Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-04-11

oSOppcu 10 snake nHnuS Win the COOK,
who was alone in the cabin. He gave
Jared his hand and. said earnestly,
while tears gathered in his eyes:
God bless you, Mr. Hale! You've
treated me like q gintleman, you have;
l hope you'll be happy-happicr'n I
was in my married life."
"You?' said Jared. Il didn't s'pose
you'd ever BEEN married."
mo. I reckon not. I don't look
like a ladies' man. wa mt one. I'd
ort never to have married, an l don't
know as blame my wife so much for
--for-leavin' me-"
There were tears ON his grizzled
cheeks now.
YES" he said, ':she left me. She
want only seventeen when I coaxed
her to marry me, an girl like that
don't know her own mind. I'd ortn't
to have coaxed her into marryin' me.
Then, fore we'd been married a year
got the mimi craze and came off
out here expectin' to send for her; but,
Lord. what sort of u country was this
to bring her to! / wouldn't do it!
An swore I'd never 20 back til I'd
made her rich. fool that was! After
six years l did strike it rich, an i
went back with fifty thousand in
my pocket only to find--to find
my God! my God!-she'd left me?
She'd got divorce; but it want no
fair divorce. I'd never had no notice
served on me. an Pm her husband
yit, boss, an she's my wife in the
sight of God.
Il hadn't heard very regular from
her. me strayin' round like I was, an
these mountain mails so uncertain; but
l never dremp of her dom such a
thing: lspent Il sight O my money
tryin' to find her, but I never did.
Nobody knowcd where she'd gone.
The rest of the money l fooled away
in one way an another. l didn't
care. 1don't care yit. Money want
nothin' without her,"
Poor fcllow,'' said Jared. kindly,
''she wasn't worthy of you, Jasper; but
[ am so sorry for you. when I am 80
very, very happy"
1T makes me happy to see you"
sad the cook, "'ll be glad to take
your lady's hand an wish you both
everlastin' joy and peace
The old cabin walls we're almost {
solid mass of evergrecns and bright"
hued mountain flowers when the boys
had made it ready for the boss and his
bride. The long table was covered
with a snowy cloth, and Jasper had
spread himself in the preparation
of the wedding feast. He was the last
to 60 to his lictle room in the rear of
the cabin to ''spruce up bit" The
other men were already in holiday at
tire. Some of them had flowers in
| their button-holes. and Lanky Sim
even sported black kid gloves in spite
of the glbes and jokes of his comrades.
The bridal party entered while the
cook was still in his little room. He
| heard Jareds exclamation of pleased
surprise and murmur OF women s
| voices praising his work. 1t was time
for him to hurry out and serve the
coffee. He opened the door softly and
looked full in the face Of the bride.
Then he stepped quickly back into the
little room with an ashen face and
both hands clutching 1T his wildly
beating heart. A moment later he
was lying, face downward, on the
earthen floor of the cabin, his hand
claspcd to his head, his white lips
moving. but no words came from them.
Scotty Sharp found HIM so a few mo-
ments later, when he hurried in to tell
him that the bride had asked to be in
troduced to him.
whats up?' asked Scotty, briefly.
Great heavens, man, you dying9' he
said as he lifted Jasper's CHASTITY face
from the cold ground.
'No-no-yes-I Aope So" he said
in a frightened whisper "1-Tm
sick, can't go out; you BOYS III have
to do the rest. ILL., his white lips
and his great dark eyes closed softly.
Here you, Lanky-boys!'' cried
Scotty. sharply. and the men came
hurrying in; they lifted him to his
bunk. he opened his eyes and said,
still in a whisper:
Don't let me spoil the fun, boys.
Let me alone, Pm all right. Don''
mind me-"
Jared Hale pushed his way through
the crowd around the bunk.
"Why. Jasper old fellow" he said,
chceriIy. whats gone wrong with
you? This is too bad. Can't I do
something for you?'
No. no. let me alone, please" he
pleaded. DO 60 on with your din.
ner"
They slowly and unwillingly left him
by himself. Jared was the last to
leave the room. Jasper made sign
for him to remain.
'Your-your-w wife, he said, with
a gasping effort, Il would like to see
your-your-her alone. for just a
minute. Iwant to tell her something
about-my wife,
Poor fcllow!' said J AIRED to him.
self. II guess he's out of his head, but
I'll humor him just the same. The