The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-10-07

The first effect on Sol was bad for tn,
mule, for staying at home seemed 81
lonely and uncomfortable a thing, that
Sally had to "sit up" later and late
every night for week, and poor Ma
Granger was at his wits end. Even Ber
himself hegan to feel that the crisis h,
dreaded could not be far away.
"If the old sinner gifts skeered an,
wuss, muttered Ben, she'll be wantin
Sally to come over and take keer of him
sartin sure. on'y wish't / knowed how
things was goin' to 60 with me. 1t cam
be great while till do"
That very night, however, Sol Pot
ter mule had hard time OF it, for hi
master actually attempted to "get time
out of him, in the strong persuasion tha
his hOmeward ride was dogged by sus
piciOus-looking forms, which Aitteo
hither and thither among the leafess
trees and over the fog-hidden fences.
To be sure, he reached his home il
safety, the long-eared servant under
him only little worse blowed than him
self; but his thoughts began to take the
very direction Ben Van Lennep had
fOreseen.
"I'm an old fool, to be takin' all this
trouble" he growled to his tallow dip, az
he carefully extinguished the wick with
his horny fingers. off I'd on'y fetched
her over here, then wouldn't hev to
60 for her at all. Gettin' married is
drefful expensive business but could
make Ben pay the most of it. Ben's a
good feller about some things. I wonder
if Sally'd be SO extravagant, arter all
She's good worker, and I reckon she'd
about pay for her keeping, anyhow. 1t
might be a good spec, On'y winters COM
in on, and women is wuth more in spring
and summer. Guess I'd better run the
risk on it. I'll jest 60 over tomorrow
night and fix up matters, and we needn't
go to any fuss or expense. She'll hev to
Civ in to my ways bit, best way she
kin fix it,"
If Sol Potter had any dreams that
night, however, they were nothing at all
to the visions which were bothering the
curly head of Mat Granger. If Sally
Van Lennep had any, no one was the
wiser for them but Mat carried his
about him all day, and, strange enough,
they kept him on broad grin from sun
rise till sunset.
That was another day for news, and
all there was a-going found its way, some
how, to the ears of Sol Potter. "Set in
his way" was Sol, or he would hardly
have mustered courage that night to put
the saddle on his mule. He may even
have had spark or so of genuine cour-
age under his withered and wrinkled
skin; but, at all events, the poor old mule
was saddled just about dusk.
But saddling the mule was by no
means the limit of Sol's preparations. His
tough old legs were closely buttoned up
in the only pair of genuine "gaiters" in
all Arway township; his narrow
breasted cutaway coat was drawn tightly
up to his well-handkerchiefed throat;
while the ear-laps of his old fur cap were
tied under his chin in way to battle the
nipping nightair and give a good stuck
IN" for the long limbs of his spectacles.
But that was not all, either; for, when
Sol at last put himself astride of his mule,
he carried in his left hand very heavy
and threatening specimen of "double-
gum"
81 don't reckon they'll be in so big a
hurry to follow me tonight" he NUT
,ered to himself, "and l kin fetch Sally
nome in broad daylight, after we get
,hings fixed"
Brave words; and Sol had wonderful
of confidence in the protecting
power of his double e-barrel-almost as
much as in the success of his special er-
and at Ben Van Lennep's. In either
,ase he had only to come and see and
conquer.
This was the way he felt when he
tarted, and for mile or so he kept it up
airly well. But then, the November
Wind, sunny though the day had been,
grew chillier and more searching, the
very moon had warning and threaten
ng look in her face, as she peered from
behind the clouds, and Soils eyes began
o peer among the shadows around
lin more and more anxiOusly for pos
'ible signs of the perils which had envi-
'oned him the previous night.
And suddenly, from out the silence on
lis right, and a little behind him, there
rose long, shrill, trebly repeated whis-
tyle from out the shadowy uncertainty
before him.
II wonder whose dog they're a.whist-
in for at this time O. night ?' said Sol,
With an involuntary shiver. "Pears like
me fellow was signalin' to another fel-
ow, but l don't reckon it kin hev any
hing to do with me. Anyhow, I'll Just
AXE the long cut by the lower road. The
wamp ain'to' much account at this time
J year."
And so, at the next crossroads" Sol
deserted his accustomed path and dug
lis heels into his mule, somewhat nerv-
'usly, as he quickened his space down an
lnfenced and little-used byway.
Nobody'll ever dream of my leavin'
he road" he soliloquized, "and they
nay do all the whistlin' they take no.
ion to-"
But Just then, nearer by a good deal
han before, and more venomously shrill
han ever, the sound which had dis
urbed him rang out between him and
he very crossroads where he had turned
III.
Jerusalem !" exclaimed Sol; "they're
Ifter me this time, and no mistake
Ain't glad 1 fetched my gun along
Anyhow, there's the swamp ahead, and
hey can't have been smart enough 70
AVE laid for me down there"
A whistle, and then a long-drawn,
sort of halloo, were the omin-
'us comments on the wisdom of Sol's last
and an uneasy feeling began
o creep around under the old fur-cap.
"Its an awful piece of business"
,roaned Sol, "but Pm ALFRED glad l
etched my gun along"
If the sounds had not been to 80 great
N extent behind him, it is very possible
hat the old mules head might have
'een turned homeward then and there
'ut retreat seemed likely to be as perilous
IS going forward, and Sol was very much
Inclined to get to Sally's, if he could.
Down, down the long slope of the hills,
i'll he found himself among the fats"
nd, then, the next thing he found was
hat he had somehow wandered out of
he wagon-track that answered for a
DAD, and lust where he might be, neither