The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-06-30

"Ther it is fer yer. It's jest 10 days till
| ther anniversary of our Independence comes
| 'round agin. Rocky Camps a-fourlshln, and
who's sayin' we can't afford to snow OIL our
patriotism? It's an ALFRED disgrace not to OBJ
| serve with some patriotic doins our 1ndepend-
ence Day. Several O yer saloots have wives
an children hyer i'll Their canyon, an as Yer
Mayor feel n responsibility TO help give them
| kids start OH ther road to patriotism. An
bein' that aforesaid official. issue my verbal
proclamation orderin' this Fourth o July to
be observed with honors beittin' our citizen
ship down hyer in Rocky. An dang er galoot
who don't feel no patriotism, says
:" lie, too Ne too" was yelled in cordial
approval. ,, 49,.
How DO yer propose our ceebratin' Their
Fourih?" asked Doc Johnson.
/ First. we'll all chip in an send Perry over
to Denver to buy us fag-a halt-dozen OF EN-
| an lot O. pyrotechnics.
"Wot's them?"
Fireworks, Hobson," returned Johnson.
AVER orto be too perlte to question bout our
Mayors big words. Act as if yer knowed, II
yer don't"
1--WE want plenty O. frecrackers, so Their kids
can kick up thunder generally" Big Dan pro-
| ceeded well hold ther celebration down In
Their woods along Short Fork. VIII Perry can
make the openin' speech he's been to college.
i I'll app'int Doc Johnson, Hobson, and Shorty
to run the fireworks; but who'll we git to read
the Declaration O Independence?
Mary Woods. She's been to school in Den
yer and can read hettcrn the lame preacher
they got at Four Mile Creek, said Doc john
| son.
At mention of that name the big Mayors
face flushed crimson. and he made no reply.
| Mary Woods was the only woman whom he
| had ever loved. but she seemed as far above
| him as the stars which he could see from the
open doorway Of the Green Star glittering in
the azure vault. He had never dared tell his
| love in the days of her fathers prosperity at
the Four Mile Camp. He was only paid work.
| man in John Woods's mines. Then she had
gone to Denver to study and become great
| lady, while he drifted away TO New Mexico.
She had apparently passed from his life
| forever but never from his memory. That re-
manned in his big heart, tenderly cherished,
as something entirely sacred, deathiess flower.
! When he came back from the Southwest John
! Woods was dead, his fortune gone, and Mary
was said TO be teaching school near Colorado
| Springs He would have sought her out then,
only he loved her so tenderly aud esteemed
himself so lightly. He was only rough, robust
Biz Dan, while she was sweet, gentle, and edn-
Gated 1t was folly for him to think she would
return his love-
| But she had suddenly appeared at Rocky
Camp, lured there by its incipent boom, to in-
vest some of her hard earnings, gained from
teaching in mining property. She had been
| there almost week now, but the Mayor. more
| hopelessly in love than ever, had not called on
| her.
| Mary Woods had started up the canyon to
! inspect some claims in which she had mind
to invest. Her step was elastic, and the bright
Jnne sunshine added warm glow to her pretty
| face.
Big Dan saw her coming, and his heart began
humping like a sledge- hammer under his old
jacket. lie was going to face her like man,
but that humping thumped away MS last grain
| OF courage.
Mary saw him disappear behind a bowlder
hard by, and smiled quietly to herself; at the
same moment Doc johnson and Ho5son ap-
| preached her from the opposite direction.
They halted her near the bowlder ard john
son. who was an old friend of the Woods fam
lily in the Four-Mile Camp days, said:
1--WE had a meetin' last night at Their Green
Star, an decided to have some fourth-of-Jnly
doin's / thought mebbe ye'd like to hear
bout it. Mary"
Certainly; Pm glad that Rocky Camp
means to keep abreast of the times in patriotic
matters" she returned in clear, womanly
J voice.
I'VE got yer on Their program, Mary"
Indeed? How shall l help you in the cele-
bration2"
I'VE 'lected yer ter read the Declaration O.
Independence"
"You are kind to give me such an important
| place on the program. shall try not TO disap
| point you"
Il knowed yer could be relied on, Mary"
/ Then III an aside to Ho0son: " Watch thet cor
ner o ther bowldcr, an don't let him escape"
Then ! want to consult yer on another pint
of interest to Their citizens o. Rocky. Thar's
| orr Mayor; he's one o. Their best souls livin'
! but hain't got no woman. Some o. us galoots
after meetin' broke last night, got TO talkin',
an the idee come to me thct foundin homes
.s,.1n l,.,
Now, / think heap O. our Mayor, an ther solo
thing lackin' to make him as good man our
President is a woman. thought mebbe. Mary,
yer would give us a hint wbar our Mayor'd
find wife for Fourth o. July"
81 presume Dir. Henley prefers the selection
of wife left entirely TO himself" she replied,
her checks flushing strangely.
Yes; he's big enough TO s'lect for hisself.
Say, Mary, don't you remember how frien'ly
yer an Dan Henley use ter be in them ole
days at Four Nile?"
"Dear old days! The happiest of my life!
How can / forget them?" She quite forgot
herself in the feelings called up by Doc John
sons question. But of course he doesn't re-
member them"
Yes he does, Mary! :" said deep voice at
her side, and the next moment her hand was
caught in the large, honest palm of the man
vino had hidden from her behind that bowlder,
bat whose bashfulness had abruptly fed.
1hen through her tears she caught glimpse
of johnson dragging Hobson rapidly down tho
path.
Ii was the evening Of the Sd that the stage
deposited VIII Perry and his numerous pur-
chases at Denver, safe in Rocky Camp. Doc
johnson and Hobson rushed upon him imme.
diatcly.
Say, Perry, yer heerd the news?" asked
Doc.
WHAT news?" from Perry.
"Bout ther Mayor"
mo; what is it?"
Hes goin' TO marry! Yes, sir; an yer bet
we honor our Mayor fer it. He's maxim
arrangements bout 1t now. We've ingaged Their
lame preacher over ter Four Mile to say Their
rites at Their Fourth July doin's to- morrow.
An thet hain't all bout Their Mayor He's
sold his halfo' yer claim 10 big, rich, plug.
hated feier, Mr.. n. L. Arlington"
\. /. Arlington, of Chicago?" asked Perry
quickly.
The same. An. Perry, he's got his gal
with him. Their all-fredest purity creetcr she
is ever did see. Yer gone coon sure when
yer sock eyes on her. Her eyes air blue as
thet sky up thar. an her hairs jest ther color
o them buttereups that growed in ther ole
medder back in Indiany. Her an Mary
Woods air thick as hops already, an she's
| coaxed her dad to give way Their bride, an
hep IN Our patriotic doin's Oh Short Fork"
VIII Perry waited 10 hear no more, but con-
signing his purchases TO the charge of Doc
Johnson, he walked away down the canyon to
think over what he had just heard
/ sye "a liar if,f i.l he ron