Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-01-22

give his right ham this very minuit ter
stan in Gabes boots
"Well, ez l didn't take i'm when thar
war two ter pick from, ! low WONT
break my neck ter choose i'm now, even
et hit is my las chance ter ketch man,
which ] don't cackerlate hit is, replied
Miss Mollie, with shipper. I'm glad
ter know, though, that Milt don't bear
me no i'll grudge, an has come ter see me
married. even ef hit is ter a rival O.
his'n."
"Thar's some more newcomers" said
her aunt, partly opening the door lead
curiously beyond. ~ low ez Gabe hev
come now"
AS she spoke there was confused
murmur of voices, among them being
that of Link McCord, who was to be
Gabe's best man, while a chorus seemed
to be inquiring concerning the tardy
groom.
Links voice suddenly dropped to q
lower key, and some one, near the part
ly opened door, called out warningly to
Mollie's aunt: "Shet tn doorl don't let
her hear"
The brides attentive ears. however,
had caught these words, and before
her aunt could obey them she had
pushed her aside and entered the larger
room.
At her coming "a sudden hush fell
upon the garrulous company-the dane
ers stood in little groups upon the floor
and even. the fiddler stopped with a
walling cry of his instrument
Whats tn matter?" cried Mollie,
looking anxiously from one to another.
where's Gabe?"
Instinctively the crowd fell back and
made way for her as she crossed over to
where Link McCord stood, silent and
embarrassed with lie burden of i'll news
he bore
Whats become o Gabe?" she asked,
in shriller tone.
"He-he's been kerried off" STAN
mered Link at last.
'Kerried off," echoed the expectant
bride, wonderingly--.w here?"
Il dunno-the Government officers
hev tuck i'm responded Link. now
grown loquacious since the ice Of his
reserve was broken.
"Jes ez he war gettin' ready ter
come over hyar, lot o pot cutters rid
up an ketched i'm, an tuck i'm way
with 'em down ter tn valley kentry.
They foun' his still, too, an cut an
burnt that up. He got word ter me ter
come right street erlong an let yer all
know bout his bad luck an why he
couldn't come hissef."
1t was all too true: even then this hap
less groom was being hurried further
and further away from his waiting
bride and the merry company who had
gathered to witness his marriage, as the
officers, with their unlucky prisoner,
rode along the winding mountain way
toward the valley lands and the Fed
eral court, in which he was to be tried
for illicit shilling.
While his fate under ordinary circum-
stances would have been matter OF
comparative Indifference, it was now a
thing of the utmost moment to him,
and the young mountaineer was beset
with harassing fears.
This anxiety of mind lasted him
throughout the slow. tedious journey
down to the valley lands, and through
the Imprisonment which followed, until
the slow process Of the law had fixed
his punishment at two years in the State
prison.
Two years Of captivity to him who
had been as free as the bird and beast
of his native hills, yet even he failed at
first to realize how many weary days
! Id -. -
waiting.
II he could have hidden his sweet
heart goodbye, and whispered into her
ear how lasting was his love, and en-
treated her to be Of good cheer until he
came back. fate would not have seemed
so cruel, but to be thus dragged away
on his very bridal night, that was, in
deed, trying ordeal Nor was this
lessened when one day there came to
his knowledge, through a guard, who