Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-01-11
CHIPS CURE.

Every now and then a horseman,
broad hated and be-weaponed, with
jangling Mexican spurs and leather
"chap" leggings, dismounted, tied his
'cayuse" pony to the gnawed rack,
and Joined the group Of cowboys
lounging in the shade Of Ashburn's
postofiice. With each conner the first
question was:
Flows Chip9"
mo better,' Old Man Ashburn re-
piled, each time.
Looks to me like that thar was a
mighty heavy load to put onto child
like Chip" said Santa Fe, the cowboy,
with the gaudy Mexican sash about
his waist. IA load Nv pain an misery
big enough to break man down, an
she moth n but childr'
Yer right, only she h'ain'ta child"
spoke red checked Posy; she's
How old, Ashburn2"
Seventeen" Ashburn answered.
Hanged if l knowed said Santa
Fe. Reckon yer right; but got so
ust to seem her amongst us, a-ridin'
the cayuses an dancin an laughin' an
Kingin' like happy child, that I'd
Me, too, said Reddy Rose.
"I'm mi Chilly afeard she'll never
ride nur run no more" said Old Man
throwed she's ben a-gittin slowly but
shorely worse an worse, an ~
wal" interrupted Sante Fe, with
grim earnestness, II h'aint never ben
sorry fer the way we run out O the
Range the cuss that roped the cayuse
an got her throwed."
''Nur mel' cried a cowboy chorus.
At the sound of faint call, Old
Man Ashburn FASTENED within the
building. Presently he appeared,
dragging carefully behind him a
splint bottomed rocking chair, in
which reclined the wasted form of
little Chip, Ashburn's crippled daugh-
ter
At sight of her, the impulsive cow
boys waved their broad hats and went
through the motions of shouting lusti-
ly. But very little sound came from
their distended mouths.
salutcd, weakly. II jest couldn't stay
in there any longer when l heard you
all talking. Pa didn't want me to
come, but I told him
She lowed" interrupted Ashburn,
that she'd come out yere if she'd to
crawl on her hands an knees, an l
reckon she'd"-
You bet she'd a-done It'll" broke in
Santa Fe.
That's what she'd a-done," agreed
Reddy Rose.
How nice the sunshine seemsy'
said the little cripple. I've been
a-thinkin' often that mebby I'd never
git out into it ag'in to run an ride as
ust to. Some Way
SAINT" whispered Posy, hanged if
l amt sorry we stopped at runnin'
out the cuss that got her throwed."
Me. too" returned Santa Fe. "Ort
to a-killed him then an thar"
That's what we ortT" agreed Reddy
Rose.
Even the slight exertion attendant
upon the short trip from the little bed
room to the door seemed almost too
much for Chips enfeebled frame. Her
face grew paler, and she leaned weari-
ly back in the old rocking chair.
"Mebby I'll never see you again,
boys" she piped. "I"-
"Old man, " interrupted Posy, "you
better take her back now"
But don't want to CO." the girl
protested. II want to stay an see the
boys, ann
AS easily as if she had been of but
a feathers weight, Posy took her in
his strong arms and carried her back
into her little bedroom carefully and
very tenderly. His brown cheek was
close to her pale one.
"An' who, Chip" he whispered.
"An' you, Posy," she answered,
Boys" Old Man Ashburn was say.
ing as Posy rejoined the group about
the door, things looks mighty black
She's a sutferin' an a. sufferin
Posy rushed to his cayuse, flung
himself into the saddle, and dashed
away across the prairie, followed by
his comrades
Il couldn't stand it" he told them
as the ponies bounded away to the
eastward. Il jest couldn't stand tc
hear that pore ole cuss a-tellin' of little
Chip a-gettin' nearder an neardel
death, an he, her dad, not able to helI
her"
Say, said Santa Fe, suddenly, 1--WE
ort"-
You betl" interrupted Posy. 1--WE
ort, an we will do
Thar comes Hank /" broke in Reddy
Rose, as the little mules and faded
blackboard that comprised the turnout
of Hank Bitters, the mail carrier
emerged from the distant timber.
Hanks got passenger.
Obedient to the touch of the nugt
Mexican spurs, the cayuses bounded
toward the approaching vehicle at the
cowboys favorite gait, keen run.
Hank Bitters' passenger, an ole
gentleman with phenomenally bale
head and general appearance o.
almost owlish wisdom, had been grow
ing more and more uncomfortable
ever since entering the cattle country
The conversation of the stage driver
and later of Hank Bitters, had no
served to allay any of his apprehension
Wy" said Hank, with great gray
ity, "some NV these yere cowboys il