The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1885-10-15
FERGUSON NEYduMm LAWRENCE Co.kY~ OCTOBER

a clean breast OF the whole affair by n
lingering fear that Uncle john might
be mistaken.
II was really very hard for him TO
keep from telling. Mr.. and Mrs. John
son were the best friends be had here
at the Slough, and he knew they
thought q good deal Of him, and he
wanted 10 tell them what lovely girl
Lucy was, but could not quite bring
himself TO do so even when Mrs. john
son remarked. as she fixed his necktie.
that she supposed he would soon have
some one else 10 do it for him now. +"
and so he left them wholly in doubt.
and mounting the roam. rode away in
the direction OF the foothills Of the
Sierras.
He curbed his own impatience and
tho desire OF the spirited roam at the
start, well knowing that time would be
lost and not -gained by fast riding for
the first hour or two.
The sun had long since set when,
having put thirty-five miles between
himself and his starting-placc. he die,
mounted, tethered his animal In spot
Of wild oats alittle off the road, rubbed
him down with dry leaves and grass,
and rolling himself in . blanket lay
down upon tho ground
II his body was weary he- was not
aware of il, for his heart was filed
with the sweetest hopes; and what sus-
tains the physical powers like hopeP
As he lay looking up at the stars, and
watching the full moon coming slowly
up from behind the distant hills and
climbing a sky that had not known a
cloud for weeks and weeks. he recalled
every incident OF his life from the time
when Mr.. and Mrs. Parsons had taken
him. poor. outcast boy, to their home
and their hearts
He thought upon every act Of Lucy's
which appeared in any degree TO indi-
cate her feelings toward himself. and
tried TO place one against another, the
unfavorable against the favorable. in
such n way as 70 enable him to strike a
balance and determine Just what his
chances were But in this he was con-
scious Of failing, for there were many
little instances acts or words-the
meaning Of which he was utterly un.
able 10 determine. which he yet felt GER
tain had meaning II only he knew
upon which side OF his love account to
place them. Besides, IL was so very
pleasant TO fancy that the favorable
ones outnumbered the others, if indeed
there wero any Others, that he could
not avoid going OF into blissful waking
dreams Of the future, when he should
have got his place at the Slough irri-
gated. and set in fruits, and have q cot
tagc built
He would have cottage just like the
one in the foothills. where they had all
spent SO many pleasant days. he
thought; the cottage now abandoned
and going to decay. Lucy would be by
his side always, and Uncle John and
Aunt Martha should bring Johnny and
I've with them, their honored and be.
loved guests. and all the misunder-
standings and suffering OF tho past
should be forgotten.
And thus he lay and drew bright pict-
ures Of sweet days to come, until from
waking dreams he passed TO dreams
which came in sleep, but they did moi
greatly differ from zach other; the
music and the words were Just the
same were love and Lucy; love and
Lucy. Eo
Although the sun was not yet up,
there was no dew upon his blanket oil
in his hair when he awoke In the morn
ing; for dew seldom falls In this por-
tion of California during the dry season.
The roam horse had risen from bis
bed in the tall oats, and had stretched
himself and begun sgain to eat of the
rich herbage.
Erastus led him to drink at creek
which they had crossed but little way
back the night before. again rubbed
him down, and leaving him eating,
walked TO rancher's shanty, a quarter
Of a mile away, in quest of his own
breakfast.
He found the family just sitting
down 10 their own meal. explained Ia
them that he had ridden late the
night before and had camped out.
and was given cordial invitation to
draw chair up to the table and help
himself, which he very promptly did.
Breakfast eaten. he offered to pay,
but was refused; gave thanks inste nd
OF money, and hurrying back TO Che
place where he had left his horse,
fastened his blanket to his saddle,
placed both upon the roam, and mount
ing, resumed his journey.
just before noon he stopped at Q
little town, put up at the hotel, fed
and rubbed down his steed. got his
own dinner; and did not mount again
until the greatest heat of the day was