The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-08-07
FOR GOOD REASONS.
Why Sarah and Ira Were Never
Married

Hoehstetle- came to marry Ira I1ncher
IN 1871 has grown TO be a part Of tho
history of Oregon county. No Ira l.
still comparatively young man, and
Sarah is still well on the sunny side of
fifty, but Jim Burnes, whom she did
marry, has been under the gravel and
rocks that cover his fort y-acre farm for
these ten years or more. Sarah Burnes
still lives on the farm, but in spite of
the fact that she is husbandless and yet
under fifty. she will never become the
wife of Ira Tincher, though for years
these two loved and swors a devotion
that should have its ending even be-
yond the grave, If then
Old Jim Burnes lived near Alton, In
the center of the county, and young
Ira worked for him. Burnes was fifty
three and Tincher was twenty-five.
They had been together year, when
the young man surprised his employer
by telling him that he was soon 10
marry Sarah Hochsteler, who made he.
home with .'the folks few miles
from the Howell county line, on the
West Plains road
Coin ter marry Sary." exclaimed
old Burnes why, Try. she's oldcr'n
you be-, an weddin's er that sort allus
turns out bad"
The old man IooRed severely at his
young hand" and Ira looked ut the
ground. Burncs was gray and bewhis-
kered. but his form was straight as n
hickory sapling His rough hands were
tucked under his trousers and he stood
with arms akimbo. eyinR the youth
who stood before him
AN besides went on old Burnes,
i've been keepin' comp'ny with sary
m'self fer moron two years, an she's
list right fer er man like me. I've got
ter farm. an I'm old ernuff, an-an' ter
tell thcr truth, an not shock yer nerves
too much. Try, I kinder reckon she
likes me"
What" exclaimed the young farm
hand, 'you au' my Sary:"
He stopped and buried his face in his
hands.
Thar. boy resumed old Burpes.
softly, don't fuss. Ez ! said, Sary is
er year older'n you, an she's on'y been
er foolin'. Sary thinks you IA on'y her
boy, an she kaint hep her lookin' up
ter me, yer know Ny land an"
Ira slipped away while the old man
talked. True enough. he thought 10
himself. he was only q boy. lie put
his hand to his face There was no
beard therc-only little punches of
short, struggling hairs around his chin
and up toward his ears lie kept walk
ing for an hour, not thinking where he
was going-only thinking of Sary and
her pretty ways-her clean, homespun
dresses and her merry laugh. Then he
stopped
'.She said she liked me an she said
she'd marry me in ther summer, an
she never said nothin' erbout old Jim.
But he's cr deacon in ther church, an
he wouldn't lie erbout it-nn' Sary, she
never got er ligion, an so she's been
er foolin' me-"
That was Irs's way OF looking at it
He studied the whole situation over
and over that afternoon In the even
ing he went back to the BurIcs cabin
down in the valley, and after he had
done the chores he went To old Jim and
asked for his money.
There's er leetle comm. ] reckon
he said, an I'm goin' down inter
Arkinsaw."
Coin ter quit?' asked old Burnes,
carelessly. We'll, sorry yer kaint
stay fer ther weddin', but hyars yer
money, an hope yer'lI have luck"
lie paid his hand in shin-plasters-
he only owed him four dollars-wages
for a month-and Ira put on his hat,
and gathering up the few things he had.
walked out of the little cabin. He left
old Burnes seated in from. of the rough
log fireplace, squirting tobacco juice
against tho dying embers, close to
which the calloused soles of his baro
feet were being toasted. The old fel-
low did not look k up until he was sure
that Ira must be gone Then he rose,
and putting on his cowhide boots, pre-
pared to leave the place.
''Thet war easy" he murmured.
Now, ef he don't go over ter Sary's to
find ont erbout il, kin tell ther gal
most anything. He'll jest erbout go
thar ter say good-by ter her-yes, he'll
do il, sure-sure he'll do il. Yes. I'll
GO an beat him thar"
Old Burnes hastened into his best
coat, and grasping stout stick, went
out He slipped yoke over his oxen,
and in a moment was In the West Plains
road. urging the slow animals west
ward 1t was after eight O'Clock when
he came in sight of the Hochstetler
home. The folks had not gone To bed
for there was light visible throagh
the open door and through tue chinlls
in the cabin wall He stopped the oxen
and jumping nimbly from his old trap.