Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-08-24

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Pamcly bein' 40 sot agin It. Panel,
: haint no orpinion o. thor law, she hnint
l lowed ther want no reason why
shouldn't hov q cNse in court ez well @;
some ether fellers or hezn't no more
pf0putty'n i hev. guv it up, though
s no use tryin' ter fight Duck Hawkins N
Pamely ct ther same time"
"IIullo, Jim Carroll!" cried tho clerk,
Familiarity.
A young man OF easy appearance en-
tered the room, md ut once greeted Hy
Todboator as an acquaintance. He
was woll-dressed md even attractive,
II ono avoided looking into his eyes.
He drew the settler along hurricdly
toward one of the row of wagons en-
circling the square, and then told him
TO stop n moment before the most pre-
tentious store. He came out with u
large package in his hand, and took II
seat beside the settler
"Drive onr' he said, hilariously.
"You're rich man, Hy Todbcater!"
al allow it'll be all right OF Pamcly
don't"-roluctantly hesitnted the other.
"Oh, I'll sec TO thatn said the young
man, with great confidence. 1--WE got
something here that'll make itall right.
It's birthday present, you know. She
told me that it was to-day, and / had
this all ready"
Hy's jaw dropped IN astonishment;
1t was new idea to him. Ho cluclSed
TO the old sorrel, and slapped tho lines
lnzily, evidently overcome with the en-
deavor TO grasp all the new ideas which
had recently been thrust into his unac-
customed brain.
Granddaddy sat heaming over dish
of hot porridge.
"Yer er mastcr-hand ct porridge,
thct's what ye be, Pamely," chuckled
the old man. "Ther' can't no gal beat
my grandfather, ef l do say it, nary
time!"
Pamely turned toward Jim Carroll,
who entered the open door without the
formality of knock. A blush covered
her checks, but her smile vanished
while she sat out chair for tho guest.
"You see | haven't forgotten your
birthday" he exclaimed, gaily, holding
out the package Significantly.
Pamely slowly reached out her hand
to receive the proifered gift. her heart
stifled with one great throb Of joyous
surprise.
"Open i'll" cried the young man, i'm
patiently.
Her fingers seemed unable to loosen
the cord. He snatched it from her to
tear off the wrappings, and held up and
allowed to trail on the well-scrubbed
floor the brilliant folds of new merino
dress
Her dark blue eyes grew round and
black with astonishment and admira-
ton. She glanced down Mt her faded
calico skirt, and the contrast seemed
too great. Never in her life had she
possessed such beautiful gown. Then
she lifted her face to look straight into
the heavily lidded eyes of Jim Carroll
A sudden change came over her; she
shrank back awkwardly.
II reckon / don't want no new dress
jist now, Mr.. Carroll. Yer kin give it
ter some one in Bluff City ez needs it..
She turned hastily and entered the
other room, closed the door, and left the
young man, suffering the humiliation of
defeat.
1t was late in the evening when Jim
Carroll left Hy Todbcater leaning
against the rails of the zig-zag fence be-
hind the barn.
Have it all ready" he repeated, as
he turned away, 'I'll bring the captain
out in the morning"
"Ya'as," drawled the settler al reck-
on it'll be right ef Pamely"-he skunk
around the barn in the path leading to
the spring without completing his sem
tcnce.
The edge OF the woods was full of
thick shadows when Pamely hastened
along the same path to crafty gram
daddy's desire for drink of water
from the spring The moon had risen
and silvery ray penetrated the over
hanging foliage and fell on the clear
water as the girl dipped her tin pail in
its depths. 1t rested also on some shin
ing substance half imbedded in the |
earth near the waters edge. She had |
never discovered it before, and now
stopped and picked it up, surprised to
find it so heavy. 1t was rough and gray |
save on one side, which exhibited some
silvery bits of surface. She was about |
to retrace her steps when dark figure
crouching behind Il tree caught her
gaze. A quick throb of fear was fol-
lowed by surprise when the tapping
straw hat revealed to her acute vision
the identity of the prowling individual.
'What'n ther world er yer doin' out
hyer this time or night?" she question
ed. IL allowed yer wuz roun' with Jim
Carroll"
Nav" sheepishly replied her broth
er; 'it's thet hot | reckoned it nd be
cooler under ther trees"
"Ye mus wanter be eat up by ther
skeeters, Hy; what'er yer doin' 'uth
thet there flre-shovel?"
'Jest he'd it in my hand an brung it
long; diggin' ter see ef ther mought
be any gold roun' in these parts" he
added, with an awkward chuckle.
Ibid ye find any rocks like this
hyer'" she asked, holding up the shin
ing bit she had found.
Heaps on 'em," said Hy, seemingly
anxious to make virtue Of confession.
"Got 'em in my pocket" and he pro-
ceeded to haul out handful of similar
pieces. Fact is, Pamcly, this ez val
lyble land, hevin' sich sights o. lead ore
lyin' roun' loose, Of it amt ez slick ez
Duck Hawkins's! It'll bring er big
price, sure ez shootin'!"
when dye find it out-ther lead ore
bein' hyerP" questioned Pamcly.
jest ther other day; wuz a-sayin'
ter myself, What's the reason ther
amt lead ore on this hyer land ez well
ez over in the next countyP' an hyer it
az for true We kin hey oycry thing