The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-02-18

whar we set now. Felix, an they set an
listened to Their ceaseless gaspin of Their
water way down thar fer long while
in silence. He looked at her finally
with an expression of sad disappoint-
ment He heG been pleadin' with her
to be his wife, an while she did not re-
fuse, she would not give her consent.
She he'd never told him tibet she loved
him, but her preference fer him showed
it, an it give him hope. No one he'd
ever stirred Their love in her heart afore.
an she struggled hard against yieidin'
to Their feelin. In her soul she must
hev vearned ter be his, but she would
not let him see Their truth.
"She set on her boss ez silent an
motionless ez a statue. fer q long time,
an he looked at her beseechingly, an
with all his passionate love in his eyes.
Suddenly she seemed ter be possessed
of desire ter test his love, an ter see
how much power she he'd over i'm. To
think war ter act with her, and turnin'
her beautiful face up to his, she says:
"'Do yer really love me, dear Luke?'
Her words an her tones made him
wild with love fer her.
81 swear by Their heavens above, l
worship youn he cried, catchin' her
arm an deYourin' her with his love-lit
eyes.
81 am goin' ter test yer Affection
she says:
"Tll die fer you, Nancy he replied.
Only tell me how kin prove my love-
"She didn't withdraw her arm, but
looked i'm straight in ther face.
"'You hev boasted tibet you ride one
of the best bosses in Their Territory
she says; ride i'm across Purgatory,
bring me tibet little bunch of ycller-
jackets over thar. an will kiss you
an name the day
"He was ridin' fine boss, one he
was moren proud Of He only waited
ter give her long look, and then he
spurred his boss for ard
"Mebbe she he'd thought e wouldn't
try it, er tibet Their animal wouldn't
jump over; but she war mistaken if she
he'd. Ez he neared Their edge she
| seemed ter realize what she war dom
-sendin' Their man she loved more'n
any bein' on earth inter horrible dan
ger-an' she called him ter come back.
80, Luke! don't gon
"But it was too late. The boss from
Golden Ranch was no common one.
but one of the fiery, fearless kind. and
when he felt the cruel spurs sink inter
his sides he give u wild snort of pain
and sprung inter Their air a.fyin' over
Purgatory, safe to Their other side.
Luke plucked ther Yellow jackets,
kissed 'em an waved 'em to her, an
then remountin' he again urged his
steed ter leap Their terrible chasm. Hoss
an rider hung fer q mint in Their air.
1t was awful-it was awful You kin
hev no idea of what it war, Felix. Their
boss failed to clear the chasm this time.
His forefeet struck the edge, an fer
mint he struggled ter gain a footin'
then his hoofs slipped off Their rocks,
an, with cry that was almost human,
he fell breakdown, down, down, car
r7iti his rider III q the darn an terrible
depths below
Poor Nancy! Fer long weeks she
laid on her bed with rackin' fever,
ravin' in delirium, an livin' over an
over again tibet fearful scene. She
never was conscious long enough ter
be made ter understand tibet her lover
still liyed-thet by falling on Their
body of his boss he he'd escaped
alive, though he was terribly
wounded. He never was able ter
leave his bed ter see Nancy an she
wouldn't hev knowed i'm eff he ned. 1t
was long months afore ther fever left
her, an then she he'd lost her reason
forever But ther good Lord took
mercy on her, an afore ther warm
breezes war blowin' again she he'd been
laid hyer ter rest. Thet's her grave,
Felix.
"They call me Old Hopeless an
say I'm crazy. They're not fer wrong,
You've guessed it, Felix-rm Luke
Golden. rode fine boss down to
death at ther bottom of Purgatory, fer
Nancy's love. l couldn't set up fer
over year after Their terrible fall, an
you see how hev been ever since-a
hunchback, Felix, one of the wust
lookin' critters on ther face of ther
earth.
1--WE never been back to thcr ranch.
They give me some money fer it, |
don't know how much, an | hev
stayed around hyer whar' she used ter
be. III die before long, Felix, an they
will bury me hyer at Purgatory. beside
Nancy. Poor Nancy"-Artbur C. Girls
som, in Yankee Blade.