Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-11-26
Shortly after midnight Basil stood

/ ~
will make it powerful unpleasant for
You afore morning, and after that you
can't stand between me and Kizzie.
When fellows dead he loses his arge-
ment. Don't he, Uncle Benz"
Then Thew muttered, Il wish 1 had
pledged heri / wish had" After o
little pause he added, 81 amt sure but
you're right about that, Baz, and ]
s'pose 1 might as wei have it go on
while I'm living as after I'm dead"
"That's about the size of it. Uncle
Ben, and very sensible way of looking
at it,"
"very we'll, Baz, get me out and help
me home"
Certain, Uncle Ben, certain, and I'm
powerful sorry if you've been incon-
venienced, powerful sorry. But you
sec it's took long time to git the
argement through YOU"
Basil rolled the stone away and lifted
Thew, who, with the cold and his in
jury, was unable to stand on his feet.
Then Basil took the injured and chilled
man on his back. When they were in
sight of Thew's home Benjamin Thew
said
"Baz, you're O pretty stout lad, for
~ amt no chicken to carry"
Basil laughed and walked on briskly.
"Oh," he said, you're Kizzie's father
that makes the load lighter, Uncle
Ben."
"Well, Baz," Thew responded, "there
are worse fellows than you, and I'm a
man of my word in letter and sperit,
but I'm thinking if yon want KizZie
bad you had better not brag much
about your convincing argement."
"Oh, Uncle Ben, I'm not of Dragging
stock"
"That's sensible, Baz, and if was
you and wanted Kizzie right bad,
think wouldn't never let her hear it I;
not that I'm objecting, Baz, you may
tell her as soon as you get to the door,
but I'm giving you fair warning, to
keep my promise in sperit as well as
word"
in two weeks Benjamin Thew was on
his feet, and in time the guests assem-
bled at Thew's house to witness the
marriage of Keziah and Basil. Among
the guests was one Rhoda Roynford, a
cousin of BasiPs. He accompanied her
to Thew's. On the way he confided to
her the story of the cold night on the
mountain side, about which he after
ward said: at only shows what fool
a man can be at times" Rhoda was an
open -mouthed, rattle-brained creature.
She ran into the room where Keziah
was dressed, and looking pretty as
brides do, only waiting for the arrival
of Basil to have the ceremony begin.
"Oh, how lovely you look. 1 don't
Jng 6ouesh ,{2erSI---1ear- no - bp4-it. vtSa
you never know how your father came
to consent?"
Then the story came out. Rattle
Drained Rhoda did not observe how the
color was disappearing from Keziah's
cheek. When she concluded KeZiah
opened the door, and seeing Basil she
beckoned to him. When he was in the
room and the door closed, she asked !:
"Basil. is this story Rhoda tells true?"
Basil hesitated little, and then ad-
mitted.
Then Keziah said "Come into the
other room, Basil" There was some
thing in her low voice that filled Basil
with alarm. In the other room and
among the guests, Keziah raised her
voice. Friends" she said, "there will
be no marriage here to-day" There
was little trembling in her voice, which
was quite strong and audible to eveny
one in the room. Basil expostulated.
So did Benjamin Thew. Then his
daughter whispered in his ear, Pap, l
have heard how he won your consent.
Nonsense, Kizzie, think 1 would
have done the same for your mother. !"
Il don't believe it, pap. 1t was cruel,
very cruel, and 1 will never marry any
man who can be cruel to my father.
Never, pap, never!
Then Keziah turned to the wonder
ing guests "Come, friends, where is
the fiddle? Let us dance" She took
the arm of the oldest man in the party.
"Come, Uncle Ted, you'll be my part
ner. If we don't have q wedding,
we'll have good time all the same. Z"
The music struck up, and light feet
carried wondering heads through the
mazes of the Virginia reel.
Five years later the war began. Ben
iamin Thew and Basil Boynford es-
poused different sides in the great con-
test. At the first Bull Run Benjamin
Thew heard the command: Forward
guide center! double quick march u
He rushed forward and never returned.
He was buried on the field where he
fell beside his comrades in gray.
The war storm rolled over the land.
Several times it approached the home
of Keziah Thew, and then receded. In
| 1000 n fauy mi LOG
away. When the battle was over the
wrecks of humanity were gathered in Q
temporary hospital. Tender-hearted
Keziah came down from the hills to
help the suffering. "I am not on your
side" she said to the officer in charge,
"but pity and affection have no sides.
The surgeon looked into her sweet,
patient face, and gladly accepted hei
aid. She went about among the wound.
ed blue coats like ministering angel
with face of pity and touch Of
gentleness, helping the living and
whispering words of comfort tc
the dying. On the second night she
was in camp she heard q voice behind
her: "Kizzie, is that you, or am
dreaming?" 1t was Basil Boynford
who spoke. The surgeons had ampu-
tated both his legs and his life hung or
q slender thread. Keziah bent down
and kissed him. From that moment he
began to grow stronger. When camp
broke up Keziah carried Basil over the
hills to her home, where she nursec
him until he was as we'll as he ever will
be in this world, then she drove will
him to his little farm and set his house
in order