Arkansas weekly mansion., 1885-11-21

SS~n &. S,Sa.s SS%ss, nj toll you about It, i'' ID
"Oh, 6sth,S sobbed Drusy, ~ have been
wrong, too. wasn't half SO patient n,
forbearlny as ! ought 70 have been. laio
up things against you that ought 70 nave
forgot. Forgive me-"
H smiled, holding her hand with faint
pressure, then closed his Dyes weakly and
seemed 10 be sleeping.
Drusy choked down her sobs and watched
him almost brsathlessly. His breath grew
fainter and fainter; be was quiet now and
The wind died away. The dawn
marched, like some still procession, carry
ing nicksring torches, into the woods.
Tiny shafts Of dame shot through the
dark pine branches. There was . ous.ie she
and rustic o. Of light, hurrying feet Inc
clear clarion Of the cocks sounded from
distant cleArings. And with the first rays
Of the sun the soul of the sick man de-
parted into the Unknown.
saint there nolhin' / kin do fur We
'baout the funeril, Dlusy, or kerryln' news
tew the mournersr' said Barker, as he was
about to leave her at tho do,r OF the
"tahysrn," toward noon Of the same day.
q brother; but his folks viii attend TO all
these things. Tue DOCTORS notified then
already. His father and two brothers are
living down to Grsenbush.n
"Then III bid you goodbye. doh,,
know when | shell see ys ng'in, Drusy;;',
Fastening back to his own camp, he told
the overseer that he must find another man
to take his place In the gang; and, anotner
being at hand who was ready to take u, he
started the very next morning on his way
down the frozen Penobscot.
~ must put good many moron hfteen
miles bstwee en- us, or lcan't stan II, "Le SAID
to himself. "She'll marry Rsubl ina year
or tew, N I won't never see hsr face gin.
warn't never uperstitionei atore, Dut
when we was a-playin' them caris in ina,
bla sed old camp | felt how Twas AZ,
a-goin' lew turn eou', as plain as A b o."
Four years passed away. Lake and
river were unlocked by tho spring rains
and sunshine, and then locked again by
the winter frosts. Axes rang in the pine
wood ., great logs went floating down the
stream. Life at tho settlem,n logged on
in the same old fashion. The lumbermen
came out Of the woods and hrtei and
frol ,cked with the girls and sai about the
"tahvorn" lre In tho long ovenings Inc
few festivals were carried on with tho
il was bright afternoon. Drusy, who
was still the hirnd girl at tho tavern,
In spite OF the "litt'e property" her hns'
kitchen, sitting pensively before tn, glow.
ing stovs. She was little changed, save
for a shade mors OF salness In hor eyes
and somewhat fainter and more flicker
ing fire upon her che k
Lost In thought, she did not heed the
sleigh.bells which came tinhling up 70 tho
door, and q tall man, very much mufilei IN
furs, had entered the house unawares anu
stood beside her chair.
"Oh. John, how glad am that you have
come!" she exclaimed, meeting his honest,
ugly smile. Aud she sprang from her
seat with boil hands outstrotched toward
him, glad light overspreadin< her who,e
face. "Where have you been all this
time" 80, j.,
"Daown.rlver.. keepin' store. M !
shoul Init never "a come back, Drusy, only
beard haow you wouldn't hev Reube, m
he'd gone back m merried Hcnrietiy
When heard that | says tow myself,
'Naow III go up ~ try my hand,
though 'tain't likely she'll hey enytbing
favorable tcw say tew gfc't, rough, hulk.
in Teller like me-, Tell me, Drusy, could
ycou ever think o hsvin' ,meV
"Could ovcry Why, would have had
you before, John, II you'd takcn tho lroubls
TO come up m ask mo-"
"Gfeat Jupiter tow hoar yoou say thet "
he exclaimed, tn owing his arms about hef
In a perfect rapture OF joy.
AMI just then whom should fate send
upon the scene but Reabe Wotherbccl H
came in unobserved by the ABSORBED lovers,
and stood gazing upon them with white
face aud flushing eyes.
"Reuhe, four years ago, as p'i'aps you'll
romember, | played a game, m lost. Nov
I've been a.try n' my hand aI'in, M won"
said John, who turned suddenly aud saw
him there.
$50 should suppose" said Route, With
a great effort to bo hearty aud friendly a.
well as unconcofnoi. And reckon 'iwill
he a wcdilng this tim instcal of a
dance" ."-iSasin Hartley Sctii, IN Lfppii'
roft's M1g1sipe.