Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-16


bin tellin me he wants to marry you.
Now want you TO understand you amt
never goin to see him no more. The
mean, thievin min, to think of him
talzin my darter.' When Haidee heard
me say Jacks name she got red: when
she heard me say she weren't to see him
any more she got white: but when |
come to callin him names she bounced
up an she says: Daddy says she You
oughter to be ashamed of yourself He
amt no Injin; he's white all through.
He's good man. and he loves me an
love him, that l do, and with that she
ran into the back room, an l heard her
cryin as tho her heart would break.
Boys, you might have knocked me
down with feather. All my wust
fears was true. reeled to chair an
sot down, an l cried as hard as Haidee.
When she heard me she come back an
put her arms round me and said, kinder
trembly like: Daddy says she, Daddy
I'm sorry for what said. Do try an
like Jack. He does love me, daddy, an
l love him; an if you'll love him, too,
we'll all be SO happy. But couldn't
give in, the pill were too bitter; SO told
her I'd never consent.
"That evenin my old woman, who
were all on Jacks side, an me had the
only quarrel recollects since our mar
riage. told her all of the stories
gainst Jack I'd ever heard, but it didn't
have no effect. Now, as a matter of
fact, Jack Furniss weren' t no worse than
most young men ON the border-he were
really great deal better. But it seemed
to me, when thought of him in fight
as tho no man ever got into fight
afore; an when I'd think of his drinkin
little, it We're like he were drunk all
the time in my mind. The old woman
used to tell me he were no worse than |
were myself, an couldn't say he were,
but for all that b'lieve he were. Fact
is, hated him then, so I'd have b'lieved
anything bout him any man said.
knowed Haidee wouldn't see him less
agreed, cause she told me so, an never
knowed her to break her word So on
that point / were safe, but, Lord, how
unhappy were. l got into two fights
myself, an / drinked more Ticker than
were good for me, but for all that
didn't get any better.
"The old woman thought l were
wrong and said so, which didn't make
me feel any much good, but what drove
me wild were that Haidee didn't sing
any more. She'd go bout her work
quiet like, an she'd cry when she thought
| weren't lookin, but were-most all
the time. Finally, arter bout three,
weeks, give in; l couldn't stand it any
longer. 'Haidee,' says | one evening
'Haidee, won't you come and give your
daddy kiss, like you used to do? Hal
dee she come over, an pulled her down
ON my knee, an l kissed her an says:
'Haidee,' says /, I'm agoin to give my
own baby girl to another man. You
can marry Jack now, won't stop ye
Waal, you oughter seen that girl. She
flushed all up an she kissed me, an then
she laid her head down on my shoulder
an cried for a spell very quietly; and
then she went into the other room an
seed her kneel down and pray.
81 took my hat an went out an sad
died up. | rode up to Jack Furniss'
house, an when he come out held out
my hand, an says-for wanted to get
through the thing quick-'Jack, you
can come an see Haidee tomorrow He
began to talk, but, bless ye, didn't
wait to hear anythin from him, just
rode off. AS l rode home / were hap
pier than were afore, but it seemed to
me like as had sore heart-it hurt SO.
Still, 1 didn't go back on my word an
they was married bout month arter
that. They live bout ten miles from
here, an Jacks doin we'll with cattle
He's east now, maxim arrangements for
sellin stock, an gettin some imported
stock an sheep. He's a good husband,
an Haidee's as happy as the day is long,
an she's always singin now, same as she
used to. I'm pretty well used to the
change; but for all that l sometimes
wish she could have staid a little girl,
when she was all mine. IL. J. S. in
New York News.