The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-11

he walked doEn the hard path toward the
door. When he was within ten feet Of it
he stopped; he wanted to say something, but
his tongue failed him. Barb'ry spoke:
"Tve hsarn. Zeb." she said. simply, ''yer
needn' be backwards erbout saying sum
thin'.''
mered at length, sd'ye mean thet?''
Yes" returned Barb'ry, ''thet's whut I
mean; hearn it ter-day."
"Well,' said Zeb."
II don't know" murmured Barb'y;
Zeb went in and took a seat that Barb'ry
offered him.
ssIt's kinder tough he said. after pain
full silence, FER ter go of frum hyar, s'but
it's fer Their boys that it's gotter be did.
Thar amt no chance ner nothin fer 'em
hyar" D., 9,
reckon yer right, Zebulon."
But eottsr 60" continued zeb, yves
her breath, II knows that Zebulon.''
FAN me an you'll not .getter peep. at
each other again Barb'ry," went on Zeb.
''notter peep"
There was no answer.
Barb'rv?'
"Yea,'' murmured the girl.
"An' say, Barb'ry,' continued Zeb, earn
estly, "wonld-wogld yer write or letter ter
Barbary buried her face in her hands
without replying to Zeb's last question:
She was thinking. She was asking herself
why Zeb did not take her with him. For
When she reused up with "yes" formed on
her lips Zeb was gone. Barbary started to
her feet and looked ont into the clear, star
lit night. She glanced quickly about the
little room, and then, going outside, made
hurried search about the cabin. Her sim
"Zebulon," she called "Zeb-u-lon," but
no answer came, save the low, indistinct
echo that the hills sent back.
Barbary returned to the cabin. Her
father and mother were in bed and fast
other girl would de, she cried.
ut amt no use," said Zeb to himself, as
| he trudoed homeward, II amt got Their
nerve to do it. I couldn't say good bye ter
Barb'y eff it'd save er life; It's like eoin'
often the wo1ld-it seems like eoln' to ther
He stopped suddenly in the road and
| brought his right foot down heavily.
"Well, / declarr' he exclaimed. "Ding
me Of tibet dom settle itv'
Zeb began to whistle. He quickened his
pace toward home. and half an hour later
for the household to be out of bed, being
after dark, but the preparations for an early
departure for the northwest kept the whole
family busy at work. Zeb passed his
mother. father and brothers without word.
and going to an old-fashioned trunk. he
In q moment he brought out small pencil
and square piece of pink paper@a scrap
| that had found its way down there in some
manner from q. lady'e stationery box: By
the dim, Pickering light that q torch afford
he sat down on the GsG%unSd d. ard using
evolved the following:
"MiS BarBry got in A hurry ther other
eavenen last mite meme d LET befori oRteR
am goen avail with Their rest of EN- SateR-
dai & you won't sec me no NOAH Reckon
you lissen ez Their keers COS out and you
kirk goodbi miss barBry. ZEBU1oN.
The next day was Wednesday and Barb'ry
received the note Zeb had written to her.
She only sighed. All her tears were gone
from the Org the night before.
He didn't hev sense ernoueh' she mur-
fully. "fer goodness knows he could er had
me if he'd only sed or word"
Thursday and Friday and Saturday up to
evening wore away slowly. Zeb was toe
busy to fret much, and, anyhow, he felt
that his note must have been success. II
was after six O'Clock when the train came
along. The Greer family piled aboard ex
citedly. Old Amos and his wife went insid,
car, but Zeb and the other boys remained
on the platform. Zeb looked through the
crowd hurriedly. but he saw no sign of 9
pink dress and sunbonnet. Then he
looked over on the other side of the track
and caught sight of little cabin through
the trees.
"Boys," he said, addressing his brothers
1--WE air goin'."
Eyes. We air. responded the others.
can to-morryr." continued Zeb, well
be outen ole Missoury,"
EYES," murmured the boys signing.
"Outen her for good" proceeded Zeb.
"Um," came the solemn chorus.
"Then what wanter say is this" sale
Zeb, as the train approached the bridge
over the creek, ''let's give one good old vel
for Missoury.''
The trains rumble over the bridge hai
just died away when mighty shout from
the strong throats Of the Greer boys brok'
upon the atmosphere. Down the vale!
went the sound, aud as it penetrated tn
little cabin where Barb'ry lived, feebl
smile broke over the girls face, and as sh
stepped to the door, bonnet in hand, sh
whispered:
"Zebulon didn't forget me, arter all.
She waved her bonnet at the fleeing train
and Zeb looked that way. But h. could no
see the waving pink-no could not see any
| thing for the strong evening sunlight an
the tears that filled his eyes.
NTVKrnuS nv