The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-07-12

miriam, shall Inform Ab and your
grandmother" he asked. "You'll mar
ry me when there's preocher comes
tO-Odds Corner, don't you call it?'
eyes; the preacher can come here.
Father don't talk. en- grandmother
don't go nowhere, Miriam replied,
intuitively divining reservation of
doubt and caution under the phras-
ing of his question.
"Ab can hold his tongue, and there
is no one here who cares to hear Of
me" he remarked, rehectively. 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. "Hit's a good leetle
gal as you'll git, en- she's a smart gal,
Mirry is-h' amt 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 check.
"She says that she will, and I sup
pose there are people who are true
and can be trusted, though l have
never had the good fortune to meet
them," replied the stranger, a bitter
smile fitting over his countenance.
"Jes' so; they be skurce, en- pow full
good ter come across wen a shurt
en- pack O. Guv' mentors KEN at yo'
els. The gal knows h'it-Alirry
knows, she do.
"You hev' mo- larnin' than We
uns, doctor. You mebbe wan
fotched up like we-uns EN- I'm a-gwine
ter say es you mought think yo'sef
better'n me en- Mirry"-
Miriam is better than l am-that
is what think-and you have been
my best FRIEND" interrupted Heathe,
speaking hurriedly, a hotimpatience,
almost desperation, in his manner.
| Oiu AOe lOOkeu pledSeu.
"Then you won't be 'shamcd o
Mirry ur me. whenst you luck turns,
en- you h'oin't 'bleeged ter hug ter
the mountings?"
"Iou are my only friends. There
is no turn Of luck can help me, no
change whatever that l might wish
to quit the mountains was the Ge-
liberate assurance.
"fIit's all right, then. + hain't
much tried in my mind long O. whur
you be foolin'ur no. A1irry's elil to
that ar; hits her lookout"
Abner relapsed into his moody en-
joyment Of the huge cracking blaze.
Grandmother Sagsby came in, and
soon dozed 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 deli ghtiul warmth
conduced to that half drowsy hazi-
ness and abandon of perfect rest. The
one exception was the stranger. Ap.
parently he never rested. The watch.
tul, listening, wide awake look seemed
never beguiled away by any charm
whatsoever. Two or three 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 noiscless, but Miriam sat
up and noted the animal for an in.
slant, then left her seat and stepped
slowly past him to tho shed room
The dog followed her into the chilly
starlight beyond. Then she stopped
short and observed the hound. Lift.
ing his nose high, he shifted suspicious.
| ly and gave low growl.
"What is it, Miriam?"
The girl started. Heathe was be-
side her, an agony of apprehension in
his countenance even as he grasped
his gun and held it ready to fire.
"Sommut strange is around
Leader never Mistakes" she whisper
ed, creeping closer to him. "Do you
think they are hunting for you?"
eyes, l know it. They are on my
track at last. They are hunting fol
me if they are hunting for anybody
but I'll never be taken, Miriam-nev
er''
"Taken? no. It's not many get
taken in the mountings," was TIKI
scornfull reply. "Leader'll give ton
que time enough; and remember tn,
, big hollow tree back of the clearing
the rope is always there to let 70,
down in it," she directed, in quick
: low tones.
"Miriam,' he whispered, "don't be
, lieve their black story of me-don'
believe it. / was there-I sawit-bu
didn't do it. l never intended tn
worst. can't prove my innocence
but I solemnly tell you, am innocen
: of the worst-the very worst you will
= hear.'
, Miriam laid her hand gently on hi
, arm-her face grew tender-her yoic
? soft and tremulous.
) II care for you John, whether i
) were true or not. Go-now; Leade
t shifts lower-quite there. Leader
sommut's closer!"
] The girls startled suppressed voic
: became suddenly shrill in it's terror
! Heath sprang forward with an agile
q channels like bound and vanished il
, the pines. The dogs inside the cabi
: as we'll as out set up a simultaneou
4 howl. There was no doubt of a
8 alien presence close at hand. Miriam
/ rushed into the house and fastene
the door behind her.
0 eve know he's in therc!' shoute
+ q rough voice.
"He's there! Give him up! We're
|, goin' to have him!' chorused rough
3 er voices.
"Hit's better ter let 'em come, Mi,
t ~. He's done swung hisse'f in gains
n now"
r Sab unbarred the door, and, opeE
v ing it stepped on the threshold in coo
/ contemplation of the scene. Instant
" a revolver was on each side of hi
: gray head.