The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-06-26

| rOau, urging Une 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 a light visible through
the open door and through the chinlls
in the cabin wall He stopped the oxen
and jumping nimbly from his old trap,
stepped inside. Sarah was there and
she voiced an exclamation upon seeing
the old man.
"Why, Uncle jim" she cried, what S
brought you over here? Try amt hurt?"
well, Sary," responded the old fell
low, mo, not tibet, but it's erbout Try
| that | came here tcrnight. reckon as
it amt pleasant news l bring yer, but
ter be short an sweet erbout it, Iry's
run off an gone ter Arkansaw, ter mar
ry or wilder down erbout Mountain
| Home"
The girl looked at old Burnes sternly
for moment and then came over to
his side.
Are yer tellin' me Their truth?" she
asked earnestly. Not er foolin, Uncle
Jim?"
Homes Jacks" was old Burnes' re-
Spouse, IAN hopes yer'n not take it
hard"
Sarah had spirit.
Take it hard?" she echoed, 'Wall,
guess not. thorter heap err Try, an
he said he never'd love nobody else.
He war goin' ter marry me purity soon,
an he said he'd come ter-night ter fix
up things. Sce," and Sarah stood back
a foot or so, ''here's the dress an fiXin's
| got, an put 'em on ter-night for Try
ter pass on"
The girls eyes were filling with tears
as she talked, and old Burnes almost
felt mean enough to sink out of sight
through the dirt floor. Sarah dashed
the teardrops away and tried to smile
to show how little she cared, but it was
such an effort that she turned back into
the dark to hide her faxe from the
| searching eye of the old mountaineer.
Young Tinchcr had not forgotten his
| engagement, but he didn't have the
heart to keep it. He struggled with
himself for an hour after he left old
Burnes, walking through the woods
toward the home of the Hochstetlers.
~ III llC ICSOlNcIl W DIT ltclSU say
good-by to Sarah.
at KANT do no HARM" he muttered,
IAN wanter do it,
He walked fast, but it was late when
he got within sight of the home of the
girl he loved He saw light there,
and it rather surprised him.
Funny" he muttered, but faint
much funnier n what old Jim told me
ter-day. Keepin' comp'ny fer two years
with Sary! Oh, the hussy"
Ira stood in the darkness outside of
the cabin. 1t was still night in the
spring, and despite the trifing fires
that were still kept up, the door re-
manned wide open. Ira peeped in.
Sarah had a visitor-old Burnes! The
young farmhand's heart almost stood
still How pretty Sarah was. She had
on dress that he had never seen be-
fore, and Ira thought her nearer an
angel than he thought angels them
selves could be. He sighed-almost so
loud that the inmates of the house
could hear him. Then he put his hand
to his face and felt the struggling bits
of beard Tears came into his eyes,
and he walked away.
"Old Jim told the truth" he muir
mered. II amt old ernuff ner good
ernutf for sech as Sary, an he is. 1
war fooled, thets all"
Old Burnes was not long in convinc-
ing Sarah that she ought to marry him
and before June had come with her
wealth of sunshine and roses and songs
of birds, the circuit rider was stopped
by the deacon, and the two were mar
ried. Sarah went to the little cabin
thae old Burnes had lived in since his
first wife died, long before, and for
several months made it an earthly |
Heaven for the old man.
Something brought young Tincher
back to Oregon before the year was
over, and he went to see old Burnes
and Sarah. Jim was not at home, but |
Sarah gave her old flame an unexpect.
eddy warm welcome. They talked for
an hour or SO and one thing brought
on another until Ira asked Sarah-he |
just couldn't help it-why she gave him
up. The whole thing was out in ten
minutes, and Ira went away. He had
an ugly look in his eye and his sullen-
ness alarmed Sarah. Old Burnes was
hOne an hour later and his wife told |
him that Ira had been there. The old !
man did not say word, but when |
Sarah was through with her story, he |
got his old gun and carefully reloaded |
both barrels and gave the hammer an
o:ing. Sarah shivered and went nerv-
ously about preparing the supper.
With every breath she admonished old |
Durnes not to be rash, but her husband |
was mum. 1t was nearly shutdown
when the brush parted and Ira Tincher,
with gun across his shoulder, stepped |
into the cleared place The old man
did not say word, but stepping to the
door, raised his weapon and fired at the
approaching figure. Ira did not stop,
but as quick as a flash returned the
shot.
Old Burnes did not speak. His gun
fell and a second later he followed it. |
He had bullet in his heart
Ira gave himself up and pleaded self
defense. 1t was long fight, and the
young farmhand;s neck was saved, but
he got ninety-nine years.
The only reason that he never be-
came the husband of Sarah Burnes, nee |
Hochstetler, is that Sarah lives in Ore
crOD county On tho Srro1, side Of 6f%r-