The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-05-29

we strike rock again. Then there IS tn
grease-wood. It's always on hand. 70
might take it slow, grubbin' when 20
vas able. 1 guess we'll find you job
enough, man."
The scared, colorless face brightened
"Thank ye, neighbor. Eff you'll b
as kind there's another little matter
I'll hev triae over when I've paid you
woman fur her trouble. I wuz thinkir
like enough you'll let me run up shan
ty on yer place here. Loisy wouldn
mind about style-just roof to brin
'em to. It's for her and the boy, yo
know" watching Joel's face eagerly.
"Yes, yes, Brice, we'll make it al
right. Just take things easy. I'll b
goin' in with wood next week, and II
fetch ont load O. lumber. Well max
day of it after awhile, and put up you
house in jiffy."
And so Brice went to work on th
ditch, gently at first, spared from th
heaviest work by strong arms and rougl
! kindliness. And so, ere long, anothe
rude dwelling went up on the mesa, tn
smoke from it's freside curling slowl.
toward the pine-plumed mountain tops
The building fund, scanty enough a
best, was Unexpectedly swelled by
sudden and obstinate attack of forgetful
ness which seized good Mrs. Brandt.
"No, Brice. you haven't made me
spark O. trouble, not spark. I'm SUR
you have paid your way twice owe
bringin' in wood, and grinding coffee
and the like. Many a man'd ask wage
for the half you've done, so I'm getting
off easy to call it square" And the goot
lady stood her ground unfinchingly.
"You've been powerful good to me
ma'am. Well be watchin' our chance *
make it up to you-Loisy an me. II
be sendin' fur Loisy direckly now."
eyes, yes, man, and therell be tht
bits o. furniture and things to get
Spread your money thin, anl Mrs. Fo1
and neil come in and put you to rights
when you're looking for her"
He brought the money to Joe at last
molly collection of silver pieces.
"Ef yell be so kind as to send it tx
'er, neighbor-Mrs. Loisy Brice, Platts
Vile, Indiana-I've writ the letter tell
in her how to come. There's enough
Tor her ticket and trihe to spare. The
boys master hand at scufin' out shoes
and things. You'll not make any mis-
take sendin' it, will yon?"
"No, no, Brice, it'll 60 straight as 6
rocket. Let me see now. The letter'l
be week, then 'lowin' 'em q week tx
get started
"Never you mind, man. Lowin' 'em
q week to get off, that's two weeks
then them emigrant trains is slow, say
thirteen days on the road-thats about
another fortnight-four weeks; this is
the fifth, air't it? Twenty-eight and
five's thirty.three; that'll be bout the
third of next month, say. Now mind
what I tell you, Brice-don't look fol
'em minute before the third-not one
minute"
"'Pears like a long spell to wait,
neighbor."
"I know it, man; but it'll seem 9
sight longer after you begin to look fol
EN-"
CT reckon you're right. Say foul
weeks from to-day, then. Like enough
you'll be goin' in
eyes, we'll hitch up and meet 'em
at the train-you and me. The women
ill have things kind O snug gin we get
home. Your week'l soon slide along,
man."
The southern winter blossomed roy
ally. Bees held high carnival in the
nodding spikes of the white sage, and
now and then breath of perfume from
the orange groves in the valley came up
to mingle with the mountain odors.
Brice worked every moment with fever
ish ea1nestness, and the pile Of gnarled
roots on the clearing grew steadily
larger. With all her loveliness nature
failed to.woo him. What was the equi-
site languor of those days to him but 80
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 immigrant train, with its dust
and dirt, noisome breath crawled over
miles of alkali, or hung from dizzy
heights.
"To-morrow's the third, neighbor.
reckon she'll be long now direckly'"
"That's fact; what a rattler time is. u
The days had not been long to Joel.
Gwen 60 in tomorrow; and if thsy
don't come you can stay and watch the
trains awaile. She won't know you,
Brice; you've picked up amazingly"
"I think likely Loisy'll know me il
she comes"
But she did not come. Joel returned
the following night alone, having left
Brice at cheap lodgings near the station.
Numberless passers-by must have no
ticed the patient watcher at the incom.
ing trains, the homely pathos of his
face deepening day by day. The dull
eyes grew shade drlller, and the awk'
ward ;orm o trife more stopped with
each succeeding disappointment. II
was two weeks before ne reappeared or
the mesa, walking wearily like man
under load.
CT reckon there's something wrong
ma'am. I come out to see eff yer mar
'ud wlite me letter. hadn't been long
in Plattsville, bat I worked q spell for 6
man named Yarnell; like enough he'6
look it up a little. I amt much al
writin', an I'd want it all writ out care
full like, you know" The mans voice
had the old, uncomplaining monotony
Joel wrote the letter at once, making
the most minute inquiries regarding Mrs
Brice, and giving every possible direc
tion concerning her residence. Their
Brice fell back into the old groove, work
ing feverishly in spite of Mrs. Brandt
kindly warnings.
"I can'tstop, ma'am; the sittin' rount
'ud kill me-"
The answer came at last, business
like epistle, addressed to Joel. Mrs
Brice had left Plattsville about the time
designated. Several of her neighbort
remembered that q stranger, a well
dressed man, had been at the house fol
nearly a week before her departure, anG
the two had gone away together, taking
the western train. The writer regretted
his inability to give further information
and closed with kindly inquiries concern
ing his former employees health, ant
earnest commendation of him to Mr.
Brandt.
Joel read the letter aloud, something
some sturdy uprightness of his own
no doubt-blinding him to its signifi
cance.
evil you read it again, neighbor
for I'm not over quick"
The mans voice was revelation full
of an unutterable hurt like the CRY O