Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-04-04

No one ssw him sftsr hs left tho BEND
until Shortyb discovery Of his body Nm
der the pine top. Tho tree had beer
felled Just at dark, and the choppers haf
left it, expecting to top and measure tn
same the first thing in the morning. i
was wonder With many how Blakel5
came to be in the spot where the tret
struck him down. Certainly it was no
on his road home, and he had not beer
to either of theshantiee, since the womer
or the chore boy would have seen him
There was something mysterious about
the affair, but the sad event was sooI
forgotten and camp life in the woods
went on in its old, jolly, careless fashion
Snow soon came and the teams were
busy for several weeks hauling the log
to the river. When the final break came
several millions of pine logs were heaped
against the high rollway above the rolled
waters of the Muskegon, and one more
act in the forest drama must be perform.
ed ere the logs were afoat in the stream
The shanties were deserted for the sea-
son. Black. glistening trails wound
their way through the woods where once
were the smooth roads over which huge
pyramids of pine had been hauled dur
! ing the cold months just passed.
April sunshine rapidly dissipated 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 we're on the qui
vive at once. Visions of a morning bee''
and plenty of liquor filled the brains of
the woOdsmen. For once, however, a
part of the programme was destined not
to take place. Tom Holcome did not
propose to submit to "shivaree," so he
publicly invited Niger Bend to come to
the wedding and dance if they chose at
his expense.
Since the young scaler was so liberal
no one thought of troubling him to fur
nish refreshments of liquid nature.
Tom, however, understood what would
best suit the denizens of Niger Bend,
and 80 he had key 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 commenced.
People may talk and write about an Old
Virginia break down, but for genuine,
boisterous jollity nothing can equal these
backwoods "shin digs" so popular
among the loggers and lumbermen 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 ne
plus ultra.
Tom himself felt his oats, and danced
and drank with the merriest of them.
That wedding was one long remembered
in Niger Bend, 80 soon was it followed
by tragedy that sent a shudder to all
hearts. So boisterous did the newly
welded scaler become that more than
once the pretty bride demonstrated with
him.
Don't worry, May" returned Tom,
with his merry laugh. II mean to lead
a sober, industrious life after to. night.
This is the last fun will have with the
boys, you know; let me improve. 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 II
wish you much joy" the woodsmen de-
parted, leaving Tom Holcomb alone with
his bride and Mrs. Andrews, for be it re-
membered the party came off at the
widows house.
81 must leave you here for the present,
May" said Tom. 81 contracted with the
Wards to break their big rollway, and,
as the men will be on this morning, 1
must 60 al. once to the rollway. I will be
hon oh To inhf RI
Kissing his new-made wife, Tom Hol-
comb 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 become
the wife of the scaler. When Sam Blake.
ly left the woods to 60 to Niger Bend
he was a happy man, for bis pretty
cousin had promised to become his wife
some day. Sam was overjoyed, since he
had all along recognized in the hand
some Tom Holcomb formidable 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 60 on for
ever.
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 Holcomb, 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 it was past the usual supper hour
now, and he had not yet put IN an. ap-
pearance. 1t was the first evening of
her welded life, and the bride was
anxious for the comingof her husband.
Long she stood watching different forms
as they came and went down the one
street.
There was a big break up to the roll
way an hour ago." said a man to his COM
panion as the twain passed the anxious
watcher at the gate.
that's Tom Holcomb's rollway?"
eyes. It's one of the worst places out.
He don't get enough for the work. Its
q mighty dangerous place, too.
The men passed out of hearing, and
still May fingered. The shadows deep
ened into intense darkness. May was
on the point of turning, when light