The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1885-10-15

| day before. and had feared the roam
might feel little stiff and sore nt start
ing. but when lie saw him come out G.
the stable with head up, apparently az
anxious as himself to be of, this fear
vanished, and he determined TO push
through the remaining forty miles with
out halting. But he found the roads
not so good o. he had anticipated.
He was now In part Of the foothills
| with which he was unacquainted. for
he no longer followed the road over
which he came the year before, but
struck across the country by q route
which left the old home off to tho left.
and threw him further up towards the
mountains. and when noon came he
was still from the best information he
could get. fully fifteen miles from John
Parsons shanty, and compassion for
his horse induced him TO stop at q ranch
er's for feed and rest; so that with this
delay and the trouble which he expe-
rienced in learning exactly where the
shanty was. even when within few
miles OF IL. the afternoon was we'll nigh
worn away when he reached the point
where the by-road which led 10 It
turned on from the main track; and
even then he was not certain Of this be-
ing the place.
He had stopped his horse and was
debating with himself whether to turn
of or follow the main road yet further.
when he saw coming around the spur
Of the mountain, and into the road over
which he had just passed, her for love
OF whom he had come, and the sight
sent all the blood in his body surging
to his heart, and for the moment he
could neither have spoken nor moved.
Evidently Lucy had not seen him
pass. and was not now aware Of his
presence.
She had gone to find the cows and
drive them home 10 be milked, and was
following along behind them as they
lazily moved homeward.
She was dressed as Erastus had seen
her oftenest in the olden time, in 0
light print dress and sun-bonpet In
her hand she carried little crooked
stick, which she had picked up TO drive
the COWS with. but was paying very lit
tie attention TO them. Instead she was
gazing off upon the hills which
stretched away and away, one above
anotheI until they became snow
capped peaks that in the light Of the
falling sun looked like amethysts set
into the cerulean blue Of the heavens.
Had not the cows paused at sight Of
| the man and horse standing in their
path she might have reached his side
before becoming aware of his presence,
but when tho COWS stopped and stood
with their great eyes staring with the
least bit OF surprise at what was not
vcry common sight to them in their
mountain pastures, she raised her stick
and bid them "go-long." Then seeing
for the first time gentleman standing
by the roadside holding his horse by
the bride. shelblushed a little beneath
her sun bonnet, and dropping her eyes,
followed closely after the cows, which
had again lazily taken up their line Of
march.
The blush which suffused her checks
was not. however, owing to her having
recognized the horseman. for she had
not done so. She had only glanced at
him and then dropped her eyes with .
feeling OF embarrassment for she sell
dom met gentlemen now. and however
much poets may sing the charms OF
milkmaids in calico dresses, they will
never be able to convince any member
OF the sex that they look their best in
that role, any more than can be taken
from them their womanly desire TO ap-
pear well in the eyes of the opposite
sex, even though he be an entire
stranger, as she supposed this one to be
who stood waiting for her approach,
presumably that lie might inquire the
way to some neigboring rancher' 8
shanty, or possibly IL her parents would
| entertain him for the night.
| When within few PAGES she raised
her eyes and turned her face towards
him.
As she did so he spoke her name and
took step towards her
"Lucy!n
She stopped suddenly and the little
crooked stick fell TO the ground while
| both hands went to her face pushing
back the sun-bonnet
Lucy, don't you knowme! I've come
all the way back to see you; started the
moment got your fathers let--that Is
the MOI ent iearneu you "oic ny. ~
ing to m.-ry Mr.. Annelsey. love
you. LucyA,ove you better than any
body or anything in all the world
have always lived you ever since We
| were children together, and want you
to be my wife. "
L And She only said: .Oh,' Res" and
put her hands TO her face and began W
| cry.
"Lucy, Lucy. can't you love mee'
pleaded her lover. II know anu NOT
rich like HEiwas. but I'll love you al;
ways, love you better, it seems % me,
than anybody else can love you. Can
you love me, Lucyp"
She put out one little sunburned hand
and laid iti on his arm. With the other
she continued to hide her face.
"Oh, 'Ras," she sobbed. "I-l-do
love you; ! always d-did, but l though
father wa wanted me to m'rry
HIM, and that you loved Julia En- us,
and then didn't care. Oh, 'Ras, I'm
so glad you've come. !,
! And she buried her face on his shoui-
der.
fro BE Continued
The records that remain 10 US Of
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