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Show ! - 1 irro mm. -ig For several days after my arrival at tho shack on tho hillside, whero I was supposed to roposo, sit In tho gloaming and listen to farm talk bo-tauso bo-tauso it was not wearing on tho brain also listen to Clara pestering High-water High-water on tho organ for her steady, I had noticed nn elophantlno flguro that camo lumbering down tho loft sldo of tho road ovcry morning when tho raon started work in tho field opposite. I hnd also noticed with what deliberation delibera-tion that samo flguro camo to tho rail lenco, crossed its arms upon tho top rail, lifted its left foot to tho lower rail, and posed thero In all tho glorification glori-fication of flesh-ladon soul, enjoying things without further effort. Finally I began to ask questions. "Who is that Individual over thero who scorns to bo happy though doing nothing?" "You moan Lehm Pombrook? Yes that's him; alius does it this time of year, when tho men work. He's Just watching them work, that's nll, whllo he's getting his health back. Lom was spry once, beforo ho wont to Sandago to put tho war down. SInco then ho hain't boon well " "Ah! A veteran of tho affair between be-tween Spain and tho United States?" "So ho says; says ho had a hofty hand In putting tho thing down. Put ho says ho lost his health and it hain't never como back since. Ho can't work no moro, poor Lom!" Tho next morning Lemuel got on tho Job earlier than usual, and I started start-ed over to Investigate tho affair. Talcing Talc-ing a position on tho fonco closo by, I approached tho subject by saying: "NIco crop of oats." Lemuel peeled his China bluo eyes at mo; I had disturbed him, and his faco showed It. Ho fastened his gazo upon tho workers, changed footrcsts and said nothing. "Oats will not bo very dear this season sea-son if all tho crops turn out as good as this, friend," I continued. "I d' know." "Tho boys over there aro buckling down to work getting in oats whllo tho sun shines. Did you ever notice how kind naturo was to weak, frail humanity?" I asked, trying to pry Lemuel open. I'Jn "I d' know." yt'wl "I hoar you nro a veteran of tho ' lato wnr " "Yes, an' b'gosh! I lost my hoalth doin' it, dern it! I also- lost my Agger, Ag-ger, too, b' dum! FIghtIn' an puttin' down thet scrlmmago cost mo my hoalth an' flggcr. An all fur ?13 a month, b' gosh too! I got mnlary in all o' my cherry pccternl muscles, an' thur's a dull pain In my sarry bollyum all tho whilo, an' a dod gastod wobly feolln' through my lumber system also, as well as chaos In my head whon I have to do any hofty work, not ; to mention shootln' sounds in my loft ' arlferous when I get left over on meals 'cause I'm flshln'. Sco my head?" "Bald as a billiard ball." "That's war, ro'l war. I wuz hit by -.. tho dumm thing frum all sides, an well as top an' bottom, b' gosh. 'For J I got hitched up in that deal I had' a i flgger like Pollar, I did. I went 'way jl n Pollar, an' cum back a llvln' skll- I lenton, I did." "You seem to bo gettin' your form back " "Yes, I'nt roundln' up to my olo shapo, nn' hopo in time I'll bo tho samo olo Pollar. I will git thar If L " can only keep 'way frum work, an' ""4""" an' If I git my penshln fur this dern mnlary an' tho other sickness." , f "I hopo you will got It; you certain- 1 ly deservo a pension. You havo been pretty badly used. When do you ox- V""""1i pect to get your claim allowed?" " J "I d' Know." Thon Lomuol relapsed Into sllonco and I could not drag another word m from him. I left him loaning upon tho fenco whllo I wont back to tho shade on tho hlllsldo to think In solid chunks. Horaco Seymour Keller In f New York Times. Bfi |