Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-29

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folks air about as common. Been enjy.
ing yerself today, Miss Mandy?'
s.No, haven't, Mr.. Gray, It's been
sa uncommon dull day to me. You
been injying yersef today. Mr.. Gray?'
<sNo, / can't say that / hev, Miss
Mandy. / was down at shootin
match at Cowskin Flat, but there wus
no good shootin done, and / came home.
But looks like purity gal like you
shouldn't feel lonesome hey, Miss
Mandy~
"Why not, Mr.. Graya Don't yer think
gals git lonesome sometimes"
"Well, thought, Miss Mandy, ye'd
have plenty cump'ny, spesh'ly on Sum
day."
''Oh, yes, I've had cump'ny, but ii
warnt Q bit agreeable. I'd rather be
alone at eny time than to hev it"
IF it's fair question, who's been yer
cump'ny today, Miss Mandy"
Nobody in pertic'ler at least that's
whut think Of Van Jones.
sWhy, seems to me, Miss Mandy, that
Van ought to be purity good company;
he's right smart feller, ] allus
| thought"
well, don't like him, Mr.. Gray,
and hope he'll never call ag'in."
"Why, Miss Mandy, did you and him
hev any -troublep"
"A little, not much"
would We mind tellin me what it
was about, Miss MandyY' and Sam bash
fully hitched his chair few inches
nearer the .blushing Mandy.
"I'd rather not, Saln," she replied,
hanging her head in modesty at calling
him for the first time by his given name.
"Of course, Mandy, if it's secret l
don't want to hear it; it's none Of my
bizness no how, reckon, is it, Mandyy'
and Sans arm began cautious jour
ney around Miss Mandy's apron strings.
Mandy (nnconsciously, no donbt) help
ed Sans arm along little by leaning
toward him, as she answered:
"Well, Sam, guess you won't tell
anybody if I tell you. Van Jones's ben
tryin his best to get me to have him,
and / jest p'intedly told him he couldn't.
He then wanted to know if Thought
more Of some one else, and told him it
didn't consarn him. had ter threaten
to call pa before he'd leave. He were
powerfully disap'inted when I give him
no for an answer. I've allus thought
purity well of Van as q friend, but I'm
afraid if his dander's up he'll do some
thin mean"
''And what did you refuse Van fer,
Mandyr said Sam as he gave the girl
sly squeeze.
"How kin yer ask, Sam? Didn't yer
know kase why? Kin woman marry a
man she don't luv?'
"Then yer didn't luv Van, Mandy, is
that fac, an couldn't yer if he'd mar
ried yer?'
mo, Sam, never could, and Mandy
looked at the floor as she spoke.
MANDY, if yer don't and can't luv
Van, and yer amt luvin anybody else,
how, er-an-er-humph! would yer like
"Like ter whaty' Softly asked Mandy.
GAS WIS goin on ter say, Mandy"
and he took one of her hands in his as
he continued, ''as wus goin on ter say
If yer don't Inv Van, and yer have told
him to go, how'd it be if er-I-er-wus
ter ax"- Here Sam stopped stock still,
as if he was unable to proceed any far.
ther.
Mandy beamed encouragingly on him
and smiling one of her sweetest smiles,
said:
"What wus yer goin ter say, Sam?
Yer needn't ter be bit uneasy, Sam,
fer won't say word about it ter any
body, if it's secret"
"Well, as / wus a-sayin, Mandy, if
yer don't like any other feller better
than yer do me-would er-er-yer mind
O. havin me?' and Sam broke down COM
pletely.
Mandy turned as red as hollyhock,
and it seemed to Sam that the weight of
her shoulder increased as it rested heavi-
ly against him. Whether he feared
that he could not thus support her
weight OF that she would fall, he sud-
denly clasped her in his arms. She
threw her arms around his neck and
sweetly whispered in his ear, '.I luv yer,
Sam, and I'll have yer"
A pair of wicked eyes cleaned through
the single, uncurtained window at the
picture. The eyes were those of Van
Jones.
''Ah! yer there, are yer, blast yer!"
Re ground between his teeth. "Well,
Id like ter kill yer both, but I'll not do
it tonight. But know what can do;
I can spile the beauty of this yer fine
mare O. his'n. He'll never know who
dun it," and walking to where Sans
mare stood patiently awaiting her mas
ter's return, he whipped his knife from
his pocket and in another instant cut off
both of the poor animals ears close to
her head.
"There now," he growled to himself.
"Sam Gray, know that'll almost kill
yer when ye see it. I wish to God it
would" and the brute skunk off in the
darkness to his den.
When Sam Gray on the following
morning discovered the Disagreement of
his best horse-by the loss of both her
ears-he was the maddest man in "seven
states" Yet he held his tongue. Sam
was not man to make threats. He was
reticent fellow and kept his troubles
to himself. But he was mad, and in his
heart heswore to be revenged on the one
who had perpetrated the outrage. The
first person whom he suspected was Van
Jones. He knew his rivals dastardly
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