The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-10-04

broken his arm. But she did not saw n
word. She only began to sing the gayest
and sweetest songs she could remember.
though she knew he must be nearly fainting
with pain. But as soon as the bay-cart
stopped at the lower gate she sprang out.
and ran up the garden and round the ward
to the barn, and had thrown the saddle Oh
the flly in the moonlight, and without wait
ing for help, was galloping for the doc
tor as fast as the 6lly could carry her. "Oh
oh !" said she that night, as her tired moth
er slept soundly in the armchair. and she
herself sat wetting the cool bandages on the
aching arm. ITO think that it was hurt
so for me-"
Rosy" said Mr.. Monteith, smiling
through his pain, that arm is always for
you" And Rosy laid her face down be-
side it and cried
Is this the way you're keeping off fever,
Rosy?" cried her mother, waking oppor-
tunely. You go right away to bed this
moment!" And Rosy went.
1t was strange accident, but it so hap
pened that Rosy was not once again alone
with the lover who had broken his arm for
her until he was well enough to come down
stairs. Mrs. Mayne, of course, was on the
spot whenever she was wanted and so was
the hired girl, while Farmer Mayne devel-
oped most surprising capability as a nurse.
In vain Mr.. Monteith assured him he need
ed nobody. You would have said, to see
the farmers assiduity, that he was in a
hurry to get the man well again and out of
the house. He read his weekly paper in
the lodger's room, and he took his MONDAY
hx,f ha bo
fearfully as to drive away all the flies. But
if love laughs at locksmiths, why should he
be less merry at Farmer Mayne's expense? !?
The man was certainly ludicrous enough as
he kept guard there, with his eyes shut and
his mouth open. for Love or any one else to
laugh at. But Mr.. Monteith never thought
of laughing at him; he was Rosys father
and an awful and sacred being to him, for
all his roughess and uncouthness-a sort of
arbiter OF fate.
But one day the jailor awoke to find that
his bird had flown, and starting up, his first
glance out of the window showed him Mr.
Monteith sitting by Rosy on the brook-side
and the farmer knew that the mischief was
done. For when you see arms intertwined
and lips meeting, you may generally decide
that your interference is of 10 further avail,
all the more when, as in this case, one arm
is in sling and Love has called in Pity.
1t was nearly month from that day, and
now Mrs. Mayne had gone over to the ene-
my-not having a great distance to go, to
be sure-and the farmer had been fighting
hard fight. "Not," said he, with more
or less frequency, that have any objec-
tions to the man, if he didn't want to marry
my Rosy. But my Rosy is for his betters
1t beats all, the trouble such girl can make
Now if she was oneeyed, and whopperjaw-
ed, and lazy, and no good to any body, not
soul would want her; but being just
pearl, of course every body's after her! Be-
fore she grew up we were happy enough
and now, mother, we're all the time disput-
ing. Give woe to man, and he has wom-
an" And SO the farmer had turned off
this morning, as always before, with some
thing between sigh and an oath, that re-
lieved his feelings in every direction. But
Mrs. Mayne had detained him in order that
he might mend her ancient churn while she
urged an argument for the lovers-an argu-
ment as we have seen, pooh -poohed and 81
fenced by the desired listener at the be-
ginning. IT was, nevertheless, an entering
SO much might be followed by more, and
had some potent points to bring forward at
the time that the hammer came down with
such whitening effect on the farmers fore
finger, and we left him engaged in macerat-
ing the wound on primitive principles.
1t was while he was occupied in this
soothing manner chat, glancing up ferocious-
ly, he saw Mr.. Monteith and Rosy approach
ing hand in haud. 1t was like shaking red
rag before the old short horn the farmer
was infuriated. He waited till they were
close upon him, and then, Drop my girls
hand J" he roared, shaking his mashed fin
ger threateningly in the air.
Instead of dropping it, the lover drew
Rosy's hand all the more closely into his
own. "Mr. Mayne," said he, that is
what should be very foolish to do, when
came to ask you to give me the hand"
Give you the hand!" cried the farmer.
Haven't you got it?" And he paused
moment, too indignant to find fit words to
characterize his indignation, and forgetting
all about his old threat concerning Gid
eroy's kite; and Mr.. Monteith took advan-
tage of the opportunity.
Il know, SIR" said he, "that don't de-
serve her, and that nobody can deserve her.
But with my character you are acquainted.
And as for my means, have already a
small capital, and have confidence in my
ability to take care of her suitably For
the rest, am sure that can make her
happy"
You are sure you can make her happy!'
cried the wicked farmer, mimicking his tone,
and letting his hammer fall on the refractory
nail in the churn hoop as if he wished it
were Rodney Monteith's head. Look
here, young man." he exclaimed, after few
moments Of vicious hammeriDg. and giving
the finishing tap to the hoop, when you
can make churn that will bring the butter
in half the time that this churn does, you
may have my Rosy, and not minute before.
And as judge that's an impossibility, you
may take it for your answer"
Let me see," said Mr.. Monteith, cooly.
leaning against the corner of the veranda as
he spoke, and still keeping Rosy's hand.
"These are the terms, il I understand you !;
when | can make churn that will bring the
butter in half the time that this churn does,
| may have your Rosy, and not minute
before. May 1 have her minute after?"
As many minutes as you please" said
the farmer, with sardonic grimness, though
little puzzled by the cool reception of his
presumably emphatic negative.
i" Not many, then, Mr.. Mayne. Rosy.
this is our wedding-day !" And TO the an
CRY beholder's dismay, he drew the blushing,
laughing girl within the clasp, Of his sound
arm and kissed her before her fathers face.
" Shall not a man do as he will with his
own?" he asked of the amazed parent
fOu have given Rosy to me, Mr.. Mayne."