Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 15.pdf/270

 Bill Lignites Conversion.

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BILL LIGNITE'S CONVERSION. BY J. C. TERRELL. IN 1876, when a pocket pistol constituted the most important part of every South ern gentleman's attire, and when excellent Robertson County, Kentucky, goods supple mented with Tuck Boaz and Jud Roland's moonshine, sold in our markets overt at reasonable figures, every man was a law unto himself. While ordinarily human life was held rather cheaply, lynch law for aggravated offences for many reasons necessarily and rightfully obtained. Justice* did not travel with leaden feet, and taxes were nominal. Two crimes were never condoned, theft of horses and disturbance of religious worship. They were severely punished, without benefit of clergy. There then lived on Village Creek in Tarrant County, one Bill Lignite, a large man, with a heart as big as a court house. He had been a good soldier, was freckle-faced, with sorrel, bushy hair. He occasionally indulged. His truth was found at the bottom of a bot tle, and when Bill so found it, he invari ably exploded with voice and pistol, not to injure, but merely to celebrate. He then be came unto himself a small Fourth of July. An old-fashioned Southern Methodist camp meeting, led by Capt. (Rev.) W. G. Veal, first commander of R. E. Lee Camp, was being held at Henderson Spring, on Village Creek. Early Sunday morning found me there. A large brush arbor and a number of tents and wagons argued a big meeting. From near a grove a man mysteriously beckoned me to approach. I cautiously obeyed, and when he turned I recognized Bill, who appeared with a day-before-yesterday haggard look, and with troubled face and averted eyes, he slowly said: "Cap, yesterday at the Fort, at old Ed.

Terrell's, I tiked up on whiskey and started home with a full bottle. Passing here I saw two or three men and lots of women holding a prayer meeting. I rode under the arbor and just for fun shot into the brush overhead. I don't remember exactly, but my wife told me all. Oh, it is awful! What shall I do?" I told him that from a legal view there was no hope, that no one was ever acquitted in Texas of that crime proven. I asked him what church his wife belonged to. With a depre catory nod towards the camp, he answered, "That shebang over there." Seeing that he was contrite and enhungered, I advised him to about-face on his sins and join that church. Looking quickly up, as with newly insp . hope, he answered, "You reckon?" The day meeting was not a success, but at night, after a "powerful" sermon from the text, "The harvest is passed, the summer is ended and I am not saved," succeeded by a prayer by a gifted woman, in a weird and shrill voice, uncapping hell and dwarfing Dante's "Inferno" itself, and a call for mourners with the hymn, "Show pity, Lord: O, Lord, forgive," imagine my surprise at seeing Bill approach the altar, followed by neighbors and happy brethren. The very biggest brand had been snatched from the burning. Bill proved true to his vows. He is now in the Panhandle of glorious Texas, with cattle on a hundred hills, and is begirt with numer ous children. Judge Grimsley took no cognizance of the offence. The grand jury failed to indict. Hence Poe, mentor of the Cross Timbers, stood mute, and I lost a fee. "So let the Lord be thanket."