Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-12-22
THEY PREPARED THE MEAL.

ranches above, and few days at my
place, and was now riding down to
take the Galveston, Harrisburg & 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 know that 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 did know it, as we'll 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, instinctiyely,
that the Old Man was busy about some
where, and would be in directly; but
the devil counseled Corb to say, in a
most aggravating and public manner:
1.-The Old Man-that's what we call Mr..
Bassett down here--cut and run when
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 BODIED ill 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-begRing? She turned
sharply and interested herself violent
~ 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
ing cans, boiling coffee and frying ham,
and the ladies, with their habits tucked
up, fussing over the campfire and look
ing wonderfully pretty and sweet in
their uncouth surroundings, strolled
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.
Il 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 lit
tie bit of water?"
''Can you. friends. refuse me water
Can you, when die 50 soon:''
quoted Corb, who. had followed me, In
fendish enjoyment of this abject re-
quest-but something in the Old Mans
eyes went to my heart Poor, blunder-
ing, old black moth, fiuttering after q
star. For / had no doubt Miss Belle
merely wanted to see him to assure
herself that she could justly hang his
scalp among the many other trophies of
that nature she was taking home to
Galveston from the plains, and 1 sharp
IL told Corb to go about his proper
business - entertaining the visitors
and though it went against my con-
science, for the supply was fearfully
low land suppose something delayed
Amalio!) wet one end of towel and
conveyed it to the Old Man. and sauE-
tered back to the merry picDick-
ing group at the fire. retlectiog
ON the folly of all mankind in general.
and young folks in particular. What
madness made the Old Man set his
fancy on a girl like that? belle, a
beauty, petted, spoiled child of for
tune, who would only look at him.
was firmly convinced, to count him OF
az s'one more as the knitting women
counted heads at the guiliotine in the
reign of terror. Net but what he was
good enough-and doubly good enough
for any woman, and q tolerably good
match; but could I blame q mere
woman, without the chance had Tor
knowing, II she should rate CORDS
sleepy eyes and inches above the Old
Mans heart of gold?
Poor Old Mani When he came lar