The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-11-04
"DOING BETTER"
PART l.

PAR l..
"You say you love me-
"Isn't that saying a good dear?"
"well, l suppose the same thing has been
| said to a good many other girls before my
! day. In fact, others have said as much to
me and they didn't take away my breath.
l know we've been keeping company for a
| long time and 1 like you the best OF my
| beaux, but l don't see much use OF talking
| about love when people are situated as we
are"
The speaker was a handsome girl OF a GER
| tain type. She had coal black eyes that a
| critic OF feminine beauty might regard as a
| trife near together, and they looked upon
| her companion not unkindly. There was an
| absence, however, of the gentle ardor and
| eager hope that gave animation to his ex-
preston. Indeed, his whole appearance
| was in marked contrast to hers. OF Ger
| man descent, he had many CHARACTERISTIC
of his race. He was a tall, broad-shoul
dered, long-limbed young fellow, with tawny
hair and beard, and his full blue eyes indi-
Gated a %sanguine and emotional nature.
| Her dark beauty had enchanted him utter
": the very GOODNESS OF her self-pOised
! spirit combined with the freedom she per-
mitted his lover-like attentions had in
cited him to press his suit to a promise
of speedy marriage. She had an
cepted his preference with pleasure and not
a little pride, for Stein Weldon was a fine
looking youth OF good. steady habits. His
downright wooing and ardent glances
quickened her pulse and gave a sense OF
power of which she was not conscious in
the society of the other young men in the
western village. But she had never forgot
tensile did not forget now when under the
shadow OF a tree at which she had kept her
trust, and he passed his arm around her
unrebuked-that Stein was poor, and that
his big strong hands were about all the cap
ital he possessed. Her orldly-wise mother,
the wife OF a small farmer, had often told
| her that she might do better" and the girl
had not been unmindful Of the suggestion.
| Her chance to do better and at the same
time please her fancy had not yet presented
| itself; meanwhile a suffer like Stein, who
clasped her unresisting, yet unyielding
form, was an agreeable possession-one
which, in that rather remote settlement, no
girl OF spirit would be without.
And Stein did please her fancy. Although
poor he had received a fair education at
the public schools. His appearance and
previous history gave weight to his words
as he said.
II know what o are thinking about
that I've a very few dollars and not an
acre with which to bless myself; but then,
Annette, l nave a warm heart that 5 all
your own, plenty OF courage and muscle
and a pair OF hands-look at 'em-that are
liable to take care OF any woman. Give me
a little time and see if | can't make a home
for US both-a good one, too. Let it be a
sure fact that you'll be my wife and IN put
out and show that l can do as much for
you as any man in Edgeville."
"Well, STEM" said the girl, with a slight
depreciatory laugh, you have been propos-
ing to me off and on for some months past;
now I have a proposal to make. Father
and | had a talk the other day. OF course
he saw how things were going on and knows
that we can't begin like birds in the first
tree that strikes their fancy. He has a lot
OF land ten miles west OF us, and he says
he'll give me a hundred acres OF it as my
share and that he might as well give it to
me now as when he dies. It's all III heavy
timber, but the best OF that would sell for
a good bit. You asked me to look at your
hands. They are surely big enough to do a
good deal. Suppose you put your hands
against my land, clear a part OF it uild u
cabin that will do to begin with, and SO be-
tween us we'll have a farm that's worth
something"
Stein threw up his hat as he exclaimed:
That's the best bargain l ever heard OLA
hundred acres, the best Lighthouse in the
West, and the handsomest girl OF Edgeville
to put into it. l accept at once and seal
the compact" and his kisses were SO warm
and many that her lace grew rosy as she
laughingly broke away from him.
Pm sensible enough" she said, ito take
a fairer view of the matter. There's no
crest call for land out there and father
couldn't sell the hundred acres for as much
as one village lot would bring. Any n
can tell you that the property will be worth
twice a much with a house and clearing.
Some might say | was getting the best OF
the bargain, for you'll have to go out there
and work alone a good part OF a year, may
be longer"
"Not longer, Annette. It's now the last
OF May. In a week / shall be ready to start.
l have about 5000 on hand and I'll put
them in the house. 1t won't cost me much
to live, and" stretching out his right arm,
''feel that muscle. You can know from
Love and a light heart will insure heavy
blows and plenty OF 'em, especially when [
think that every one is for your happiness
and mine. Your proposal is exactly to my
mind, for it enables nae to turn my strength
to account Immediately, and no time will
be lost in looking for a chance"
Preliminaries need not be dwelt upon.
Within a week Stein was in the forest con-
structing a summer shelter between two
tall pines. Mr.. Warwick, Annett's father,
had been over the ground with the young
man and blazed out the tract allotted to
his daughter; therefore the way was clear
for muscle and love to cowork together
with all the ardor incident to sanguine
youth, A wagon had brought out through
the lonely wood road some rough lumber,
coarse provisions and cooking utensils.
Stein meant that his rifle should supply
the daintier elements o. his fare.
On one side of the tract the ground rose
gently toward the north, Inc on this slope
Stein decided that the cabin OF his dream
should be built. In that region the trees
were left untouched for the present, for he
proposed to thin them out gradually, with
q careful eye to both shade and beauty.
TO the southwark, where the land was
tive clearing and set to work with a steady
good will. The trees fit for lumber were
marked and were to be left standing for a
time. The others were so cut as to fall to-
gether and form natural heaps, boughs and
boles crushing into a great inextricable
mass. The sunshine, for the first time PEN
e~trating the dim forest, fell upon these tan
gled piles and made them ready for the
torch. In that remote region ordinary
wood, SO far from having a value, was an
incumbrance that must be removed in the
speediest possible way.
What is accomplished under ordinary cir
cumstances and what may be are two very
different things. From time to time, dur
ing the summer and fall, Annette and her
father came out to note STEMS progress
and they were astonished at the wonders
he had wrought. Annette observed one
thing also-that her lover was growing
rugged and unkempt, "a wild man OF the
woods" as the half-consciously phrased it
in her mind.
He made few visits to the village. Time
was too valuable to him, and he would not
spend money on clothing that might have
made him more presentable. In his honest,
loving heart he believed that vigorous
strokes of the axe would do more to secure
the girl and happiness than aid from barber
or tailor. She had told him that she could
see the smoke OF his fires by day and the
ruddy reflected glow by night, and he had
replied that these must he the symbols OF
the steady flame in his heart and must keep
the fire burning in hers.
BY fall several acres had been cleared, and
there he began to construct thecabin which