New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-07-11

4
A dauntless resolution depicted it
self upon Miriam's count enance, as
she lifted her lustrous eyes and held
his shifting chances by the subtle
force and fire in their depths.
| Yes, LII marry you, en- stand by
you, too-stand by you en- help you
true en- faithful, if am onliest a
moonshiner's daughter, I'll say it en-
promise it, eff SO be you're true en-
faithful to me,
The harrassed TENSION of Heathe's
countenance relaxed.
| You have bound yourselfto stand
by me and love me. I'll hold you to
q want you to hold me to it, onliest
| Want you to do the same by me, 2
she replied.
Relinquishing his gun for mo-
ment, he drew her into his arms and
| kissed her tenderly, then, with aguilty
start and involuntary glance around
him, released the girl and lookup his
weapon.
I'm a scoundrel to askit,n he said,
with a forced, angry laugh, ignoring
| the amending request.
| 'sMirry! Mirry! called shrill voice
from the house.
"Oh, me! That's grandmother!
She'll be after me in a minuter' and
Miriam hurried off up the path.
| Heathe followed, easily keeping apace
| with her rapid steps
Miriam, shall [ inform Alb and your
grandmother" heasked. you'll mar
ry me when there's a preocher comes
to-Odds Corner, don't you call it?!,'
Yes; the preacher can come here.
Father don talk. en- grandmother
don't go nowhere, Miriam replied,
intaitively divining a reservation of
doubt and caution under the phras-
ing OF his question.
CAB can hold his tongue, and there
is no one here who cares to hear Of
me- he remarked, refectively. cab
is shy Of strangers
The girl laughed.
You need never fault father for
talkin' to strangers. You haven't
promised, though, to do good en-
faithful by me'-But her lover had
opened the door, and both went in.
Mirry kin tie ter Whomst she
pleases,' = her father said when
Heathe, taking advantage Of Mir
Jams absence in the shed, told him
OF his hopes. Hits a good leetle
gal as you'll git, en- she's a smart gal,
Mirry is-h ain Altered O. nothin'.
She'll stick ter you, spite O ole Nick
hisself, less'n you go back on her;
'tWouldn't be overly safe fur you
then, : and Alb chuckled, while the
great quid of tobacco oscillated in
his cheek.
Sshe says that she will, and I sup
pose there are people who are true
and can be trusted, though / have
never had the good fortune to meet
them, : replied the stranger, a bitter
smile fitting over his countenance.
sJes' SO; they be skurce, en- pow full
good ter come across wen a shurf
en- pack o. Guv'menters KEN at yo'
els. The gal knows h'it-Mirry
knows, she do.
''You hev' mo- larnin' than we
uns, doctor. You mebbe WANT
fotched up like We-uns, EN- I'm a-gwine
ter say es you mought think yo'sef
.better'n me en- Mirry
9 Miriam is better than [ am-that
is what | think-and you have been
my best friend, !" interrupted Heathe,
speaking hurriedly, a hotimpatience,
almost desperation, in his manner.
Old Abe looked pleased.
s"Then you won't be 'shamed %
Mirry ur me, Whenst you luck tn ms,
en- you h'ain't 'bleeged ter hug ter
the mountings?"
You are my only friends. There
is no turn Of luck can help me, no
change whatever that I might wish
to quit the mountains was the de-
hberate assurance.
Hits all right, then. Z h,ain't
much tried in my mind long O. whur
you be foolin'ur no. Mirry's ekl to
that ar; hits her lookout"
Abner relapsed into his moody en-
joyment OF the huge cracking blaze.
GRANDMOTHER Sagsby came in, and
soondozed over her knitting. Miriam
sat on the hearth opposite Heathe.
The freight gloWed over her beautiful
face and the strong, shapely figure. Ut
ter repose and the delightful warmth
conduced to that hall drowsy hazi-
ness andabandon of perfectrest. The
one exception was the stranger. APP
parently heneyer rested The watch
full, listening, Wideawakelook seemed
never beguiled away by any charm
whatsoever. Two orthree dogs that
slept on the floor near Alb became
somewhat restless. An old hound
opened his eyes, and pushed himself
nearer the door. The movement was
slight and noiseless, but Miriam sat
up and noted the animal for an in
stant, then left her seat and stepped
slowly past him to the shed room.
The dog followed her into the chilly
starlight beyond. Then she stopped
short and observed the hound. Lit
ing hisnose high, he shifted suspicio
lu and (rsNn a low Srroyu1