The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1883-12-22
MOLLY.

ing up from the little-traversed noun
tsiu road to the forest, upon who's
edge, in the midst of stunted d oaks an
scraggy pines stood rude cabin, sue
as one comes upon here and there il
the remote wilds of West Virginia
The sun, pausiug just above the sharl
summit cf Pinnacle mountsin, threy
slant rays across the rugged land scape
which spring was touching up With ;
thousand soft rints. A great swell inE
expanse of green, broken at interval
by frowning lodges, rolled off to th'
low-lying purple mountain ranges
whose summils still swan in sunse
light, wbie their bases were lost ii
deepest shadow. Over all, a univ arsa
hush, the hush which thu ills one with 6
sense Of utter isolation and Loneliness
The man and woman who were seat
ed before the cabin door hardly per-
ceived these things. What the ir eyes
saw, doubtless, was the fair promise OF
| the corn field WI ich stretched along the
road for some distance, the white COW
with her spotted calf, and the litter of
lively pigs which occupied Enclosures
near the cabin, and-the tiny baby,
who lay, blinking and clutcping at
nothing, across the wcman's lap. She
was looking down upon the cLild with
a smile upon her face. 1t was young
and handsome face, but there were
shadows in the dark eyes and around
the droopirg lids, which the smile
could not chase away-traces of in
tense suffering, strange to see in face
so young.
The man, young and stalwart fell
low, shaggy Of heir and lopg Of limb,
had placed himself upon a log which
lay bet ide the door step, and was lost
in contemplation Of the small atom Of
embryo manhood upon VIII III his deep
set blue eyes were fixed. He had been
graphing for three weeks with the
overpowering fact OF ttis child's exist
ence. and had hardly ccmpassed it yet.
Lod! Molly he exclaimed, his
face broadening iato smile, Jess look
at him now! Look at them thar eyes!
People says as babies don't know nuth-
in. burned If thet thar young un
don't look knowin'er n Old Jedge
Itself Why, M mos
afeared on him sometimes, the way he
eyes me, z cunnin' like, ez much ez ter
say "rm hyar, dad, an I'm goin' ter
stay, an you's jess got ter knuckle
right down tew it, dad!' Lord. look at
thet thar nown AID the happy sire
look one of the baby's small wrinkle d
paws and laid it across the horny palm
Of his own big lcfG hand.
Jess look, Molly. Now you amt
3goin' to tell me ez thet thar hand is
,ver agoin' to handle ak or gun, or
or pausing for q climax, sling
iown glass Of whiskyp 'Taint pos
'iblel'
At this juncture, an inquisitive fly lit
lpon the small en- inence in the center
# the child's visage destined to do duty
IS a nose. Hardly had the venture
ONE insect settled when, without
moving muscle of Lis solemn coun-
enance, that astonishing liant, with
me erraiic, back-handed gesture,
rushed him away. The enraptured
atter burst into roar of laughter.
Il tole ye SO, Molly! 1 tole ye sol
SAbies i, jess a-puttin' on. They knows
hesp more N they gets credit fur,
oH. bet!'
Something like smile here d stend-
d the cli,d's uncertain mouth, and (
ometbing which might be construed ,
ito a W ink contracted for an instant
is small light eye, whereupon his {
cstatic father made the wolkin ring
18th loud haw-haws of appreciative I
lirth. l s
Mollie laughed too, this time.
What man you are, SandyP I'm t
lad you feel SO happy, though she
ontinued, softly, while flush rose TO c
or cheek and quickly subsidized. Il {
int been much comp'ny for ye, but l 9
,ckon it'll be different now. Since i
aby come feel better, every way, an
reckon 8
She stopped abruptly and bent low b
YER the child.
Sandy had ceased his contemplation t
the boy, and had listened to his c
ife's wolds with a look Of incredulous s
slight upon his rough but not income il
face. 1t was evidently new thirg C
r her to speak SO plainly, and her a
ashland was not unmindful of the ef-
rt it must have cost her, nor migrate r.
4 r. L. ~oop1t ~