The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-02-08
CHIPS CURE.

''cayuse" pony to the gnawed rack,
and joined the group of cowboys
lounging in tho shade Of Ashburns
postoffice. With each conner the first
question was:
"How's Chip2"
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 "a load NV pain an misery
big enough to break n man down, an
she noth'n' but n childl"
''Yer right, only she h'ain't q child"
spoke red checked Posy; she's
How old, Ashburn2"
"Seventeen," Ashburn answered.
Hanged if / knowed." said Santa
Fe. "Reckon yer right; but got so
ust to seein' her amongst us, a-ridin'
the cayuses an dancin' an laughin' an
singin' like happy child, that I'd
plumb fergot she'd growed up"
me, too" said Reddy Rose.
"I'm nightly afcard she'll never
ride nur run no more" said Old Man
Ashburn. ever scnco she was o.
throwed she's be- II a-gittin' slowly but
shorely worse an worse, an ~
WAL" interrupted Santo Fe, with
grim enrnestncss, Il h'ain't never bon
sorry fer tho way we run out o the
Range the cuss that roped the cayuse
an got her throwcd."
'Nur mew cried cowboy chorus
At the sound of a faint call, Old
Man Ashburn fastened within the
building. Presently he appeared,
dragging carefully behind him a
splint bottomcd rocking chair, in
which reclincd the wasted form of
littlo Chip, Ashburn's crippled daugh-
tor.
At sight of her, tho impulsivo cow
boys waved their broad hats and went
through the motions of shouting lusti-
their distended mouths.
salutcd, weakly. 81 Jest couldn't stay
in there any longer When | heard YOU
all talking. Pa didn't want mo TO
como, but told him"-
''Sho lowed" interrupted Ashburn,
THAT she'd como out zero if she'd to
crawl on her hands an knees, an !
reckon she'd"-
"You bet she'd a-done It'll" broke in
Santa Fc.
That's what she'd a-done," agreed
Reddy Rose.
How nice tho sunshine seemsi"
said tho little cripple. "I'vc been
a-thinkin' often that mebby I'd never
git out into it ag'in to run an ride rs
ust to-. Some way"-
SAINT" whispered Posy, changed if
I h'ain't sorry we stopped at runnin'
out the cuss that got her throwed."
''Me. tool" returned Santa Fc. sort
to a-killed him then an tharr
'"Thats what we ortl" agreed Reddy
Rose.
Even the slight excrtion attendant
upon tho short trip from tho little bed
room to the door seemed almost too
much for Chips enfecbled frame. Her
face grew paler, and she leaned wcari-
ly back in the old rocking chair. =
"Mebby I'll never SEQ you again,
boys" she pipcd. "I'-
old man." interrupted Posy, "you
better take her back now"
but don't want to CO." tho girl
protested. II want to stay an sec the
boys, an'"-
AS easily as if she had been of but
q feathers weight, Posy took her in
his strong arms and carried her back
into her little bedroom carefully and
very tenderly. His brown check was
close to he" ~ ono
I'm who, Chip?" he whispered.
can you, Posy," sho answered,
softly.
"Boys, " Old Man Ashburn was say
ing as Posy rcjoincd the group about
the door, things looks mighty black.
She's q -sutfcrin' an a suffcrin'
an -
Posy rushed to his cayusc, 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 tho
eastward. Il jest couldn't stand to
hear that pore ole cusS a-tclliu' Of little
Chip a-gettin' ncardcr an ncardcr
death, an he, her dad, not able to help
herl"
Say, said Santa Fe, suddenly, "wo
You bctT" interrupted Posy. eve
ort, an VIC will do"-
'"Thar comes Hank y broke in Rcaldv
Rose, as the little mules and faded
blackboard that comprised tho turnout
Of Hank Bittcrs, the mail carrier,
ShiCi SSlt llolli thC tllllDtf.
Hanks got passenger.
Obcdient to tho touch Of the nugc
Mexican spurs, tho cayuses bounded
toward the approaching vehicle ut the
cowboys favorite gait, keen run.
Hank Bittcrs' passenger, an old
gentleman with phenomcnally bald
head and q general appearance of
almost owlish wisdom, had been grow
ing more and moro uncomfortable
ever since entering the cattle country.
The conversation of tho stage driver,
and later Of Hank Bitters, had not
served to allay any of hisapprchension.
, IVY" said Hank, with great grav-
ity, "some uv:theso yero cowboys is
,pizon-plumb pizonl An recklcssl
Wal, reckless h'ain't no mamie for it'll
They're badr
His auditor ishivered.
F'.Kill a mani Jest as quick as to
sa$lv .Dun sight quicker, some of 'em.
I've knowed"-- =.
.. u -
'lio paused and gazcd thbaghtfully
L e I