The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-06-14

| ter Wilder BalQWlu's an TELL EN- IT
ashamed of myself, blamed if
wouldn't"
Here he stopped a moment for breath
then went on: "P'raps faint jist til,
thing ter go pokin' down there thou
bein' asked, after allis been said; bu
then I'll go. yes, will. They cam
more'n tell me ter leave"
Here the old man hurried out of tn
door, and casting a side glance at tn
sun, at once set out for the kitchen door
mo mistake" he repeated as h
walked along. II was little too hare
on the boy. VIII worked hard and wa
good to me, always was. took a poo
girl when 1 started, an I've never seen
rich one I'd trade her for, and on hi
went up the cool back steps into the
kitchen.
MARY"
ayes, JohnW came from the cellar
way, whence Mrs. Sanbourne was bring
ing large pan of potatoes, half-dozeI
turnips and a cabbage.
''What did you want, JohnP she
asked, placing the future dinner on the
table, and resting her hands on the sides
of the pan.
"Oh, nothin'. Only wanted to know
where We was, kinder, and then, seeing
the worn look on the once handsome
face, added:
"Ain't yer pretty tired, MaryP'
''Well, no, not more than usual, but
somehow, John, I'm always tired nova
days.
'fWell, Mary, ye look tired, that.
sartin; but u" Here the old man
found it hard to proceed, for visions Of
the Mary in the past and the Mary now,
OF the little VIII and the VIII of to-day,
came too wildly before his troubled
gaze.
bIrs- sanbourn, noticing this, fastened
to ask if anything was wrong.
sob no, dono's there is. Thought I'd
step in an rest a bit. Somehow don't
seem ter stand as much this springs
common. But as rs goin' ter say. I'm
I'm goin' ter turn over a new leaf,
Mary. an'-an' Will-Will didn't do Sc
very bad, after all You know I-r'-
Here the old man choked up again,
and seeing the great tears starting to
Mary's faded eyes, caught up the big
dipper, and saying something about q
cool drink at the spring, hurried out.
When he got to the spring, he didn't
drink at all, but leaving the dipper on
the stones, passed out of the big gate
into the road. Here he stopped, looked
up aud down the way, went on little,
tten stopped again.
''Wonder # I'd betterl Can't hear
from Will # don't that's sartin." Then
after moments pause, "Yes, I'll go-go
nowi If it's put off 'twon't be done,
that's all can tell 'em list how tits.
Mothers dyin' ter see Will, an'-well,
yes, an am, too, for that matter. III
tell EN- twas l made the rumpuss.
They'll know where Will is, an Pll
know. too, fore this road sees my boots
agin, see + I don'tln
With this he gave the old hat vigor-
Gus Jam to gain courage, aud started of
with long strides toward the clump of
naples that hid the widows cottage.
''Good mornin, Wilson, p he called to
passing neighbor. '1'd like ter speak
TO ye list a moment
With puzzled look the driver stopped
and gazed earnestly at the old man.
"Well, Wilson, how bout that forty
acres-want it yeti"
want it, l supposed you knew l
wanted it badly enough. But what's the
use I can't pay all down, and you can,
50 Of course you'll get it.
swell, I do know bout that, Wilson
It would square out your sixty, and
make We an even hundred Ye oughter
have it, an can for ali me. Eve got two
hundred now-an' it's goin' ter kill me
an all the rest of 'em Ter run that AM
bout the money-ef ye ain got null why
I have, an jist's soon let ye have two or
'h-eH hundred for a year or SO q not. Pm
mean what I say. Good-mornin'. )"
..sood-morning, =" repeated the aston
ished Wilson, as with open mouth he
looked after the retreating figure of the
farmer.
''What under the SUMS got into him
can it really be the old mani" he thought
to himself. Yes, there was no installing
those home made uspenders-both fast
ened to one oTerworked button.
Though Neighbor Wilson was com
pletely thunderstruck, and rode with his
head twisted round looking after the
object of his astonishment till he was
nearly thrown from his wagon by d bad
stump, he was still the happiest man in
ali the Badger State. Then he turned and
drove furiously back home TO sstonisk his
family with the glad news.
All this time the cause of his past
misery and present happiness was making
good time toward the dreaded inter
view. He had not intended to stop again,
but a CHEEKY "Good-morning, Mr. San
bourn," from the yard of a poor renter
near the naples, broke the current of
his thoughts Just as he was preparing
himself to meet the worst.
''That you, Marthal Well, good
mornin' Pm in hurry, but glad We
spoke after all. How'd We like goin' up
an helpin' Mrs. Sanbourn for a couple
weeks or such a matter p'ra'ps longer?
That is if yer mother can spare ye. I'll
do what's right by ye-two dollars
week-if that'll do. It's most too much
for Mary to feed an run us all. Go right
up an help her get dinner, eff yer can,
m I'll pay ye from this mornin'n
The girl was as much astonished as
neighbor Wilson had been. She had
helped them once before in ''threshing
time" and got only dollar for q weeks
hard work. Compared with this, the
present offer was dazzling. So before
hex employer was many rods away she
was off, with light heart, to help at the
great white house.
Naturally bashful man, Farmer John
as he opened the gate almost wished
himself at work again in the pasture.
But his mind was made up, and brush
ing the hayseed from his overalls, he re-
adjusted the old hat, rolled down his
sleeves and started in.
The neat appearance of the walk and
other evidences of thrift which abounded
were not lost on the visitor. He knocked
on the door and Mrs. Baldwin met him
with puzzled look on her face, but
gave him a kindly tgood-morning, "
and when he entered Helen herself
offered him the great armchair.
The pale face and troubled eyes of the
girl were kind enough, but something
in them sent pang of pity into the old
mans softening heart He had always
said it was only the money Win
might get that made her partial to him,
but during the day he had thought
there might be something else, and now
ne knew there was.
Pretty fair weather for the time o.
L a.. =