Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-03-30
SAL AND PETE.

stopped.
Sal he'd been to the store and post
Office at Deer Greek, and was in big
hurry to reach home, because she
carried q huge envelope directed to
her father, and possessed all the ma
tura1 curiosity of h.r sex.
Her way led down the m ountain
trail to the distant valley where nes-
tied the little shanty on her fathers
claim.
The claim was poor one, and
Sal's life had known nothing but
hardsbips and trials. What mattered
a snowy tramp down the mountain
side to her? She was not afraid OF
either bears or Indians, having been
surrounded by them q good part of
her life.
She was twenty now, sturdy bor-
der lass, and since her mothers
death had been her fathers house.
keeper, and the small frv at home
looked up to her with all the respect
due a mother.
Suddenly out in her path strobe q
man dressed as hunter. a very fine
specimen altogether of the hardy
mountaineer.
"Sal. I've been waitin for you"
"Have you?" said the girl, in a
careless, independent tone. II don't
think there was any special need
I've been over these roads often
enough to know 'em"
"But, Sal, 1 wanted to see you
particularly. You know very well
what | want what I've waited fol
so long, and DOW"
"Pshaw! You've only known me
two years; dreadful while you've
waited"
"Thunderin' long to me. when
everything is ready. and there amt
a bit of sense in you're clingin' tc
your father so. 'Taint 'cordin' tc
Scripture, no how"
Seems to me you forget about the
Honor your father and mother.
Pete, don't You? What's the odds
if you do! | know that father can't
spare me yet awhile. Poor father!'
"Oh, yes. all yer's pity's spent on
the old man." growled Pete. "It's
always to be- 80. | reckon How many
years do you calkilate will let you
off, Sal?"
81 don't know, not until the little
ten year old Mary can take my place
about eight years, 1 low"
Great Scott! We'll both be deaC
before that time"
maybe so," said Sal. carelessly
"You amt got no heart, 'talI!'
exclaimed her lover, angrily You're
jist like flint. Reckon I'd better
look up another girl"
SAILS face was turned toward home
aud away from him. She grew a
little paler. but in the snow Pete
never could have seen it. She an.
swered readily:
cit will show your sense"
"We've reached the divide" be
said hoarsely; "my way leads of
from yours. Good bye, SAL"
"Good bye, Pete"
That was all Sal hurried swiftly
forward down to the little shanty
where, in the windows she could see
50 plainly the children's bobbine
heads
"Oh, Sail" they shrieked in q
chorus, as she opened door, "Gues'
who's been here?"
~ don't know Where's father?'
Hes down in the valley with the
stranger man, somebody or other
from the States" explained Joe, who
was twelve, a very important young
ster in bis own estimation.
"I've got letter for father | wisl
he'd come Did they expect to go
far in this storm? See how much
fercer it grows"
The night crept on and the eagerly
expected father did not come
"He's been gone 80 long I'D better
go and see if anything could have
happened You children keep up
the Gre, and Mary can set out the
supper"
Then Sal thre her shawl over heI
head and went out into the furiou
storm that was increasing in violence
every moment.
"Poor father. maybe be had droI
too much | hope he amt tried te
reach Deer Greek. Who could tn,
stranger be the children speak Of
Some prospector, likely"
Three hours later the men lolling
in the barroom at the main hotel il
Deer Creek were startled by the sud
den opening of the door to behol(
Sal. white as one dead, covered with
ice and snow, Standing on th'
threshold.
my God, what has happened
Sal?" cried more than one.
"Murder" was the hoarse reply.
Murder! where-who-
My father-oh, waltz struggling
to speak clearly, "down the divide
Come"
wait, my girl, you'll Freeze" ant
John Pohl snatcbed off the wet shaw
and flung warm, soft blanket arount
her. "You just stay here and let M
60"
But she struggled out of his de
tanning hands
Maybe your father. was just los
in the snow, lass"
IL tell you he was murdered,
struck q match. There's blood al
over his bosom. Shot! shotl Oh
who could have wished to harm IN,
poor old father?
Her story was true. With grea
difficulty was he found, nearly burie'
In the snow, and carried to his home
TO startle the terrified children h8l
cut OF their senses.
She was calm; afterward she won
dered at her own control. She quiet
ed the children, coaxed the smalls
ones off to bed, and sat before tb
fire in q dazed, cold way, that trcuh
led two of their kindly neigbbor
greatly, who Sat back and talked il
low tones Of the strange, uDcalled to