The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-04-18

Tie DTOktu DIdCclCt ACiu ny StONC0
away in his saddle bags, Sandy
mounted his horse, and, taking the
"kid in his arms, left the scene of
the massacre never to see it again"
x
What wonderful change sixteen
wears make in men and women. The
glossy brown hair may have become
thin in that time. apd on the once
smooth face time may print more
than one fine wrinkle telling of
the deep furrows to come. Sixteen
years have somewhat whitened
Sandy McGoyern's hir, and his fig
ure is more portly thfn it was when
he rode away from Il + scene of the
desert massacre. And sixteen years
have transformed the ''kid" into a
tall, stalwart lad of eighteen, full of
health and strength.
Robert McGovern, bs Sandy had
called the baby he found in the old
wagon box, looked megnifciently as
he rode up to the house, crossing the
little stream in one essy leap of his
horse. For the sixteen years had
brought wealth to SYdy with his
gray hairs.
1t really seemed that everything
he touched prospered after he had
rescued the baby. He, made more
money in trapping that year than
he had made in any two before.
He got contracts to supply the stage
line with horses, and made money
out of them. He bou3ht a share in
a claim for almost nithing, and it
turned out to be enormously rich.
Lucky Sandy" as be was called,
began to be noted for his uniform
success. Finally he turned his at
tention to cattle, and purchasing a
large tract of land, stocked it, and
became ranchero. BE placed the
kid at school as soon as he was
old enough to go, and after giving
him a good education, brought him
home to live on the ranch and learn
to manage it.
Father" said Bob. SANDY never
called him kid unless they were by
themselves there's a party down
there on the road and the stage has
broken down. | told them I'd ride
up here and send a wagon down to
bring them up. | said you'd be
glad to have them as long as they'd
stay
That's right, my boy, of course
we're glad to have 'em. Here, you,
Pedro, harness up and go down to
the road. Bring up all the passen-
gers on the coach. How many is
there of them. Bob ?"
Five, in all. There's the prettiest
girl, father, you ever saw, an old la
DIV who kept Hooking at me, and
three gentlemen"
"Well, my boy, we'll try and
make them comfortable. You better
go and see about rooms being got
ready for 'em, and III ride down an
bring 'em up"
Bob dismounted, and throwing
the bride rein over the hitching
post, walked into the house.
Sandy looked after him, and NUT
tering to himself.
II declar', that boy gets better ev-
cry day." prepared to ride down to
the rescue of the passengers. 1t was
not very long before the whole party
reached the house, glad enough for
the chance of staying there until
they could 60 en- with their journey
1t consisted of Mrs. Barnston and
Mr.. Barnston, his niece, Miss Edith
Hovee, and two friends of theirs,
Messrs. James and Flynn.
Sandy's welcome was so cordial,
and he was so unaffectedly glad to
see them, that all idea of formality
vanished, and before supper time
the whole party had become as IA
miliar as old friends.
Bob seemed to get along very well
with Miss Edith, and while Sandy
and the other men chatted together,
the young people talked about any
thing and everything that could fur
nish a topic of conversation. Both
Sandy and Bob noticed that Mrs.
Barnston was very silent, and that
she did dot seem able to keep her
eyes off the young mans face. She
would look at him with half puz-
zled and most anxious expression
until she saw that she was noticed
by the Others, when, with an effor,
she would join in the general con-
versation.
After supper the whole party went
out upon the piazza, when the men
lit their cigars and talked.
At length Sandy, who never miss
ed a chance of showing bis boy off,
called up Bob to sing, and he at
once began, in a beautiful tenor
voice, some simple melody. As he
sang, Mrs. Barnston became more
nervous, until suddenly starting up,
she hastily left the piazza. Her hus-
band followed her and after short
absence returned. Turning to Sandy,
he said
You must excuse my wife, Mr..
McGoyern; but she lost her frs,
husband aud her boy many years
ago under peculiarly distressing cir.
cumstances, and your sons singing
has reminded her soo of her first hus-
bands voice that she was unable to
stay with Us"
Sandy paused for q momont be
fore replying, and then in a deep
tone said: