The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-02-12

small home of the Ramsays.
At midday there was pretense of
dinner. Coffee, and the cooking of
bacon and baking of corn-bread sent
forth their grateful odors but she
knew well enough he would not come to
eat it, and it was presently put away in
the cupboard till he should come.
When the shadows of the afternoon
began to lengthen, and there was alb
solute silence save the faint drone of
insect life, she took her work-it was
some mystery of feminine toilet, for
such mysteries exist even in Ma
coupin-and sat down under O great
tree not far from the house, where she
sewed and dreamed until the brown
eyes grew troubled and the long lashes
dropped upon her cheek.
In the midst of her trouble there
came the faint crash of dry twigs and
the tramp of horse. She sat very
still, as if unconscious of the approach
ing horse and its rider but when the
horseman dismounted at her feet, she
did look up and smile plump, rosy
little smile.
''How d'y', Jim ?'' and How d'y',
Bette 2" were the only salutations, after
which the rider settled himself upon the
grass beside her.
making, like human nature, is
the same, or nearly So. the wide world
over. Where there is youth and beauty,
where there is sympathy and oppor-
tunity, there will be love. And why
not Is any other dream of life so
sweet The dream is often far brighter
than the awaking; bat, no matter let
us live and dream, and thank God
for it.
And there they sat under the old tree
enjoying their dream until the shadows
were long drawn and sunset was near.
They watched the bees Fastening home
laden with honey. They even found
time to notice the woodpeckers tapping
so vigorously over their heads.
The heated air still rose in ripples
above the lower tree-tops, while the
scenery further away was softened into
that dim. smoky haze that mellows and
darkens till it finally shuts off vision in
the distance.
It was lazy day. He admitted hav-
ing left a plow standing idle in the corn !;
and she vowed she had done nothing at
her work, and sighed but whether that
sigh was for an unfinished garment is a
matter for grave doubt. But SO the
world moves on, and precious time is
wasted.
"Here's fatherI'' said the girl, spring
ing to her feet.
The next instant a loud report rang
out through the air. At the same mo-
ment came a sharp scream from the
girl, and she sank slowly to the ground.
A few yards away the old man stood
dazed and bewildered. Suddenly real
izing the horror of the scene, he pushed
back the butt of his gun, as if to end his
own life with the remaining barrel. But
the young man sprang upon him, hurled
it away into the thickt then, dashing
off his coat, he began tearing his shirt
sleeves into strips for bandages.
The poor girl lay moaning on the
terribly shattered and torn by the
shot. But, teRderly as woman would
have done, he bound it mp, and, taking
her in his arms, he carried her to the
house and up to her own room, where
he laid her upon the bed.
The old man had followed silently
after, tottering and helpless as an infant.
Nor did he rouse from his stupor until
the young man spoke to him.
Cant You bring some water, old
man? She is faint.
Then he shuffied and stumbled down
stairs, and came back again with
gourd full of water.
You don't reckon she'll die, Jim
Jim-it was an accident"
The white lips had been tightly closed,
as if in agony, but now the eyes opened
slowly, and the lips parted long enough
to murmur
ss Father r.
The old head dropped as if struck
by death. Sinking on his knees, he
buried his face in the bed-clothes and
"oh, Bette. Bette little gall 1
didn't go to do it.
But the eyes closed YEARLY, and the
girl had passed into unconsciousness
man bathed her face with the water, and
man remained with his face buried be-
side her, until her plump little hand
rested on his grizzled head.
s. Father r. said the pale lips again,
softly and tenderly, while her fingers
trihed with his gray locks.
Take my horse and go for a doctor,
and don't let the grass grow under his
feet, old man r. was the sudden and de-
cisive end of the old mans present
misery. He sprang to his feet, kissed
her eagerly, fumbled a little with his
hat, as If there was something on his
mind, and finally said, in his simple
Maybe I can bring something for
ye, child-a lemon or something nice p
She reached out, and taking his coat,
drew him down until she whispered in
his ear.
What she said seemed to astonish him
greatly, yet it pleased him, for he
slapped his leg, and laughed outright. -
No are you in dead earnest, Bet
tie ?''
There was faint little nod for a
reply.
"Ill do it, sure ;doggone if I don't p
and he rushed out of the house, and q
minute after was galloping through the
darkness for doctor, Ave miles away.
There was pain and suffering that
night in the little house of the Ram.
says but with loving hands to nurse
and tend, even pain yields to their touch.
and sleep follows. During all those
hours Of waking or sleeping the young
lover watched patiently by her bedside.
At daylight old Ramsay had not re.
turned. The morning breeze was wav-
ing and bending the trees, and, swayine
aside the white curtain, it came into the
little chamber and famed the brows o.
the sleeper and the watcher. Then tht
breeze foated IN = mufded tramp o