Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-09-10
THE RUSTY OLD PISTOL.
A LEAF FROM ONE OF LIES
SAD TRAGEDIES.
The Random Shot and tho Ono That
Aimed to Kill-Tho Oxen waited
Patiently for the Master
That Never Came.

That Never Came.
The old-fashioned whlte-topped
wagon Ureaks slowly along the hard
winter road. What cumbersome
unwieldy affair il Isl Look at those
huge spokes. as thick as mans
wrist and notice the curved shape OF
the bed. so curlously like canoe.
The four strong oxen find il no easy
thing to pull even when empty as it
is now But in spite OF clumsiness
and lack OF beauty in shape or style.
1t harmonizes strangely with its sur
roundingS Both are certainly unique
and picturesque to degree
1t is one of those still. clear days,
so frequent in the Alleghenies relates
the Dstroit Free Press. Although the
leaves are brown and DEAD and but
few indications OF the awakening OF
vegetable life are visible. there is an
indescribable feeling OF life and
strength in the air. And that faint
red sheen on the treetops here AMI
there shows that the naples have nj.
ready felt aud acknowledged the first
faint glow OF spring. The mountains
loom up very near. Shorn of all their
autumn beauty they are far moro
impressive and magnificent than
when clad in softening and ueutraliling
foliage The silence is so great the
ring OF woodman's AK echoes from
far up the mountain side where he is
busily engaged in adding another bar
rem acre OF 'clearin'" TO the three or
four OF which he is already the proud
possessor.
Souther was on his way home from
the new saw-milL where he and his
oxen had been engaged in hard days
lob o hauliu'. As he plodded
along beside the slow moving wagon
his mind was full OF thoughts about
the new-built cabin few miles ahead
and the pretty. young wife inside it.
And as he thought his heavy I'M
shayen face grew bright and glad aud
he stepped out with freer holder
stride than his utterly tire1-out up
pearance OF a few moments before
would seem TO warrant They had
not been married long. and Souther
loved her with far more intensity and
depth OF devotion than the ph'esmat-
ic undemonstrative mountaineer usu-
ally exhibits toward his wife
He examined as he walked along. a
rusty. cheap pistol that he had pur-
chased from one OF the lum bermen
that day. II was strange TO say.
present for his wife. But she like
many women reared ia the mountaiua
was an ardent lover OF sport and an
excellent shot Her dearest wish was
to own pistol with which she might
knock over some OF the small game
that was very plentiful in the vicinity
OF the cabin.
Only one more mile did Souther
have to 60 as he turned his weary
oxen into narrow, stump road that
led through the woods TO his 'rlaaY-
In. II was fast growing dusk. and
the air was so keen aud cold that he
looked forward longingly to the roar.
Ing blaze and steaming hot coffee that
he knew his provident little spo use
would have ready for him.
The oxen quickened their pace as
they heard a sudden rustic in the
thick laurel bushes that fringe the
road Souther is quite as alarmed as
they. His. superstitious, mountaineer
mind immediately cunjure5 up
thoughts OF '.ha'nts' that make him
feel decidedly uncomfortable. But the
rustling continues in such noisy
fashion that he decides that nothing
but flesh aud blood can be the author
OF II.
I'll skeer the varmint anyhow. -
he thinks and sends O random shot
from the new pistol into the bushes
A faint scream answers the report
and he hastily crosses the road and
enters the belt Uf laurcl His search
Is not long one. There. at the foot
OF one OF the largest bushes. lies his
wife. her faint. horror-struck face
with the print OF deathly agony upon
it.
She does not wait for him to speak.
but sobs out between gasps OF pain.
Il was just tryin' to scare SO fur
fun. ] don't blame ye fur shootin'. ,
Souther throws himself on his knees
beside her His face Is even more
pale and agonizing than hers.
1T was my fault IL was"
That was all There is more life fin
the withered old laurel bush now than
in the body leaning SO heavily against
il.
Souther sat quite still for few
moments. His face was quite calm
again. Then he slowly raised the
pistol
The patient oxen waited minute
after minute for their lord and master
to start them for home
But he did not come.