Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1885-12-10

IL am going past the DAM" admit.
ted Farnham.
Y "Alonew
"Iexpeot So"
"Msy DO you'd take passenger"
"Certainly; got t."
The huge bully thrust himself undcr
tho robe. Farnham seated himself be.
side him. and then they went spinning
away over the openings at . rapid
rate.
"'Twas you with that high-strung
Lyon gal. want LIP"
eyes" admitted tho book.kcepcr.
"She looked mad enough whom I
trod on her dress. SIGH trails I don't
admire nohow. No sensible gal would
wear 'em to q dance; but then I've
been thinkin' I didn't do the squar'
thing tonight, Cap, so when you see
tho gal agin, Jest tell her I'm sorry I
tore her dress; ] didn't 60 for to do II
nohow. You'll tell herr"
Farnham said that no would. River
Dan was garrulous, and did most Of
the talking. and the little book.keeper
felt that under his rough manners the
giant riverman had good heart, after
all.
"You see, I'd been takin' too many
drinks. was what allied me. Cap. l
wouldn't insult no respectable gal for
nothin' in the world"
The explanation and apology was
ample. and oil this had come about
without bad blood. q row and bloody
faces. On the whole, Farnham felt
that he had pursued the wisest course.
after all.
The little book.keeper left River d an
q, the Dam and finished his journey to
Oxbow alone.
Mr.. Lyon made no mention Of the
trouble at the dance TO his book.keeper.
His daughter gave an account Of her
escorts cowardice. but the lumbcrman
failed to take that interest his daughter
desired.
Matters went on after the old fashion.
Mark Farnham had been q frequent
visitor at the Lyon house. but since the
dance at Msple Top he had held him.
self aloof. The little book.keeper had
been hurt in a tender spot, and he could
not forget how Janet looked when she
uttered the word coward.
The foreman came often to 0xbow,
and Janet and the handsome Apollo
were much together. The loggen
coupled the names OF the two. and in
timated that Dick would feather his
nest before long. The little book.keeper
heard. but remained silent. He could
not discuss q subject that was Of most
painful nature to him. He believed
Janet cared something for him, until
that affair at the Maple Top dance.
From that time she had cut him effect
ually. He had pride as well as the belle
Of the Muskegon, and from that fatal
night they met as strangers.
The pallor on the little book.kceper's
face seemed to deepen. His eyes were
hollow. and his cheeks sunken. He
attended business devotedly. and no
one noticed any change In little Mark
Farnham.
The winter passed. Late in March
the Ice in the rivor began to move.
Soon tremendous roaring filed the
ears Of tho citizens Of Oxbow. People
gathered on the bank to sec the leo 60
out. It was a grand sight as the huge
cakes. nearly foot in thickness. went
crashing down over the dam with
mighty soothing, grinding roar.
On with irresistible fury swept the
mighty mass. hurled with tremendous
fury by the rapidly rising waters,
which the warm spring rains had aug.
mented to q mighty flood. Close be.
hind the ice came mighty jam OF pine
logs. Tho river was fast clogging. and
q huge jam was formed against the
dam which had lately been built across
the river.
"a jam must not be permitted to
form there" cried John Lyon. as he
saw the rolling and tumbling mass Of
logs hating, choking the river on the
brink Of the dam.
Among those gathered on the bank
wa, River Dan from the Dam.
Get yer pick.levers, boys" he
cried, in loud voice.
The logs had already formed h jam.
and men in red shirts, with picks and
peevies, were docking to the dangerous
dam, working with might and main to
keep the mighty mass Of pine moving.
The female portion Of Oxbow was
out watching the movements Of the
red.shirts. Right in the center Of the
river. not far from where the water
boiled and seethed over the dam, was
Dick Wellington. giving orders in
stentorian voice. 1t was n dangerous
place, and Janet Lyons cheek
blanched as she saw him.
The logs on the further shore were
kept moving, and the current Of the
river swept that way with the fury Of
an avalanche. The red-shirts had been
working an hour with desperate ener-
~. and many Of them were exhausted.
Go ashore. boys, and get lunch;
the greatest danger is past; Wellington
and will hold the fort until you re-
turn"
1t was Mr.. lyon who spoke. He had
gone to the center Of the river with the
GOODNESS Of an old log.driver. The
man ohcved Thu vreater mart of the