St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-12-07

not meant again to face this gus-. ~ ~Ss
had witnessed her povert:- ,.;. ~
wardness. but she d ftn h. Ia Latter .si.,.
Polly. hev v so' ''' ''''eF 's''os
"Yes.
..W.ar!
she raised her dark eyes and searched
both countenances with grave question
ing.
''What fer ye want ter knOw?"
mo matter. Iwant it."
Fer hint"
''Thet amt aothin' ter ye."
''Yes. pop. it be. ! promised ter
keep it till his own boy come from
the States promised agin tibet las,
day. Don't asst me ter gre it up ter
nObuddy else"
"YOung UNI. what wus OF Steady
name? He larnt it to W SO I ye could
spell it out like scholard."
'Idon't see no call"
Say it. l tell ye. Don't 70 dar' 20
agin me!''
The impatient words were addressed
TO the reluctant girl. but .'Or Grizzly's''
eager gaze was on the strangers face
With slow distinctness. feeling her
self traitor to sacred memory, she
pronounced the words:
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES"
Che traveller paled from the shock.
whose truth was saddcr than he
dreamed. A moment later he rose
and disappeared in the canyon.
DADDY. what fer did ye make mea
I want ter tell nobuddy but tho boy"
"Yender's him.
Him? Oh. Lordy!"
To both minds returned the same
picture-the poor and barren death
chamber of or Steady" his vain ef-
forts for speech. his hopeless longing
for the loved presence which had come
too late.
The moon had risen when Barr re-
turned to the cabin. By the light of a
kerosene-lamp he cav the girl within
watching over a bulky envelope which
lay upon the table.
She rOse to meet him as he came
within a few feet OF her and paused.
Lifting the lamp. and shading it with
her hand SO that the rays fell full
upon his features, she examined them
even more critically than her fathe'
had done.
She would have risked life to do
fend, or to deliver to its rightful claim
ant. her sacred trust
''Sw'ar ter me. stranger; be you his
boy? Be you = John = Willett =
Barr?"
The s0rrowful regret in tho face
confronting her was too genuine fOl
further doubling. With a sigh OF in.
tense relief she held out her hand an6
the letter.
He took them both, and with the
Difference due a Queen bent an6
touched the brown fingers with his
lips. Twice that day Polly's eyes had
filed with an unaccustOmed mist bu.
this time she hid them in her cham
Der.
The old nan and his guest sat dowr
outside. Neither was inclined fol
speech. There would DO time for such
hour was for silence
1t might have been midnight when
the elders hairy hand reached out and
touched the others sleeve; left it to
point silently over the mOonlit sward
10 the pile Of rocks bordering the
gulch.
The young mans eyes followed the
gesture. then came suddenly back and
met the triumphant gaze shot to him
from beneath old StinsOn's beetling
brow.
He amt sOt thar afOre sence |
foun' his pile. l cal'latcd Of he wus
hisself he'd be on ham ter-night ter
meet his 'boy'r'
With arms extended. and glad cry
rs Of childhood. Barr ran toward the |
group Of powders. Dimly. through |
her healthful slumber. Polly heard |
that happy Father" and smiled upon |
her pillow. Grizzly" heard it. and |
Telt burden lifted from his faithful |
heart The echoes Of the canyon
taught it up and tossed it back to one
another in sweet succession till it died |
lpon the night wind. Did 1t reach TO
he hungry heart in the lonely grave.
md quiet its unrest? Who can tell?
Il dare not, John. We have been
70 differently trained. You have had
. lifetime OF learning. one little year
am SO ignorant! lam not good enough
no. won't say that! am as good as
good as any OF those beautiful
women l see; but they are far better
itted TO marry you"
A twelvemOnth of culture had not
letracted from the proud. free grace
4 the creature who had grown up in
he wilderness. and it was quite the
Id Polly who tossed back her pretty
lead. folded her shapely arms. and set
Ter chin firmly to Withstand her plead
ng loveR
He came close to her. but he dared
lot touch her. Once his lips had
her fingers; would they ever
each her perfect mouth:
Darling. what has learning TO do
nth you and mee Shall l tell you what
see. always? A fresh-made grave in
lonely place. group Of rough men
nd a weeping girl. kneeling with
olded hands and upturned face. Old
teady' knows, as know. that no other
han his Polly can be wife to his boy.
,omew |