The semi-weekly miner., 1885-07-29

4 L.
II He seemed to take little interest in tn
farm work He would harness the horses
plow few burrows, and then stand in
helpless attitude. looking towards D.
He would wander down to the road to as
passers if they had letter for him. an
then would sit outside the kitchen door. hi
e face hidden in his hands. George, playin
o near by, would try to comfort him in hi
. loving baby way.
= One day, however. a man came up o.
= horseback He tossed me a letter-Iv
hated yellow envelopes ever since-fo
8 grandpa, who was down the field with hi
J. team; it was such a sunny March day, l
gave him new life for his work
l could not bear to take it, SO l pu
Georges sunbonnet on him, and pinnet
the letter to his frock, and with a big cooks
| in his hand, sent him down to .'danpa.
, They came back later, hand in hand, th'
! | tame old horses following. Grandpa
!. hurried past me into his chamber and shut
| the door His face was asb-colored, hi
eyes bloodshot. l waited a long time;
feared he might be dead, SO raped on thu
|, door. He opened it; he was dressed In his
worn black broadcloth suit, with his old
fashioned high collar. l remembered then
it was the first time had ever seen him
wear white shirt He held an old beaver
hat in his hand and was absently brushing
the nap with his sleeve.
'.It's come, dear. That, I'm goin' ter
D. III try if he won't wait till fall.
I'll work hard. Maybe the cropsll do sum-
mat. I'll sell the stock"-those old horses
were SO dear to himl ''No, don't kiss me,
dear; it I'D break me down. Ive Jest
found ont I'm weak old man. L never
felt it afore.''
He staggered out to the barn. followed
him.
Il mayn't be back for two days or so.
| VIII you be afeered2''
s.No," said, but was / helped him
into the wagon. He seemed dazed and half
blinded by his misfortune. Oh, if l could
help him. / did the work faithfully when
| he was gone, driving the cows and milking
them. and taking care of the house and
| George and the poultry.
| The next day band OF Indians-ten or
twelye-rode up to the cabin. was fright
ened. but met them as coolly as # l had
plenty to protect me. George, i'll wild
alarm, hid under the bed. The Indians
seemed kind, and only wanted a drink OF
milk. There were four squaws among them.
with kind, bright eyes; one gave me neck.
lace Of beads as they rode off.
Shortly afterwards Mr.. Little and Tom
Gray rode up in haste, their horses white
with foam.
Bessie" shouted Mr.. Little, as he came
up over the hill. ''Is she here Have you
seen her."
Not for week. said. HAS anything
happened?''
''She went to ride yesterday afternoon,
and hasn't returned yet, nor has she been
seen. We hoped she was here"
''She hasn't BEEN
They looked white and scared. Mr.. Lit |
tie seemed to have aged in a night.
There was band of Indians here said |
Gray; ''they may have taken her, |
told them OF the Indians visit, and |
thought it improbable, as they seemed SO
kindly disposed; but they rode off, follow
ing the trail.
That night was more dreadful than the |
first. and the dog seemed frenzied over the |
coyotes, who yelled till morning, and l cried |
myself into Mysteries and frightened poor |
little George, who satupin bed and scream |
ed the "kiyos were eating his dirl." He al |
ways called Miss Bessie his 'dirl
The next morning number OF people |
came up, they were hunting for Bessie. The |
whole neighborhood was searched.
| could not leave home, but George and |
/ walked over the ranch, looking in every |
hole, and wistfully across the plains. Our |
turkey-gObbler, my pet and the pride Of my /
poultry-yard, joined in the procession. |
Smarty chased him, and Gobble flew over |
the wire fence and rushed down the hill, |
through valley across the road, and saw |
the two mere specks tearingup the hill near |
the well.
'HelI kill Gobbler' | shouted, seizing |
Georges hand, and we rushed after them, |
George crying at the top of his lungs and |
being winded at every step. At last took |
him on my back and finished the race with |
d heavy burden.
At the foot Of the hill was the well, and |
there Gobble stood, scolding and shaking |
his red neck, while Smarty seemed to have |
forgotten his very existence, but was run |
ming around the well, uttering short quick |
barks. |
The planks around and over the well !
were gone, and the earth about it was |
ploughed as if there had been a struggle. l |
dropped Georgies hand and rushed down. !
1t was dark, but fancietl saw something |
white away down. Just then a faint voice |
fromthe depths OF the earth shouted
"Help! help!'
'I'm Charley Boyd. Who's here? Shout
again.
Bessie Little. My horse fell; he's dead,
away down. I'm clinging to plank in the
side. can't hold on much longer. My
arms are breaking"
What could do?
Bessie" | shouted, 'hold on a little |
while; I'm going for help!
I've been unconscious. I'm faint. |
shall die. Don't leave me. The dirt falling
brought me TO life
'I'll leave George here. Here George,
your dirl is in that hole; sit there and talk
to her. Don't you cry"
Georgie's lip trembled, but he minded |
bravely, pleading the dog should stay, but /
was afraid to trust him. "Gobble tay wifi
Dorgie,'' he said, piteous!!y !!y; but that saga
cious bird was already winying and hopping
his way homeward. l left Bessie answering
Georgies scared 'Halloo!'
''If she could keep conscious till l got
back! Howl thanked grandpa for his care
ful habits. | knew just where the new
clothesline was, the crowbar and the hatch
ct. We were eight miles from any ranch,
and must act as if there was no one in the
world to help her.
How | got back | never knew. saw
George from the top of the hill. He had
singing little baby song had taught him.
His cheeks were red and feverish and his
voice hOarse.
"Bessie!" shouted.
''All right. George kept me from faint
ing. | made him sing"
dit dirl out! dit dirl OUT" George
screamed, clinging to my skirts. l pushed
him away; there was no time pet orcom-
Tort him.
y, |
now halloo for help. Yes, take the dog
Tell everybody your girl is in Byers Well"
l knew his white, tear-wet face would
bring the most unbeieving stranger and |
watched his chubby form, in the bright I .
plaid dress, and the painting dog disappear
over the hill All the while was digging IL
leep hole with the hatChet, and scooping
+he earth out with my hands, and shouting
Every few moments to Bessie. buried the
half way, then l tried my weight;
t did not move. had seen men wind lines j..
around II post to raise heavy objects.
"Put this moose around your waist!"
shouted.
81 dare not" she answered family. "You ,
couldn't help me. Oh, 60 for helpn' +
You must. The end's fast to Il crowbar.
can't find anybody. They're all hunting
or you"
81 can'tn' she cried piteously
'"Then I'll leave your shouted "lt's
getting late; it's your last chance.' y
There was a CHASTITY stiffness for a few
! wound the line around the bar
md around my waist.