Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-10-23

covered by u heavy beard and his eyes
shaded by wido, slouohcd hat, who was
seated iu rawhido chair reading news.
paper and smoking long pipo. Ho lis
tened in slonoo and with apparent indif.
ference to tho story tho ranohman told him.
"What is your name?" ho asked, address
sing tho old man.
"John Byrd, sir"
"Wherc arc you from?"
"From Indiana"
"Ah! Any family with your"
"Nly daughter, Mrs. Worsham, ond her
"Widow, supposc?"
"llcr husband is dead, sir" patiently
replied Byrd, although ho resented the tone
of these inquiries.
"First husband, or sccond?"
"Mr. Worsham was her second husband.
She had been married to drunken, WORTH
less vagaboud whom l was compelled to
drive away"
"Quito right, Mr.. Byrd--cxactly right.
What became of the vagabond?"
81 don't know"
qucnco what became of him. Then a di :
vorcc followcd?"
eyes, sir. l insisted upon a divorce
against my daughters wish, and she mar.
ried MIR. Worsham, wcllto do man. But
bad luck fastened upon us aud never let go.
Mr.. Worsham died iusolvcnt, aud one
reverse after another swept away my little
property and was forced to come out here
to try to begin lifo ogaip. 1t is hard
task, sir, for au old man"
81 should say so. You ought to have
remained among your friends. What boy
is that?"
"My grandson" faotly replied Byrd,
who was weary Of this slylo Of questioning.
"Son Of tho vagabond or of WorshamY'
"Albert is the son of my daughters first
husband.'
81 have taken fancy to him. You
wanto home, aud | will tell you what
will do Give me that boy and will give
you fino ranch, with everything you need
to make you comfortable IS ito bargain?"
DO you expect mo to trade off my daugh
tcr's cllid?' Indignantly demanded Byrd.
81 forgot about her. Of course she has
an interest in him. Suppose you ask her
She ought to be willing to accept comfor..
table homc for life, when she knows that
the boy will be we'll provided fer"
81 will bring her here if you wish"
"No; | don't want to sec any women
folks. Ask her and bring me word"
81 will ask her." rcplcd tho old man;
"but know well what her answer will be. .
John Bird soon returned and informed
Gen. Chance that Mrs. Worsham had res
fused to accept his offer, declaring that she
would rather die than be parted from her
boy.
avery WE'LL" said that gentleman,
"That is all have to say to you. You may
CO."
John Byrd sadly left the house, and it's
owner signed to tho ranchman to remain.
"Nlr. Whipps," said he, 81 wish you
would follow that old man. Take him and
his family down to lIillcr's ranch, which is
vacant, and settle them thc:c. Supply
them with stock, provisions and everything
they need to mako them comfortable, and
let me know if money is needed"
So John Byrd and his little family,
greatly to their surprise, were settled and
made more than comfortable.
There was nothing to trouble them but
the uncertainty of their tenure and the fear
that's new direction might be taken by
the peculiar disposition of their strange
bcncfactor, who would not allcw Mrs. Wor.
sham to come near his house, saying that
he "didu't want to see any women folks"
lilo only endured her father, but was very
friendly to the boy, whom he presented
with fine pony aud saddle. For lis
own part, he seemed determined not to show
his face at tho Hitler ranch
Providence, however, was disposed to sct
aside this determination.
AS he was returning one day from a
distant stock farm his horse SHE'D and
threw him hear the Hitler ranch, dragging
him for somo distance by the stirrups. lie
was carried into Mr.. Byrd's house, where
1t was discovered that his head and face
were SO badly cut and bruised that it would
be necessary 10 remove his hair and beard.
When this operation had been performed
Mira. Worshnm came into the room for the
purpose Of helping to dress his wounds, anl
fairly shrickcd as she saw him.
"Albcrt Wakcly!" she exclaimed. "Is i.
really you?'
eyes, Mary, it is l." quietly replied
Gen. Chance. "If you arc going to do any.
thing for nc, please do it without fuss"
Mary Worsham took care Of him, and he
encouraged her attendance. When he was
stronger he spoke to her more freely.
"Nlary, did you really object to divorce
and to your second marriagc?"
eyes, Albert, | never loved any man but
tho father of my child, in spite of his great
fault, and | objected to everything that
could injuro you. But you ought not to
blame father lie meant to act for the
best"
81 don't blame him. II was for the best.
1t made man of me and | am, as / ought
tn he dnnnlu nrainfnl q lin, Ms.., IL.