The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-11-04
PORTLAND DAILY PRESS FRIDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER 1892
and attended to the used ND horses.

That evening Jim was saying to Gil
lespie IAN older man and hard headed
| Scotchman), while he blacked his Esoots
vigorously, turned the little ranch
house upside down and dragged out all
his own and Gillespie's entire wardrobe
to make a suitable full dress toilet
''Let up, John. There's no use talkin.
I'm goin over there an look at her.
that's all. If this is her own deal an
she's satisfied, why I'm bound to be. If
it isn't-if that little old swelled up
prairie dog an the old folks have sort OF
rushed it in Oh her No, you can't go,
nor Billy. I'm just goin by myself,
all peaceable an natural"
They were waiting for the preacher at
the Austell ranch--he wasS an hour over
due. There was sort Of strained un.
easiness in the air since ,]im's unexpected
arrival, despite mis- quiet manner and
friendly greeting.
He only needed one glance at Chum-
riied 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 Chumnie, and, as she
crossed darkened eatry, caught her in
his arms an instant, whispering, Glide
out at the far side Of the corral-Cinc
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'a
head.
.You don't want him, do you, dar.
ing?"
'sOh, no; oh, no, Jimw
"Will you risk itwith me and Cinco7''
"Oh, yesl Quick"
They'll follow. Where's the saddles
and brides? I'll put you on Rascal"
Cali on the back porcll-there isn't
time, anyhow-oh, listen!"
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 no wheeled Cinco at
the corral gate he dashed in and circling
once around it drove the horses snorting
out before them with swinging quirt.
Jim thrilled within that enciroling CIR
die and remembered how once, riding
over from Doggy run, he had found her
nfoot at the far end of the ranch, Rascal
having given her the slip; how he had
taken her up behind him on Cinco, and
how he had grievously spurred and mis-
treated that unoffending and astonished
friend, and put him into dead run for
the rare delight Of feeling those shy
arms about them.
1t would have bet,n prudent to start
north and circle round to the trail,
avoiding the house. But it wouldn't
have been Jim-nor it wouldn't have
been Texas When he felt himself in
that sweet clasp, so long desired, 60
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 past
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-irp! Whooirp! Whoo-oo-ooeyw
Translated freely this reads, $50 to
Halifax! I have got you now! Let's
see you help yourselves!' 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 eShortation to ssgit"
known to his triba, And he ssgot" 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
Austell boys and sDn,e others followed
over to Doggy run. Gillespie came out
and told them, with the grim, chuck
ling enjoyment OF u sober old fellow
over beloved Youngsters dashing
prank. that Jim and Chummy, on Cinco
aud Gillespie's best pony, had ridden
down to be married at Del Rio and take
the morning train to Uvalde, where
gim's people live.
Jim and Chumn.ie could afford to be
nlagnanimous and say nothing to the
Old folks, when we heard last week that
Spur was living n1eelKly at Dallas with
a very aggressive wife and four chill
dren that came out from the east some
where and rounded up and corraled that
gay butterfly Alice MACEDONIAN in
Fittsburg Dispatch.
Proud Groom.
A few days since verdant youth