Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-06-25

the open door and through the chinlzs
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, whats
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 ternight. reckon as
it amt pleasant news bring yer, but
ter be short an sweet erbout it, Iry's
run off an gone ter Arl<ansaw, ter mar
nv err widder down erbout Mountain
Home"
The girl looked at old Burnes sternly
for moment and then came over to
his side.
s'Are yer tellin' me ther truth?" she
asked earnestly. ''Not er foolin', Uncle
Jim?''
''Hones' facks," was old Burnes' re-
Spouse, ''an' hopes yer'n not take it
hard. -
Sarah had spirit.
"Take it hard?" she echoed, "Wall,
guess not. thorter heap er 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. See," and Sarah stood back
q 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 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 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 the woods
toward the home Of the Hochstetlers.
At length he resolved to at least say
good-by to Sarah.
SIT KANT do no HARM" he muttered.
''an' 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 Saryl Oh, the hussyI'
Ira stood IN the darkness outside Of
the cabin. 1t was a 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 Burnesl 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. 81 amt old ernuff ner good
ernuff 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
ried. Sarah went to the little cabin
that 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-
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 a 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 shivered 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 shutdown
when the brush parted and Ira Tincher,
with a 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 a 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
gon county, on the sunny side of fifty,
while Ira is spending his days within
the gray walls of state penitentiary.
Homer Bassford, in Detroit Free