Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-07-16
THEY DIDN'T MARRY.
A Story of tho Ozark Mountains.


stetler came to marry Ira Tincher in
1871 has grown to be part OF the his
tory of Oregon county, Mo. Ira is
still a comparatively young man, and
Sarah is still on the sunny side Of SO,
but Jim Burnes, whom she did marry.
has been under the gravel and rocks
that cover his forty 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 So she will never become the
wife OF Ira Tincher. though for years
these two loved and swore q 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 SO
and Tincher was %. They had been
together year, when the young man
surprised his employer by telling him
that he was soon TO marry Sarah Hoch-
stetler. who made her home with 'the
folks" few miles from the Howell
county line, on the West Plains road.
''Goin' ter marry Sary!" exclaimed
old Burnes. why. Try. she's older'n
you be. an weddin's or that sort allus
turns out BAD
The old man looked severely at his
young hand" and Ira looked at the
ground. Burnes was gray and be-
whiskered, but his form was as straight
"a a hickory sapling. His rough
hands were tucked under his trousers
and he stood with arms akimbo, cycling
the youth who stood before him.
''An' besides. went on old Burnes,
"Tve been keepin' comp'ny with Sary
m'self fer more'n two years. an she's
jist right fer err man like me. I've
gotter farm. an I'm old ernufY, an
an ter tell yer Their truth. an not
shock yer nerves too much, Try, l
kinder rackon she likes me-"
What" exclaimed the young farm
hand, you an my Sary!"
He stopped and buried his face in
his hands.
Thar boy" resumed old Burnes
softly. Don't fuss. Ez said, Sary is
er year older'n you. an she's only been
er foolin'. Sary thinks you as on'y or
boy. an she KANT hep her lookin' up
ter me. yer know. My land an"
Ira slipped away while the old man
talked. True enough, he thought to
himself, he was only boy. He put
his hand to his face. There was no
beard there--only little punches Of
short, struggling hairs around his chin
and up toward his ears. He kept
walking 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 Their summer. an
she never said nOthin' erbOut old Jim.
But he's err deacon in Their church, an
he wouldn't lie erbout it-an' Sary. she
never got 'er 'ligion, an so she's been
or foolin' me-"
That was Ira'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 Burnes cabin
down in the valley, and after he had
done the chores, he went to old Jim
and asked for his money.
''There's err leetle comm. reckon,
he said, IAN I'm goin' down inter
Arkinsaw."
Coin ter quit?" asked old Burnes,
carelessly. well, sorry yer KANT
stay fer Their weddin', but hyar's yer
money. an hope yer'll hev luck"
He paid his hand in shin plasters-
he only owed him *4-wages for q
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 front of the
rough log fireplace. squirting tobacco
juice against the dying embers, close
to which the calloused soles of his bare
feet were being toasted. The old fell
low did not look up until he was SURE
that Ira must be gone. Then he rose
aud putting on his cowhide boots, pre-
pared to leave the place.
Tibet war easy" he murmured
':Now. ef he don't go over ter Sary'.
TO find out erbout it, kin tell Their ga
. most anything. He'll jest erbout 60
thar ter say goodbye ter her-yes
he'll do it, sure-sure he'll do it. Yes
I'll go an beat him thar"
Old Burnes fastened into his hes
coat and grasping a stout stick. wen
out. He slipped a yoke over his oxen
and in a moment was in the Yves
Plains road, urging the slow animal
westward. 1t was after 8 o'clock whel
he came in sight of the Hochstetle
home. The folks had not gone to bed
for there was light visible through
the open door and through the chink
in the cabin wall. He stopped tn
oxen and jumping nimbly from his oil
trap, stepped inside. Sarah was ther
aud she voiced an exclamation upo
seeing the old man.
.Why. Uncle jim" she cried, what
brought you over here? Try ain
hurt?"
well, Sary," responded the oil
fellow. mo, not tibet, but it's erbol
Try tibet l come here ternight-
reckon as it amt pleasant news l brin
yer, but ter be short an sweet erbo'
it, Iry's run Of an gone ter Arkal
saw, ter marry er wilder down erbo'
Mountain Home"