The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-05-28

cattle had been staked and won before
Emmett would consent to back down,
though every minute that he played was
sacrificing so much to his pride.
When ut last Emmet Withdrew it was
in mo half-hearted wax but with cor
dial manner and lac took Pats hand
and said:
-Eat, you are the best man, and am
glad to surrender tS such whole-souled
felLqw. and one who has done every
thing on the square; but the worst of it
is, I'suppose l must surrender Nellie, too
What can't be cured must be endured,
though, and the only consolation l
know is to seek some one else to fill the
aching void" And then he added: "a
don't want you 10 fix "a day for the we'd
ding until have chance to see you
again, us want TO make some arrange
ments that will be agreeable both to
You and to me. You are now the owner
of cattle enough TO make n cowman of
no mean pretensions, and we want to
keep on friendly terms. Still it seems a
little rough for me to have to fur
nish the bride and the settin' out too"
Pat deposited enough money with the
then walked home with Nellie.
Upon arriving at the Hitson home
stead they found Jesse had preceded
them, and the whole family was in an
uproar. The only one who espoused
Nellie's cause was her mother, and this,
too. contrary to the expectations OF Nell
lie and Pat. Fine Emmett they knew,
was considered too good catch to be
triAed away. But though the old lady
had showed disposition to see fair
play, she did not assent to the whole
transaction without an investigation,
and as the young couple entered she
said
''What does this mean, Nellp"
''It means that Pat and l have been
out walking" said the girl, somewhat
timidly.
How did you come to be walking to-
gether. PATTI"
Nellie helped me out of a bad scrape
and saved my life, so very naturally l
saw her home; moreover, we love each
other, and want you to consent to our
marriage"
"But Fine Emmett has the first claim
to her," said the old lady.
'.He has given it up fair and square
and says can have her." said Pat
THAT makes things look different"
said the old woman. "But what can a
poor cowboy like you do with a wife?
How can you take care of Nell, VINO has
always had all the ponies she wanted
to ride, and everything to her no
tionpn
II have 200 cattle and $1,000 in
money that won OF Fine Emmett to-
night" said he.
"Can you keep themP" the old wo-
man queried.
THAT l can, and get more all the
while"
"Wall, that looks like business, and
guess the old man and can get along
with it if you two can, and Fine feels as
you say about it. If he only wanted
Kate, now, you too could be partners,
and make q strong team on this range,
with the Hitsons to back you"
Kate, to whom the old woman had re-
ferred, was the older daughter, and,
though not possessed of as desirable
disposition as Nellie, had always been
jealous of Emmets attentions to her,
and as she listened it was evident that
the arrangement rather pleased her than
otherwise, and, unnoticed by the rest,
she glided out of tho house. Not many
minutes afterward she returned, accom-
panied by Fine Emmett. and in high
glee shouted:
Mother, Fine wants you to consent
for him to marry me, and we want
double wedding one week from to-
day"
AVAIL! this beats all the doings down
in Texas before the war;" said the dazed
old woman. "But you can't get mar
ried next week, or the week after, and
not until the east roundup gets back.
Then we will have the biggest time
there has been on this creek for twenty
years. With fiddles from Denver, and
man to keep sober and take care of the
guns, there shall be no limit to the en-
joyment, and you shall have q glorious
'send-off'