The state herald., 1892-08-19

anyone but him. He laughed. and
said she didn't seem to think Of any
hardship. Well We both got mad,
and told him | would dance with her
anyway and l went back and said
Hank couldn't keep his engagement
Well, she danced with me. but Hank
and mo were enemies and no did mo
every bad turn he could. Well fused
to go down the river every Sunday TO
old man Lees place and sometimes
found Hank. Simpson there and he
went down sometimes In the week.
couldn't tell which Of us Elsie liked
the best or whether she was fooling
both OF us. She was pretty enough
for better than us.
Here u tender motto crept into his
voice.
Il had to go down on the boat to
Vicksburg, which would take about
two weeks, rs we would have to wait
for a cargo. 1t WIS a regular purgn.
tory to me all tho time was gone,
for l was afraid Hunk would get the
best OF me and l made up my mind to
have 1t out when got back. The
next Sunday | went down. had
bought ring in Vicksburg. with two
claspcd hands holding n little garnet
to give her and thought muyre that
would help me out found her in a
little arbor In u corner OF the garden
She seemed glad TO SEQ mo but she
acted the same to Hank. SO | couldn,
tell anything from that She asked
me about the trip and wanted to
know If l had lost my hoart to any
pretty girl in Viclssburg. ! though,
it was now or never so | said: How
could when left 1t Mt honor"
"'Who took caro- OF II whilo you
were gone? she asked
" I'd like to think you did. / said
i wish, Elsie you could like mo lit.
tie better than Hank Simpson. You
know how much care for you
She looked down and dug her
shoe into tho dirt and said: How
should 1? You never told me-
"Well, tell you now. and can t
bear to think OF Hank coming hero to
SEQ you when want you to marry me.
ioohtu ~ uiO huu tIGh bttll.
Why. Bob. didn't know that you
meant anything
'lftal Aiss Majors she didn't
80 RsoA iass vhsa lpus ny arm
IN = ~ Ind talsta her ielt !.
~ lsS1e In hsesoA aad even felt
sorry FOR Hnnk Simpson ] wanted "a
do something great that would make
me worthy to have Elsie for my vito.
After she had given me her promise
didn't care for Hank Simpson and
wasn't bit jealous OF him. She told
me that she had begun to care for me
Mt tho dance, but had been afraid To
cross Hank. rs he had such temper.
Maybe you want TO know why
am away out here. We'll. Elsie and
mo agreed that il was no use trying
to make any money TO buy n home
working for days wages on the river.
heard that good men In the mines In
the mountains got big wages and sc
thought would try. went to see
Elsie the night before | came away.
aud she cried and hung to mo till
almost lost my courage to go. but
did. have been hero year now
and saved II good deal. ] have written
to Elsie every time anyone went "a
Meckor and had letters pretty often.
We werc 10 have becn married nj
Christmas and now IL Is only month
away. and here am laid up for the
winter and showed In. too. Wha,
will Elsie think when she don't heat
from mcPn
The poor fellow turned his head
away with tears In his eyes BY way
OF consolation. said: You may be
able TO send letter soon"
NO" no said 'fhorc's ten feet o.
snow in White canyon"
lie seemed In the depths OF misery
and left him.
The weeks slipped away aud the
weather was steadily cold. with occa.
sional light falls OF snow. and ms Bob
Traversly looked out OF his little win
dow at tho rounded outlines OF the
peaks ! could see that his heart wa.
far away with tho girl he loved. por.
haps thinking that his rival was TAX
ing advantage OF his silence to catch
heart on the rebound. A week DO.
fore Christmas the weather suddenly
moderated and the air felt rs balmy
as spring. The snow melted rapidly
and began TO disappear In our little
valley and on the lower slopes of the
mountain. Every now nnd then on
some distant peak We could SEQ n
slide come down leaving black
trail behind. Christmas day Bob
could have his arm out OF lis sling.
but even tho fact OF his injuries heal.
Ing so rapidly had no effect upon his
spirits In the morning no said 10
me: III were only In Cairo to-day
Elsie will think ! nm dcad.'
A couple of days before Christmas
Two OF the men had announced their
intention Of trying to get TO Meeker.
Mr. Ronfrow warned thom 10 be care.
ful. and above all things not To &c,
caught In slldo In the afternoon
was sitting reading TO bob. who was
lying with his iaco TO the wall and
apparently not paying much attention.
Suddenly ho turned over
Have | been n,loepF' he asked.
mo why" ] asked
I've been dreaming awake then ?
! thought ] heard Elslo's vo.e c.n
1hcn sitting straight up In bed
without my regard for broken lcgS
no calculated with tho creates,
establishment md JOYS Elsie
turned 10 tho door and thoro WI.
tho living embodiment OF tho pretty
girl whose picture Bob kept under his
pillow. Hut only mn instant she
stood ,hcro and then Ind both arms
around Bob crying and laughing by
turns
II seems sho Ind arrived a, Meeker
N week before IN, could got no ono
10 venture with her through tho snow
10 tho Tin Cup mine until tho forum.
alto arrival of tho two minors The
only thing that prevented n wedding
on Christina, was that there was no
a. a