The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-08-07

8nc VolceQ an oxc4aIuallOu uPOu Scc<ht
the old man
why, Uncle Jim," she cried. whats
brought you over here? Try amt hurt"
We'll, Sary," responded the old fel-
low, mo, not thet but it's erbout Try
that came here ternight- reckon rs
II amt pleasant news ! bring yer. but
ter be- short an sweet erbout il. Iry's
run OF an gone ter Arkansaw. ter mar
~ er widder down erbout Mountain
Home"
The girl looked At old Burnes stornly
for moment and then came over to
his side.
Are yer tellin' me ther truth?~ she
asked earnestly. Not az foolin', u Cncle
Jim?"
Homes facks." was old Burnee' re-
sponse. ''an' hopes yer'n not take II
hard"
Sarah had spirit.
Take il hard?" sho echoed. wall,
] guess not. thorter heap er Try, an
he said he neverd love nobody else.
He war goin' ter marry me purity soon,
an he said he'd come ter-night ter fix
up things. See" and Sarah stood back
a foot or so. 'here's the dress an fxin'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 Burues almost
felt mean enough To sink ont of sight
through the dirt floor. Sarah dashed
the teardrops away and tried to smile
TO show how little She cared, but IL was
such an effort that she turned back into
the dark to hide her face from the
searching eye of the old mountaineer.
Young Tincher 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 tho woods
toward the home of the Hochstetlers-
At length he resolved to at least say
good-by to Sarah.
at kaint do no harm" he muttered-
''an' / wanter do it."
He walked fast, but il was late when
he got within sight of the home Of the
girl he loved lie saw light there,
and il rather surprised him.
Funny" he muttered, but 'taint
much funnier n what old Jim told me
ter-day. Keepin' comp'ny fer two years
with Saryl Oh, the hussy.''
Ira stood in the darkness outside of
the cabin II was a still night in the
spring, and despite the trifiing 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 a dress that he had never seen be-
fore, and Ira thought her nearer an
angel than he thought angels them-
selves could be. lie sghed-Rlmost SO
loud that the inmates of the house
could hear him. Then he put his hand
10 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
-rnuff for sech as Sary, an he Is /
war fooled, thet's 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
ri-d- Sarah went 10 the little cabin
that old Burnes had lived in since his
first wife died, long before, and for
several months made il 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-
edly 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
home an hour later and his wife told
him that Ira had been there. The old
man did not say q word, but when
Sarah was through with her story, he
got his old gun and carefully reloaded
both barrels and gave the hammer an
oiling. Sarah shivercd and went nerv-
ously about preparing the supper.
With every breath she admonished old
Burnes not to be rash, but her husband
was mum. 1t was nearly sundown
when the brush parted and Ira Tincher,
with gun across his shoulder, stepped
into the cleared place. The old man
did not say a word, but stepping to the
door, raised his weapon and fired Mt the
approaching figure. Ira did not stop,
but as quick as fash 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 tho
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
gon county, on the sunny side of fifty,
while Ira is spending his days within
the gray walls of a state penitentiary.
Homer Bassford, in Detroit Fres
Press.