Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-18

Ed THE MEAL
by the time the crowd came up over the
divide.
When they came in among us we
had no one TO blame with the inoppor-
tune visit; they were all tenderfeet,
Austin and Galveston people. the lead
ing spirit young lady, q Miss Belle
Hardin, who had been visiting at the
ranches above. and q few days at my
place. and was now riding down 20
take the Galveston, Harris burg e. San
Antonio road home, her baggage hav-
ing preceded her. They intended To
stop and take supper with us, and then
ride on ten miles TO the ranch below in
the moonlight, which was very fine
How should I know thai the whole
wild excursion--for it was wild one
for ladies at that time of the year-had
been undertaken at the command of
one imperious young woman, because
she wanted to see the Old Man before
she left? But l did know It. as well as If
she had told me in so many words, by
the time Miss Bellies disappointed eyes
had roamed ever the entire camp, taken
in the inside of the tent, cruelty turned
open to their gaze, and turned inquir-
ingly to me.
would have told her, instinctively,
that the Old Man was buoy about some
where, and would be in directly; but
the devil counseled Corb TO say, in a
most aggravating and public manner:
THE Old Man-thats what we call Mr..
Bassett down here-cut and run when
he saw who you folks were. He's not
fixed for company. you see, and he's
not very sociable, anyhow; guess we
won't miss him.
The flush that rose on Miss Bellies
cheek boded i'll for the Old Man. Isaw
the thought rise in her pretty, angry
face, that if she could brave a long,
hard ride in an unpropitious season,
and the ridicule of those with her, by
persisting that she liked it and was
taking it for pleasure. it was as little
as he could do to welcome her gladly.
Why should she go hanging after a rec
reant sutton. here, where the best in
that line goes a-begging? Sho turned
sharply and interested herself violent
ly in the camp and its equipments.
Fortunately, the crowd announced that
they had brought grub with them, or
don't know how they would have
supped. Amalio had not yet returned
from his last trip for supplies. and we
were pretty nearly reduced to eating
sotol with the sheep.
Finally, when had seen the lot of
them, with Corb TO help. at work open
1. l.
and the ladies, with their habits tucked
up, fussing over the campfire and look
ing wonderfully pretty and sweet in
their uncoqth surroundings. strollcd
down to the thicket to see how Jared
the Old Man.
He had seen who our visitors were,
and he was the most woe-begone. for
saken-looking creature you ever saw.
81 had my needle and thread with
me. and I've toggled up my clothes so
they look some better" he said.
Couldn't you. please, get me just a lit
tie bit of wster?'
"Can you. friends. refuse me water
| Can you, when die so soonr'
quoted Corb. who had followed ne, in
ficndish enjoyment q this abject re-
| qucst-but something in the Old Mans
| eyes went TO my heart Poor. blunder-
ing. old black moth. futtering after n
star For had no doubt Miss Belle
merely wanted TO see him 10 assure
herself that she could justly hang his
scalp among the many other trophies Of
| that nature she was taking home 20
Galveston from the plains, and ] sharp
ly told Corb TO go about his proper
business entertaining the visitors
and though il went against my con-
science, for the supply was fearfully
low land suppose something DELAYED
| Amalio'l 7 wet one end of towel and
conveyed il 10 the Old Man. and saun-
. tered back to the merry picnick-
! ing pronp at the FIRE. reficcti,g
on the folly of all mankind in general.
and young folks in particular. What
madness made the Old Man set his
fancy on girl like thate A belle. a
beauty, pstsed. spoiled child Of for
tune, who would oplv look at him.
was firmly convinced, 10 count him of
as ''cne more. . as the knitting women
counted heads az the puillotine in the
reign OF terror Not bnt what be was
good euosRh--and donblv good enough
for anv woman. and tolernbiy good
match. but could blame mere
woman. without the chance had for
knowing. II she should rate Corb's
sleepy eyes and inches above the Old
Mans heart ~ gold?
| Poor Old NAM When he came iar-
Eing and shamtling into camp he va.
/ ANYTHING bat your notion Of a success
FOL woocr Bir face was red viii
bashfui misery. aud had never knewr
before how white bis eyes coald CLEAN
from the thicizet of six weeks
beard Miss Belle completed his dis
com 6ture By holding 20 him over be,
shoulder. ard then. IS II sfrack ~ /,
ss4taoen thought. offering her hard anS
saying y forgot. ! believe ( didn1
! see pcn w hen sre FIRST came THIS
when We orre brit three roen IN carnrs
wss rather transparent and vers
gratriioEs: bet Il did for the f,id Man
is sasssded by the campfire ans