The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-01-26

What a wonderful change sixteen

w nhb a WOnuOiAui SAesAto oA4spSsA
years make in men and women. The
glossy brown hair may have become
thin in that time, and on the once
smooth face time may print more than
one fine wrinkle telling of the deep fur
rows to come. Sixteen years have
somewhat whitened Sandy McGovern's
hair, and his figure is more portly than
it was when he rode away from the
scene of the desert massacre. And six
teen years have transformed the kid"
into tall, stalwart lad of Is, full of
health and strength. Robert Meow
ern, as Sandy had called the baby he
found in the old wagon-box, looked
magnificently as he rode up to the
house, crossing the little stream in one
easy leap of his horse. For the sixteen
years had brought wealth to Sandy
with the gray hairs. 1t really
seemed as if everything he touched
prospered after he rescued the baby.
He made more money in trapping that
year than he had in any two before /!
He got contracts to supply the stage
line with horses, and made money out
of them. He bought share in q claim
for almost nothing, and 1T turned out
to be enormously rich. Lucky San
dy." as he was called, began to be noted
for his uniform success. Finally he
turned his. attention to cattle, and pur-
chasing large tract of land, stocked
it, and became ranchero. He placed
the "kid" at school as soon as he was
old enough to go, and after giving him
good education, brought him home to
live on the ranch and learn to man
age it.
Father" said Bob (Sandy never
called him kid unless they were by
themselves, "there's party down there
on the road and the stage has broken
down. told them I'd ride up here
and send 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, Pc
dro, harness up an go down to the road.
Bring up all the passengers on the
coach. How many is there of them,
Bob?"
Give in all. There's the prettiest
girl, father, you ever saw, an old lady
who kept looking at me, and three gen
tlemen"
well, my boy, we'll try and make
'em comfortable. You better go an see
bout rooms being got readr for 'em, an
I'll ride down to bring 'em up"
Bob dismounted, and throwing the
bride rein over the hitching-post,
walked into the house.
Sandy looked after him, and mutter-
ing to himself, II declar' that boy gets
better every day." prepared to ride
down to the rescus 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 go on 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 unaflectedly glad
to see them, that al idea of formality
vanished, and before supper time the
whole party had become as familiar
as old friends. Bob seemed to
get along very we'll with Miss Edith,
and while Sandy and the other gentle
men chatted together, the young people
talked about anything and everything
that could furnish topic of converse
ton. Both Sandy and Bob noticed that
Mrs. Barnston was very silent, and that
she did not seem to be able to keep her
eyes off the young mans face. She
would look at him with half puzzled
and most anxious expression until she
saw that she was noticed by the others,
when, with an effort, she would join in
the general conversation.
After supper the whole party went
out upon the piazza, when the men lit
their cigars and talked. At length
Sandy, who never missed chance of
showing his boy off, called up Bob to
sing, and he at once began, in beauti
full tenor voice, some simple melody.
As he sang, Mrs. Barnston became more
nervous, until suddenly starting up, she
hastily left the piazza. Her husband
followed her and after a. short absence
returned. Turning to Sandy, he said:
you must excuse my wife, Mr.. Nc
Govern; but she lost her first husband
and her boy many years ago under pecu-
liarly distressing circumstances, and
your sons singing has reminded her so
of her first husbands voice that she was
unable to stay with u.s."
Sandy paused for minute before
replying, and then in deep tone said:
Bob amt my son."
"Not your son. Why, I thought
but L beg your pardon" said Mr.. Barn
ston.
"Pardon's granted" said Sandy, SEN
tentiously. "What / mean is, / amt
Bob's real father. He's my son in affec-
ton and in love, but he amt my natural
SON."
well, if you'll excuse my curiosity,
where did you get him."
"It's 16 years ago now," said Sandy.
slowly, that was riding along the
South Platte. One day came across a
place whar the red devils had been
tghtin' train. When / come thar
Their weren't no man alivenor no horses
nor nothin' rode along an hearn
kind o wall, feeble like. stopped an
listened, an then L looked whar the
sound come from, and found Bob thar,
nothin' but kid he were then, in a