Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-08-29

team anu pflnS Ine SupPIleS aIu hlIo
the men.
81 don't feel quite right about the
head" said he, 'and I want Louisa to
cosset me. Then I'll 60 out to Shop
ton and see Scales and Weight about
the supplies, and be back before you
and ST have eat up all this 'ere vic
tuals."
Gall right, sir" said Ben, smother
ing twinge of disappointment which
he wouldn't own to himself. "We'll
get the hovel ready for the cattle while
you're off, and take tramp through
the woods and spot the best timber for
telling"
''There'll be enough to do" said un-
Gle Simon. ''You'll be back in five
days, say?' y
eff Pm lucky. How's the stores,
SIP"
"Good for week, should say, such
as they are. But the sooner you get
back the better. It'llbe sight easier
for you if you can manage to get up
before heavy snow comes. You see,
we haven't had anything but spits yet,
though maybe we're going to hev an
open winter"
cay, ay," answered Mr.. Bruce, as he
drove off through the woods with the
OK team. "Provisions for week, eh i?
Thatll tide ye over, Ireckon. There's
sight of work to be got through with
in weeks time. There's the supplies
to be got, and hands to be hired lem
me see-fve cutters, two teamsters and
cook; that's about it, and to hev 'em
ready to start when I do, and 1 amt
so young as was. Heyday, it's rub
and grind, a lumberman's life is!''
Alas there was more work to be got
ten through with in weeks time than
Mr.. Bruce had an inkling of; so much
that it ran over into the next week, as
work has trick of doing.
When Louisa saw that it was only
her old father trudging along with the
returning OK team her mercury went
down to zero in half a second. She
saw before her weary three months
of loneliness ana longing, and she saw,
too, that she deserved it.
'1t's deuced cold day for an old
man." said Mr.. Bruce, shivering be-
fore the wood fire, as if there should
have been special sets of weather Great
ed to suit customers. "What's that
you've got cooking on the crane, Lu?
Stew? [ amt got no more appetite
than bear in August. Brindle and
Trot were slow as cold molasses; they've
seen their best days, recken, like their
master, Wish I'd swapped 'em to
Dunn for the yearlings and boot; it
would hev bin a good bargain. ST sent
his love to you, Lu. I've got a cold.
I reckon I'll turn in and sleep it off: "
'They oughtn't have let you come,' -
said Lu, Indignantly, as she carried
him bottle of hot water for his feet.
"Uncle ST or Ben ought to have come
instead
at WANT their fault; I thought I
could drive better bargain with the
hands. Ben said he'd come in my
place, but his heart WANT set on it, :"
which assurance in no wise comforted
Louisa.
Mr.. Bruce was restless all night, and
in the morning was out of his head,
and didn't know his right hand from
his left, and called Louisa Ben, and
asked grandma to put the oxen into
the cart, mistaking her for uncle Simon.
And Louisa, half frightened to death,
jumped upon old Roan's back and gal
loped all the way to Shopton for the
nearest doctor.
"Ahem! Nothing more nor less
than fever" said he, the instant he
laid eyes on Mr.. Bruce.
els he dangerous?" asked Louisa.
Dangerous? Oh, I guess he'll pull
through. I'll leave this prescription,
and be round tomorrow. There's Mr..
Maverick of the tavern-Maverick' s
tavern at our place-had the same
symptoms week ago, and he's about
to-day. There's no telling about these
things; different constitutions take
differently. At least you needn't be
alarmed at present. Good-morning," "
with an emphasis on the good. Louisa
thought it was anything but good
morning, after the comfort Of his pro-
fessional presence was withdrawn
But the next day her father was no
better, nor yet the next, though the
doctor assured her that he was doing
as we'll as could be expected, whatever
that might be.
Louisa was too busy, and weary with