The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-06-30
TON. OHIO. THURSDAY. JUNE 80, 1881. e

forbearance.
"An' what in thunder would we do eft
the Spread Eagle was gone, an not
another bar in No Cop "a
:, That remark, presented a startling
truth, and no more was heard about
destroying Ag's house. Then somebody
laughed with an infectious cha, ha," and
the womans exploit came quickly into
favor as piece of rare fun. This view
OF the matter prevailed when Billy Wilk.
otherwise William Wilkinson Joined the
group. ~ "e go
Billy Wilk was not too young to have
beard; his flannel shirt was as red and
coarse as anybody's, his long boots as
heavy; and his soft hat as slouchy; yet he
lacked some of the accomplishments of
his comrades. He could not swear as
glibly, he was constantly lapsing into
good English, and he could not drink the
ordinary whisky of the town without
grimace. He had contributed to the gift
mirror, and full account of its reception
was given to him.
can what does Billy Wilk think of
that ?" the narrator concluded.
'sWhy, that Ag's woman, after al,
said Billy, sand therefore sensitive about
her personal appearance. What we want
to do is to convince her that no joke was
intended. Now isn't that so, boys"
Everybody said something that meant
yes.
'I move" said one ''that Billy Wilk
be appointed convincin' committee.
He's the only camp that dar go into the
Spread Eagle ies now. 'thout casin' his
self in bilir iron. Oh, Ag won't hurt him
I've all knows she's soft on Billy"
'rNonsense," Billy interposed.
"Taint no nonsense, nuther. When
Ag keeps a seprit bottle for Billy Wilk,
jes' cause he's got a faint-hearted Stun
mic, it's case O. clear gone on Billy
Wilk. So Billy's the man to send in to
squar us with Ag. Eh? Say Aye if
I'm talkin' wise.''
A roar of "Ayes" was decisive. Billy
entered the Spread Eagle on his mission
of conciliation. --.--'T
Ag had not changed her attitude in
the slightest. Her back was still against
the bar, and her sharply bent elbow
rested on it for support: Her face was
yet hard with anger, but tears was
trickling dewnit, and she could not dash
them away SO quickly but that Billy saw
them.
"Wal, Billy Wilk," she said harshly,
'swas you in the gang in maxim fun o
me?"
81 was with the boys in getting that
glass up from Frisco, certainly, he said;
''but it wasn't done for sport, at all. 1t
was meant for a sober, serious testimo-
NAL They hadn't the slightest notion of
joke"
She took down a large lamp from the
wall, thrust it close to his face, and
gazed eagerly into his eyes.
,'See hyaf, Billy Wilk," she said, ''if
you will look me squar in the face and
tell me so I'll believe ye. Thar aint
nothin' wouldn't take on your word O
honor, less you said wasn't the home
lest woman We ever seed, an likely ye
mought even make me think ye'd some
whar come across an onsightlier critter
than be, if We tried. Ye never lied to
me, Filly. Ye never told me that ye
cared snap O. yer fingers for me, cause
yer don't That's squar as a die. consid-
erin that yer know love every hair in
yer head, Billy Wilk."
Billy had known it, as she said, but
nothing of the kind had ever been spoken
between them, and he did not find her
blunt avowel comfortable to receive.
''Oh, ye needn't blush" and she put
the lamp back in its place. Il don't,
cause 1 amt ashamed O. lovin' We. Eff
We told me ye cared durn fer me, then
We might blush, either for the first lie to
me, er fer shame that yefell in love with
Ag, O. No Go. Shake, Billy"
His hand though hardened by toll,
was smaller than the one that gripped
"We're good friends at all events" he
said. 800 80 :" te =
ssYou kin bet; pards, If ye like, an
thar's no man in camp I'd ruther iine
hans with.
She took the only bottle of good
whisky in the house froma drawer under
the bar, half filled two glasses. clinked
| her own against his, and emptied it in
lar occupation.
'How are yor gettin' on with Kunnel
Dingley's daughter Nell ?"
whisky, and Ag's hand came down with
helpful thrmp on his back.
"I-Colonel Dingley-daughter Nell, :"
he sputtered.
s'Them's the biggest O the words.
Take glass O. water. Ye didn't think
Iknow'd it. Swaller some more water.
Thar amt thing ye do, Billy-thar
amt an ounce of gold dust ye lay by, or
headache We have, VI button off yer
clothes-that don't know it, Did ye
s'pose that gals photograph could be in
| your room an 1 not light onto it? Be
ye chokin' yet ?, Mebbe it's emosfing
makes you SO red. Wal, I axed ye bout
the gal"
'Tve no objection to telling you, Ag. y
He drummed on the counter uneasily,
however, while she leaned over quite
composedly from the other side. 81
reckon / am in love with Colonel Ding
ley's daughter, and 1 shouldn't wonder
if she'd guessed it; but that is all, upon
my word. 1t isn't strange that fellow
should let his heart go to the first pretty
girl that come into rough settlement
like this; and she-well, Ag, her hair is
so yellow. her eyes so blue, her cheeks SC
pink, her form SO fragile, and alto
gether-,"
$50 different from the only other wo
man in No Co." a..
'I didn't say that, Ag."
"Well, it's burned sight more de
scriptive than what ye did say. Go on
Billy"
GIVE been doing some work for Col
onel Dingley, you know, over at th'
new mill, and she's in the Office a goot
deal. That's where I've met her, and
that's all there is of it.
He had no intention of telling Ag hoy
Nell Dingley, during the two months
she had been at No Go, had completed.
enthralled him; how she had at time
seemed to invite him on, until he all bu
avowed his love, and again had repellet
him with sudden reserve. He did no
fancy the mistress of the Spread Eagl
|, for confdant; but she was not to b
put off,
"That's all there is of it?" she echoed
', mockingly. "Be you man? Have y
axed her to marry you?'"
: "No." -..
"Then go straight as the Lord an