the earth into the tree tops, glowing a second :'through the bran'ohe,s, seem-, Tangly undetermined whether it were nat. best to pause awhile upon earth's edge before dropping over and' ro'li- iiig out `orf ,sight. !Opening Of Court day brought a change. Bustle in and confusion about the tavern. The long dining - room tables were "sect"' by break al day; the kitchen stove was red and furious, the negro servants movedas if they actually enjoyed motion; piles of vegetables, a .quarter of beef and sev'era'l 'boiled hams sp'o`lee of the corning feast. The .r,eshly shlaven bar- keeper, :with freshly filled bottles and a pile oi freshly cleanedglas'ses, no longer sat beside the door in the tipped -back chair; he too was ready for action. The iron gates that bar- red the main entrance of the court- house yard were open and the win- dows to that "Miall of Justice" were PROFESSIONiAL CA'RD'S. Medical'. DR, H. II I1 GIII ROSS, Physician' and Surgeon, Late of London Hos- pital, London, England. Special attention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. Office and retia dente behind Dominion/tank, Office Phone No. 5; Residence Phone 10'4. UDR. F. J.'BIUiRIROIWS, Seaforth.. unshuttered. Even the stray , geese Office and residence, Goderich street, east;, of the United Church: Coroner for the County of Huron. Telephone No. 46, had moved to other scenes the wan- dering pig had not been. loosed that morning, and the boy had come and gone with his cow before the sun had risen: The village was awake and the ve`y buildings themselves'. took ona different air—the residents were in bough with life again and eager for the .coming' fray. The word frayis not i'nap'propriate, for .many were the men who had ridden to this court- house on Horseback 'and returned home in an improvised spring wagon hearse; many have,.been the feuds that, .argued in the Court of String town 'County's capital by the mouths of the lawyers, have been settled, _ im- mediatelythe j after to e C'aurt adjourned, ut the street by the mouths df pistols. `Men caste to !Court, antagonists led to enmity by some trifling incident, and grouped themselves into clusters; one clan went to Jim 'White's tavern, the 'other .went'to Jo Sweet's. They stood in separate .groups about - the streets,` aid scowled, but did not speak when first they chanced to meet; they visited their respective b'ar-rooms again, .and grew surlier an thought meaner things with each up lifted glass; now they growled when group met group and ,cooked delfiantl'y at each :other; another visit to the tav ern, and when the antagonistic groups next came together their ton gues were loosened, pistols flashed in the sunlight, and another "case' was made for the opposing lawyers to beat theair over at .the next term of Court. CHAPTER XV. Stringtow,n Jail. Into Stringtown County Seat from the flat Creek road the three horse- men rode leisurely towards the coun- ty jail. As they passed, a boy swing- ing 'ort a grape -vine that dangled from a hackberry tree near the first house by the roadside :gave a yell that car- ried with it the information that only a country boy can put into a word- less cry. Immediately from the house a number of faces peered, s'o'me black, others white, andyet, aside from the cry of theboy, no other Voice was •hoard; Scampering front his place, 'he ran after the passing horsemen, following their footsteps in the dust; the yell of the boy was repeated as house after house was neared, and a flash of faces could be. seen in the wind'owls; an occasional fema'l'e form, penhaps with broom in hand as an excuse for outdoor ap- pearance, stood motionless on the front porch; a 'gathering of . boys thronged about the heels of the horse- men, and old Cupe, well known to every person of that village, became the centre of attraction. To be continued. d Dread aft Asthma makes coun'tless thousands 'mi'serable. Night after night :the attacks return and even when brief respite is given, the mind is still it torment from cositinuai an- ticipation. Dr. J. D. .Kellogg's Asthma Remedy changes all this. Relief cones and at once, while future attacks are warded off, leaving' the afflicted one in a state of pe'a'ce` and happiness he once 'believed he could never enjoy, Inexlpensive and 'sold almost every- Mod'ern, labor-savingmachinery is all right. We must learn 'how best to ad'ju'st the human family to its use.