The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-12-23

| to make a suitable full dress toilet
LET up, John. There's no use talkin
Pm goin over there an look at her
that's all. If this is her own deal al
she's satisfied, why I'm bound to be. L
it isn't-if that little old swelled III
prairie dog an the old folks have sort O.
rushed it in on her No, you can't go
nor Billy. I'm just goin by myself
! all peaceable an natural"
They were waiting for the preacher Al
the Austell ranch-he was an hour over
due. There was a sort of strained un
easiness in the air since Jim's unexpected
arrival, despite his quiet manner and
friendly greeting.
He only needed one glance at Chum-
mics little face, and her look of half ter
| rified delight would have melted more
obdurated and injured lover. Presently
some lively young spirit out on porch
exclaimed, ''Oh, let's play hide and seek;
the moons bright as day"
Jim watched Chummie, and, as she
crossed darkened eatry, caught her In
his arms an instant, whispering, Glide
out at the far side of the corral-Cinco's
there, hitched." She slipped around a
back way unseen, while Jim walked
boldly over in front, and there, behind
the S-foot stockade, they met at Cinco's
head.
"You don't want him, do you, dar-
hngr'
"Oh, no; oh, no, JimI"
''Will you risk it with me and CincoY'
"Oh, yesi QuickI"
They'll follow. Where's the saddles
and bridles2 I'll put you on Rascal"
"Al on the back porch-there isn't
time, anyhow-oh, hstenl'
Jim lifted the little figure instantly
upon Cinco behind the saddle, swept the
bridal rein up from the snag over which
It hung and sprang into the saddle in
front of her, and her arms were around
him. Even while he wheeled Cinco at
the corral gate he dashed in and Circling
once around it drove the horses snorting
out before them with swinging fQuirt.
Jim thrilled within that encircling CIR
die and remembered how once, riding
over from Doggy run, he had found her
afoot at the far end Of the ranch, Rascal
having given her the slip; how he had
taken her up behind him on Cinco, AMI
how he had grievously spurred and mis-
treated that unofending and astonished
friend. and put him into dead run for
the rare delight Of feeling those shy
arms about them.
It would have been prudent to start
north and circle round to the trail,
avoiding the house. But it wouldn't
have been Jim-nor 1t wouldn't have
been Texas. When he felt himself in
that sweet clasp, so long desired, so
barely snatched and won at last when
it would seem lost for good, with those
frightened arms, clinging about him,
the small hands locking themselves to-
gether below his heart, Jim felt like
warrior god.
Touching Cinco with the spurs, he
sprang forward and dashed down the
trail, close behind the string of clatter-
ing, snorting saddle ponies, right pact
the open front door and the whole as
sembled company, in the clear white
light of Texas full moon. AS they
came up to the group, Jim, in reckless
burst of understandable delight and
triumph, rose in the stirrups, and, swing
ing his hat, remarked in the tone of an
intoxicated steam whistle, "Whirr-oo
-oo-irpI Whooirp! Whoo-oo-ooeyI'
Translated freely this reads, $50 to
Halifax! ! have got you nowi Let's
see you help yourse1vesr' And so the
gentlemen to whom it was addressed re-
ceived it. But Cinco accepted it as only
regular, straightout horse talk-the most
pressing form of exhortation to "git"
known to his tribe, and he got forth
with.
The ponies scattered out and let them
pass. Several of the older and soberer
ones, pausing to question and debate
little, were caught and saddled, and the
Austen boys and some others followed
over to Doggy run. Gillespie came out
and told them, with the grim, chuck
ling enjoyment Of sober old fellow
over a beloved youngsters dashing
prank, that Jim and Chummy, on Cinco
and Gillespie's best pony, had ridden
down to be married at Del Rio and take
the morning train 10 Uvalde, where
Jim's people live.
Jim and Chummie could afford to be
magnanimous and say nothing to the
old folks, when we heard last week that
Spur was living meekly at Dallas with
very aggressive wife and four chill
dren that came out from the east some
where and rounded up and corraled that
gay buttertiy.-Alice MACEDONIAN in
Pittsburg Dispatch.