Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-01-23

ly land Whlch naQ Deen allOtVeu as neI
share of Uncle Ben's legacy, and enter
ing wild-plum thicket, wound down
ward to a shallow creek or ''run, close
to which issued spring of clear ana
sparkling water.
Both the spring and the creek were
low now, after the long drought, and
Selma, placing her pail where the tiny
stream dribbled from the rocks stood
leaning against gum tree, while tears
rose slowly to her eyes.
Topknot busted herself with forsging
among the rocks and weeds on the edge
of the run.
Presently there was rustic in the
plum .thicket above the spring, and Sc
lima, looking up, saw a young man max
ing his way down the bank-a tall,
manly young fellow, with honest-loOk-
ing brown eyes and a sunburnt face.
He wore rough homespun suiV, anu
carried a gun on his shoulder.
~ counted on finding you here about
this time" he said, as he stood before
her and held out his hand, while the
brown eyes looked straight into hers.
"But what's the matter, Linyl You
look s if you'd been crying"
At the look and tone, the tears which
had stood in her eyes overAowed, but
she wiped them away quickly with her
apron and looked up with a smile.
"It's only the same old trouble,
Buck"
"Mother aud Sally" A half-augry
flush deepened the healthy color in his
cheek, and his face assumed an express
sion of frmness. "Sit down here, he
said; 81 want to say something to you
We've had enough of this trouble, and
it's time it should be put stop to. We
can't do it but in one way"
She looked at him inquiringly.
"There's only one way" he repeated,
land that is to take things in our own
hands and get married right along, with
out asking anybody's consent on either
side"
"0h, Buck, they'll all be mad
mother and your father and all-and the
folks will blame US, and Psrson TilleI
will be sure to say something in his
next preaching about disobedience to
parents"
''Let himl l don't care a button for
what folks will say. am twenty-three
and you are seventeen-both of us old
enough to think and act for ourselves.
or course know that we are poor, but
can work, thank the Lord, and WI.
Say, Liny''-he drew her toward him,
and, holding both her hands, looked
pleadingly into her eyes-"if you'll
promise to marry me next week, I'll set
to work tomorrow raising our cabin over
there. The Lathem boys I'll help, aud
Dick Joyner and his uncle, and we'll
have it ready in a weeks time, with fur
niture enough to answer at first
"But we shall want so many things
that woman knows more about than a
man, she said, shaking her head. ~
am afraid it won't do, Buck"
And then, while the pail at the spring
overaowed, they sat and discussed the
possibilities and impossibilities of the
whole matter, until even the impatient
lover was complied to admit that their
prospects were not promising.
"We must wait until we are a little
richer" Stella said, affecting, for Bucks
sake, a cheerfulness she did not feel.
"You aud your horse go on working for
your father, and NE and Topknot will do
our share. Look at her! Amt she a
regular beauty"
"She looks bustling aad perky
enough, " ne replied, turning his eyes on
the fowl, which was still busying herself
on the edge Of the run. "See how she
is hammering away there with her bill,
as if she'd made.up her mind to get
somethiu' out of it. She's settin' US
good example, seliny."
They sat for a moment silent, the girl
unconsciously watching the hen. Pres
emily she looked interested.
''Whst is it she's pecking at Buckl
See how it shines as she turns it over"
He looked up indifferently, but after
awhile rose and sauntered slowly to tie
spot. He took up the bit of rock, about
the size of an egg, upon which the fowl
hsd been wasting her energies, and,
closely examing it, turned back to Sc
lima.
"How prettyl" she said, a1miringly,
turning it to the sun. at shines like
gold.
81 wouldn't be bit surprised if it is
gold, Buck said, with little excite
ment. 81 remember grandfather saying
that the old name of this run was Gold
Greek, and that in the old days some
body found lot Of gold hereabouts.
Some folks laughed at him; but this may
be gold"
They went to the low waters edge and
scraped among the pebbles, but no other
shining sparks rewarded them.
"This piece of rock was washed down