Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-12-30

knocked the Bottom out of things
around here"
''But the pitcher isn't at all heavy,
Col. Jarvis"
''Oh, never mind that; anything's
too heavy for a lady. That's my sen.
timents You see, I'm a ladies' man
born and brought up to it. Nursed
my mother and two aunts and a grand
mother through consumption, and never
let one of 'em lift q finger. Robert
my mother used to say, in her thin,
sickly voice, Robert, DO true to God
and the women and, by godfrey, !
mean to be-"
I relinquished the pitcher instantly.
Esculapius was right; something had
happened. The well wo gone, but in
is place I had found something Q
thousand times more refreshing. When
my husband returned he found me
sitting breathless under the acacias.
Hush" I said, with appraised fin
ger; listen"
Our host and the colonel were talk
ing at the well.
We've had glorious meetings this
week, over ut Gospel Swamp, Jarvis"
the minister was saying. Il looked
for you every night. If you could just
come over and hear the singing, and
have some of the good brothers and
sisters pray with you, don't you
think
why, God bless your soul, man."
interrupted the colonel, don't you
know I'm religiousl I'm with you right
along-as to first principles, that is;
but, you see, l can't quite 60 the Meth
odist doctrine. l was raised a Presby-
terrain, you know-ngular black and
blue Calvinist-and what a fellow takes
in with his mothers milk sticks by him.
I'm attached TO the old ~ideas-infant
damnation, and total ~depravity, and
Internal punishment, and the interior
ence of the saints. You fellows over
at the Swamp are loose! Why, by
the way, my mother used to say to me
In her delicate, squeaky voice: Robert,
beware of Methodists. They're loose.
my son, loose as a bag Of bones? No,
indeed, ! wouldn't want you to think
me Indifferent to religion. Religions
my forte. . Why, By and by l mean to
start q Presbyterian church right here
under your nose"
I'm glad of it." responded the good
minister warmly; you've no idea how
glad ! am, Jarvis"
Why, mar alive! that church Is in
my mind day and night. want to
get about forty good, pious Presbyterian
families to settle round here, and Ill
bore wells for 'em. and talk up the
church business between times. You
raw me carrying that lady's pitcher for
her this morning, didn't your Well,
by the way, that wa a religious nov
entirely. took her man for a Presby-
terrain preacher the minute I struck the
ranch; maybe it's poor health gives
him that cadaverous look, but you
can't most always tell. More likely it's
religion"
Esculapius retreated in wild disorder
and did not appear again until supper
time. When that meal was finished
Col. Jarvis followed me to the piazza.
III it amt presuming, madam" he
said c~onfidentially, I'D like TO ask
your advice. take it you're from the
city. now"
Yes" answered, with prefer
natural gravity; what makes you
think sog'
''Well | knew it by your gait, most
ly. A woman that's raised in the
country walks as IL she was used to
havin' the road to herself; city women
are generally good steppen. But that
amt the point. Tn engaged TO be
married."
My composure under this
ment was grand.
Engaged to be married." I said.
LET me congratulate you, colonel.
May ! hope to see the fortunate young
ladyF
That depends. rou see, I'm In a
row-the biggest kind 81 a row, by a
good deal and I thought you might
give me "a lift. She's a Frisco lady,
you know; one Of your regular high
fiyers-black eyes, bang, no end %
spirit You see, she was visitin' over
at Los NictOs, and we made it up, and
when Size went back ~ Frisco |
thought I'd send her a ring; ~ |
bought this fuInbling ia his pocket
and producing the most astounding
combination Of red glass and pinch.
beck, and, by godfrey, she sent il
back 10 me- Now, don't see any
thing wrong about that ring do your
1T il certainly a ltue-well, peculiar,
at least, for an engagement ring per
baps she would like something a trifie
less snowy. Ladies have a great many
whims about jewelry, you know"
Exactly. That is Just what ] re-
fected. So ! went and bought this
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