The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-03-06


is the grease wood. It's always on
hand. You might take it slow, grub
bing when you was able. | guess
we'll find you jobs enough, man"
The scared, colorless face bright
ened
Thank We, neighbor. Ef you'll
be so kind there is another little mat
ter Ill have triae over when I've
paid your woman for her trouble. /
wuz thinking like enough you would
let me run up shanty on your place
here. Loisy wouldn't mind about
style-just a roof to bring 'em to. 1t
is for her and the boy, you know"
watching Joel's face eagerly.
"Yes, yes, Brice, we'll make it all
right. Just take things kind o. easy.
I'll be going in with wood next week,
and III fetch you load of lumber.
We will make day of it after while
and put up your house in a jiffy."
And so Brice went to work on the
ditch, gently at first, spared from the
heaviest work by strong arms and
rough kindness. And so, ere long,
another rude dwelling went up on the
mesa, the smoke from its freside
curling slowly toward the pine plum
ed mountain tops
The building fund, scanty enough
at best, was Unexpectedly swelled by
sudden and obstinate attack of for
getfulness which seized good Mrs.
Brandt.
"No, Brice, you haven't made me
spark o. trouble, not a spark. Pm
sure you've paid your way twice
over bTingin' wood, and grinding cof-
fee and the like. Many man would
have asked wages for the half you've
done, so I'm getting off easy to call
it square" And the good lady stood
her ground unflinchingly.
You've been powerful good to
me. ma'am We'll be watchin' our
chances to make it up to you-Loisy
aud me. I'll be sending for Loisy
directly, now"
"Yes, yes, maa, and therefll be
the bits of furniture aud things to git.
Spread your money thin, and Mrs.
Fox and I'll come in and put you TO
rights when you are lookin' for her,"
He brought the money 10 Joel at
asst, a motley collection of silver
pieces.
"Ef you'll be so kind as to send it
to her, neighbor-Mrs. Loisy Brice,
Plattsville, IrdianDy-I've writ the
letter tellin' her how to come. There
is enough for the ticket and triae
to spare The boys master hand
at scuflin' shoes and things. You'll
not make any mistake sending it. will
you? 2"
mo, no, Brice, it'll go straight as
a rocket. Let me see, now The
letter'll be week, then 'lowin' 'em
a week to get startedn-
"Loisy won't be a week starting,
neighbor."
Never you mind, man. "Lo vim
'em a week TO get off, that's two
weeks; then them emigrant trains is
so slow, say thirteen days on the
road-that's about another fortnight
-four weeks this is the fifth, ain't
it? Twenty-eight and five's thirty
three; that will be about the third of
next month, say. Now mind what
I tell you, Brice-don't look for them
a minute before the third--not a min
ute"
"Pears like long spell to wait,
neighbour
Il know it man; but it will seem
thunderin' sight longer after you be-
gin to look for them"
81 reckon you're right. Say four
weeks from to-day then. Like
enough you'll be goin' in then"
"Yes, We'll hitch up and meet 'em
at the train-you and me- The wo-
men will have things kind o snug
again we get home. Four weeks
will soon slide along, man."
Joel went into the house smiling
softly.
81 mad to be almost savage with
the fellow, Barbara. The anxious
seat is no place for fellow like him;
it would wear him to o tooth pick in
week"
"But she might get here before
that, you know, Joel"
"I'll fix that with the man at the
depot If she comes sooner we'll
have her out here 10 q hurry. Wish
to goodness she would"
The southern winter bioomed roy
ally. Bees held high carnival in the
nodding spikes of the white sage, and
now and then a breath of perfume
frcm the orange groves in the valley
came up to miugle with the wild
mountain odors. Brice worked
every moment with feverish earnest
ness, and the pile of garland roots on
the clearing grew steadily larger.
With all her loveliness, nature failed
to WOO him. What was the exquisite
languor of those days to him, but SO
many hours of patient waiting? The
dull, hungry eyes saw nothing Of the
lavish beauty around them, looking
through it all with restless yearning
to where an emigrant train, its dust
and dirt and noisome breath, crawled
over miles Of alksli, or hung from
dizzy heights.
"To-morrow's the Sd, neighbor l
reckon she'll be along now directly
That's fact. What a rsttler
time is" The days had not been
long to Joel We'll go in to-mor-
row, and if they don't come, you can
stay and watch the trains awhile.
She won't know you, Brlce, you've
picked up amazingly"
"I think likely Loisy will know me
if she comes"
But she did not come. Joel re-
turned the following night alone,
having left Brice at cheap lodgings
near the station. Numberless pass
ers.by must have noticed the patient
watcher at the incoming trains, the
homelv pathos of his face deepening
day by day The dull eyes growing
shade duller, and the awkward
form triae more stopped with each
succeeding disappointment 1t was
two weeks before he reappeared on