The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-03-19


worked upon them TO their dissdvxn-
tage
While he was absent on this mission,
Price brought his affair almost to settle
mens-the momentous question was pro-
pounded and favorable reply received
nothing was lacking but the wedding
garments, and the bride undertook TO
have them ready inside of three days
During this interval Mr.. Price sauniered
about in state of beatitnde much easier
imagined than described.
On the afternoon Of the third day suc-
ceeding the departure Of Watson, Price
received telegram, which, after paying
for, be opened, and found TO read as fol-
lows:
Benson, Nov. BE. Price. Arivsca-
Git married 10 wunst back tonight
K. Watson collect"
AZ first Price did not exactly grasp the
meaning Of the message, bni little re-
lection showed him that the apparently
enigmatical portion of it was merely
wsison's way of advising him to expe-
dite the wedding. He accordingly re-
paired at once To the dwelling of his be-
trothed, and after aequainiing her with
the contents of the dispatch, suggested
that they proceed at once to the justice
of the peace and have the ceremony per
formed But, much, to his surprise, Mrs.
Haves would not hear Of it
I've only jest got ther green ealiker
basted up, she said ~it'll take half
day to finish it, and them new shoes
won't be down from Tucson fore to-
norrer night. | won't git married in
these ole moccasins if | never do That
/ fool Watson's drunk, and won't be druv
raound by him nor no other man Twin
sabe? If You can't wait and hev things
fixed up decent and like white folks,
you kin vamoose the ranch jest as pronto
as you want to"
Price hasteEed TO assure her thai
/ though he must necessarily long to sd
vance the hour which should make her
all his own, he donbted not he would be
able 10 restrain his arior 90 that the pro-
prieties would be observed in all things
g You Sec ne said. "il's like this Bob's
gone there an the ores turned ont 50
much better'n be expected that it sort O
ratified him, an KNOWN how much I
thought o you and how keen was for
"a hurry up the weddin', he's Just rushed
off'n hit the wires lick SOS to help US
out like"
This explanation allsyed the fears Mrs.
Hawes had entertained that some at
tempt was being made to eurtail her in
/ dependence-a matter on which she was
very sensitive-and she consented, after
a while, to be paeihed Had Price been
less afflicted by the blindness which Is
such a marked symptom Of the mala5y
called love, the frequent outbursts Of iras-
cibility on the part Of his promised bride
I might have aroused som e unessiness con-
cerning the peace and harmony Of their
welded life but, as Is usual in such cases
he paid no heed TO the danger signals
and rushed blindly on TO his fate.
notwithstanding the plausible expla-
nation be had given Of the origin Of Wat
sons message, he was considerably dis
turbed by it, and waited up until three
o'clock in the morning to meet his part
ner on the arrival OF the west bound ex-
press.
He was terribly shocked by disappear
auee-a more disconsolate. wOebegone
specimen Of humanity it would be hard
to imagine.
"Faro," said Price to himself, and his
heart sank within him.
| Watson made no reply to his partner
greeting, but dragged him away to the
friendly shelter Of darkness.
@Did you git nv telegram ?" he asked
when they were ou. of hearing Of any
possible loiterer-
Yes, got it.
"And you're married. he interrupted
eagerly.
"No,~ replied Price 'you see the lady
didn't exactly take to the idee-we'll gi
there ter-morrer. though"
@Oh, Lord r. groaned Watson =
knowed til had feeIin' it I'D be jes
that way. Everything gone to h
Busted f4tter'n tortilloF'
"Busted :" cried Price. "You don
mean to say"
~Yes. do-that ore wouldn't pay t,
work. There amt an ounce of metal il
a mountain Of it. We got to sell mui'
to pay the freight on it. There was !
mistake in them retnrns-the sssaye
sent Us the wrong certif cate. I'd ougbte
killed him, but | didn't He said h
hoped we hadn't been pct out any by II
and he gimme some of his cards to throw
round among the boys Therell De
holy circus out to camp when they hea
bout it and begin TO hoiler about thei
pay. What chews me upth most though
Price. Is that the widder'll back out like
: as not nov. You never can depend ol
: a woman, no how
Beyond deeD sign, Price made no re
ply to this discouraging platitude, an'
the two partners disappeared in tn
gloom. Watson Immediately sought thi
oblivion and solace which by common
consent IS supposed to be located nea
, the bottom Of glass Of whisky. How
f Price passed the hours of darknes-xhs
. paroxysns Of despair, what cyclones O
passion disturbed his ordinarily cain
and dreamless siumbers. it is nos tn
purpose Of this narrative 10 disclose le
it suffice that that the rising sun foun'
him wan and hsggard-that il, as wan a
his sunburned complexion would adIni
Of
He partook of light breakfast, Will
much the same relish as the condemned
man feels for the delicacies Of his las
earthly meal, and about 10 O'Clock in th'
forenoon directed his steps toward th'
. widows tent. Although afflicted viii
. a ghastIy sinking feeling in the region
Of the heart, be resisted the temptation
/ to take some stirnnlant to enable him Il
. endure the approaching operation
When, after several abortiye attempts
, he succeeded in reaching the tent ans
found the lady engaged in putting tooche'
e. tha a--aao raliker. . when he reflect