— IPetrolia Advertiser=Topic, Den't be without Douglas' Egyp- tian Liniment. Keep it always handy. Relieves toothache, neuralgia, sore throat, quinsy, and group. Invaluable for burns, sores, barber's itch and Rringwoirm., Want and For Sale IAds, 1 time 25c, DR. C. MIACIgAY.—C, Mackay, honor graduate of Trinity University and gold medallist of Trinity Medical. College; member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. DIR. F. J. R. RORISlTFR—,Eye, Ea Nose and Throat. Graduate in Medi - eine, Utiiverst. t y of Toronto 1897, �' Late Assistant New. York Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Mooredeld'a Eye, and Golden Square throat hospi- tags, London, England. At Comae ercial Rotel, Seaforth, 3rd Monday is each month, from 11 a,m. to 3 p.m. DE. W. C. SlP1RlOAT.-Graduate bh Faculty of Medicine, ' University a€ Western Ontario, London. 'Member of College of Physicians and Sur- geons of Ontario, •Office, in rear of Aberhart's drug store,- Seafoctb. Phone 90. I3'ours 1.30-4 p.m., 7.30 -9 p.m. Other hours by appoi'ntment Dental DR. J. A. MU'NIN, Successor is Dr. R. R. Ross, graduate of North- western University, Chicago, CIL Li- centiate Royal College of Dental Sue geons, Toronto. Office over Sind' hardware, Main St., Seaforth. Phone 151. DR. F. J. BtEC}IELY, graduate Royal. College of Dental Surgeoda, Toronto.' Office over W. R. Smith's grocery, Main St., Seaforth. Phones, office 185W, residence 18517. Auctioneer. GEORGE EILIJIIOT•T, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements can be made for Sale Date ,at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guranteeL WATSON AND REID'l6' REAL ESTATE ''a• AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Succssers to James 'Watson) MAIN ST., SIEAFIOIRTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Class Companies. THE McKILLOP Mutual FireInsurance once Co t, FIAIRM AND IISOLATED, TOWN PROPERTY, 01N'LY, I'N'SURED Officers}- ,John Beonewies, Brod. hagen, ,President; J'as. 'Connolly, .Gbd- erich, Vice -Pres.; ID. F. 'MdGregor, Seaforth 'No,.4, 'Sec. -Tress. IDireotors-!Geo. R. McCartney, Sea- forth No, 3;.,Alex, Broadfoot, Sea- forth No. 3; 'James Evans, ISeafoetk No. 15; IRobt. Ferris, Blyth No. 1; Jai_ ,Sholdice, Walton No. 4; .J'ohn.[Pepper, Brucefiefd; 'Wililam, !Knox, Londes- borough. Agents—gas, Watt, Birth No: 1;.W., E. 'Hin'chley, ISeasfort'h; J. A. Murray;( Seaforth IN'o. 3; W.J. Yeo, tn'to No. .3; B. IG. IJ'annauth, Bornholm. Auditors -. Jas. Kerr, Seaforth; ;Thos. Moylan, Seaforth No. 5. Parties desirous to effect insurance or transact other business, : wiltbe promptly attended to by application tb any of the above named officers ad- dressed to _their _respective post art f office's. ., A DOLLAR'S WORTH Clip this coupon and mail it with 81 for a six weeks' trial subscription to THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR Published by THa Oxorssi s Somme PnaLISHnie t:T Soole Boston, Massachusetts, II. B. A. In It you will and . the daily good news of .the World from its Eoe apecrol writers, ee wen as departments devoted to women's and children's interests, sports, music,' nnanca ewillducation, radio, ate d rohi be i o. don'twelcome intoe.s your home so S, fearless Su diol nod of peace Mat rco,bltton. And don't 'rhea anile, Our not, and the Sundial and the other Matures. THS CHRISTIAN SCIENCE Moxrrov, Sack Bay Station, Boston, Mass. Please send mo a six weeks' trivet. subscription, I enclose one dollar ($1). (Nome,please print); (Address) (Stpte)