The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-04-21

thing in the morning. 1t was won
der with many how Blakely came to
be in the spot where the tree struck
him down Certainly it was not on
his road home, and he had not been
to either of the shanties, since the
women or the chore boy would have
seen him.
There was something mysterious
about the affair, but the sad event was
soon forgotten and camp life In the
woods went on in its old, jolly, care
less fashion.
Snow soon came and the teams were
busy for several weeks hauling the
dogs to the river. When the maj
break came several millions of pine
logs were heaped against the high roll
way above the rolled waters of The
Muskegon, and one more act in the
forest drama must be performed ere
the logs were afioat in the stream.
The shanties were deserted for the
season. Black, glistening trails wound
their way through the woods where
once were the smooth roads over
which huge pyramids of pine had been
hauled during the cold months just
pated the ice and snow, and the rolled
MuskegOn flowed on unvexed to the
lake.
A wedding at Niger Bend was not
an everyday occurrence, and when one
was announced, the boys were on the
qui vive at once. Visions of ''horn-
ing bee" and plenty of liquor filled the
brains of the woodsmen. For once,
however, part of the programme was
destined not to take place. Tom Hol-
comb did not propose to submit TO a
''shivaree, so he publicly invited Mig
ger Bend to come to the wedding and
dance all night if they chose at his ex-
pense.
Since the young scaler was so liberal
no one thought of troubling him to
furnish refreshments of liquid nature.
Tom, however, understood what would
best suit the denizens of Niger Bend,
and so he had keg of beer on tap the
evening of the wedding and dance.
The marriage was performed by old
Squire Hawke, and May Andrews was
made Mrs. Tom Holcomb in short
order After the ceremony the fun COM
menced. People may talk and write
about an Old Virginia breakdown, but
for genuine boisterous jollity nothing
can equal these backwoods ''shin-digs, "
sopopular among the loggers and lum-
bermen a few years ago.
OF all the digs" ever held in Niger
Bend the one given by Tom Holcomb
the night he became Benedict was the
ne plus ultra.
Tom himself felt his oats, and danced
and drank with the merriest of them.
That wedding was one long remem-
bered in Niger Bend, so soon was ii
| followed by tragedy that sent a shud-
| der to all hearts. So boisterous did the
newly-wedded scaler become that more
than once the pretty bride demonstrated
with him.
Don't worry, May" returned Tom,
with his merry laugh. 81 mean to
lead sober, industrious life after to-
night. This is the last fun / will have
with the boys, you know; let me inn
prove it, there's dear"
May good-naturedly yielded, and the
consequence was the dance continued
until the gray streaks of dawn were
seen in the east With the stereotyped
81 wish you much joy" the woodsmen
departed, leaving Tom Holcomb alone
with his bride and Mrs. Andrews, for
be it remembered the party came off at
the widows house.
Il must leave you here for the pres
ent, May" said Tom. Il contracted
with the Wards tosbreak their big roll
way, and, as the men will be on this
morning, must GO at once to the roll
way. Twill be back tonight for sup
per-"
Kissing his new made wife, Tom
Holcomb hurried from the house. Was
May Holcomb happy Those who saw
her the night of the party believed that
she was. Nevertheless she was not
wholly free from haunting thoughts,
for the man who had met with death
in the autumn under falling tree had
held her plighted troth, and but for
that tragedy MAY would never have be-
come the wife of the scaler When
Sam Blakely left the woods to go 20
Niger Bend be was happy man. for
his prettycOuSin had promised to become
his wife some day. Sam was overjoyed.
since he had all along recognized in
the handsome Tom Holcomb formid-
able rival Sam had been six months
dead, and May was now the wife of
his handsome rival. So goes the
world, in wilderness. country or city,
and so it will doubtless 90 on forever
Night shadows were dropping.
Ten thousand frogs were singing
enough to split their Threats along the
bush-lined shores of the Muskegon,
and brothers of the same family were
tuning up in the water-holes at the
back of Niger Bend. when May Hol-
comb, in robe of spotless white, walked
out to the rude gate in front of the
widows house and looked anxiously
up the road.
Tom promised to be home to supper,
and 1t was past the usual supper hour
now, and he had not yet put in an APP