Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-06
GaIts and Skettbts.
50 As Br rIRE.


But
He was a strongly made. sunburned,
vigorous-looking man, not yet thirty, and
he stood on high roll of the prairie. from
which he could overlook the waving
wealth OF a vast field of corn.
His mouth closed suddenly behind the
last short word. and a shadow came into
his bright, dark eyes. They had ceased
to study the csrn-feld, turning rather TO-
wards pair who were riding along its
northerly border They wee too far
awav for him to hear the tall. bearded old
man. on the heavy bay horse. remark
"yirginia. thar's Marsh. standin' on the
rise Reckon he's takin' a look Of his
corn crap"
There was no verbal answer, but in an
other instant the roam mare under his lady
companion was curveting spitefully.
"What on airth did you bit her for. She
was goin' well enough You amt safe
with whip"
She was evidently safe in a saddle.
however, and the bay now initiated the
roam in manner which brought them
rapidly tn the summit Of 1.-The rise"
.'Mornin'. Marsh. How's your crap
turnin' out? Looks prime
Forty acres cut and shocked. Coin
in on the shuckin' tomorrow. I'm bet
ting on sixty bushels to the acre.
"Mebbe it's thar Hundred and forty
acres of il. You're workin' ahead. Marsh
Hayne. COrn's better'n wheat. thisy year.
when are you going TO thrash out
your yield? You'll have heap Of it,"
BEST yield ever harvested, if the mar
ket was worth anything. They do say
it's comm up. jest look at them ricks
Of mine ~
They were mile and a half due west,
but no tree stood between to prevent
view Of them, nor did any fence cross the
fringe Of the open. unbroken prairie.
line of forest arose beyond the ricks. and
beyond that, unseen from the knoll, the
great plain rolled away, with only few
scattered farms, sixteen miles to the coun-
ty-seat and town"
"Your mares uneasy, this morning,
Miss Crawford. What's the matter with
herr ''
That was Marshall Haynes first dis
covery OF something to say. directly. to
Virginia, while her whole attention had
seemed to be otherwise absorbed.
ave spoiled her; let her have her own
way too much"
'.Thatll never do. | keep pretty
steady hand over everything | ride or
drive"
Every line Of his face and every tone of
his deep, musical voice seemed TO vouch
for him. He was speaking of dumb ami
mails. to be sure, but the color deepened
in Virginia's handsome face as she re-
piled, curtly.-
$50 do I!''
There was n world of firm decision in
the words. and in the sudden compression
of the red lips which uttered them Even
the roam mare must have comprchended. |
for she gave up her pretty rebellion. and
began to paw the hard, black surface of
the prairie road beneath her.
"Marsh," remarked old Crawford, |
isn't your house nigh done Pr
"All finished inside Got a good many |
things in, too. All the cribs II be up in |
time to hold the crop"
"Gwine TO live thar. this winter o'
1t was Marshall Haynes turn to color
deeply. rs he answered.
Can't say. Reckon old Bitters III
have to board me while"
"If | were Celebrity" exclaimed Vir-
GINA, with the kind of smile which is no
smile at all. Il would make you paint
your house,
The flush on his face was fiery red. rs
he suddenly turned to her father
''By the way, Did you take note Of the
prairie fire, last night. northeast? The sky
was good and red.
"'Way beyond the timber? Yes, / saw
il. tn burn out where it is. just as it
allus does. 1t won't git across the
Slough
''Dont you be too sure of that, now.
I've mind to do some back-frng on that
side of my farm. A fred 90 through my
standing corn like it was dry grass"
.Reckon il would. 'Twont come,
though. I've lived on this prairie more'n
ten year, and no fire ever come a-nigh
me-"
al don't care TO have one come too nigh
me till my corn's in crib
"Come along. Virginia, Your mother
II be lookin' for us"
'Good-day." said Marsh.
'Good morning." said his two neigh
bors. almost in the same breath. and Nir-
ginia added. lyon may tell CELEBRITY Bit
ters, for me, we're going to town o-mor
row. Ii she wants me to get the things
she spoke of, she'd better let me
know"
"rll tell her. Palm Bitters II be glad
Of an errand TO your house"
In two seconds more Virginia's roam
mare was fairly dancing along the road.
while Marshall Hayne strobe fiercely down
the slope in the opposite direction.
Virginia" remarked her father. "whv |
can't you treat Marsh Haync leete more
neighborly? Thar isn't likeier yonng |
Teller on this prairie. Thar's all sorts of
real grit and push into him. Look what
he's done with that thar FARM
"Most any man can handle quarter
section"
Not the way he does. I've two whole |
sections now. but he'll be ahead OF me,
fore long"
Maybe So"
"He amt onsociable. neither. What !
times he got to run around. nowadays,
I'd like to know?''
Nobody wants him to-
Virginia. how you hev sweated that
mare OF your'n! Looks like you'd ridden
her twenty miles instid of ten. What's
got into you and her this morning?"
She was very busy with her unruly pet
just then, and they were drawing near the
house. behind which rose the tall ricks of
unthrashed wheat. TWAS n pleasant home