Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-04-23

one and another aaid sweet things to
Mamie; siie cared for none Of them.
The winter was no time to go ont
west, Donald the blacksmith said, so
they spent ii in New York. He at his
trade, but taking pleIxy Of holiday, and
Aleck Heath. from the old place. as big
and brawny AS Donald himself, was
always at Nannie's side
He was well to do for mechanic; he
was not III looking; he was in love with
her, Hoping to win her before Donald
carried his women folks and BARNS
sway. he did his counting briskly. He
offered himself very plainly, once and
twice and thrice. comforted by Donalds
opinion that girls said no when they
meant yes, and that women were all
idiots; but still Mamie refused him.
II Gamma marry yon, Aleck." she said,
''for my heart is in the grave with Jock,
and I'll never marry any man. but
wait until meet him in heaven"
The Bible tells you there is no mar
rying there, said Aleck.
.Ay. but there is meeting" Mamie
answered
II she had never cared for any one else
she would not have liked him, or his
way OF drinking too much whisky, and
coming red faced and hot hreathed to
his wooing
He came thus ON one Sabbath after
noon, when Mamie. after fashion she
had, had twisted all her braids about the
comb Jock had carved for her.
THAT Is pretty comb you wear, =
said he-it was only an excuse tn put
out his hand and touch her lovely hair
"A fine comb" said he LET me look
at it.
He was lingering it as it set among
her braids. and TO be rid of him she took
il out
1T is the last gift my poor Jock gave
me. Aleck." she said. HE carved it.
See the fine work upon II. He was cum
ming ut his trade
Aleck held the comb in his hand rs she
spoke, and in his intoxicated condition
Jocks name enraged him.
ITO the deuce with Jock and his carv-
ingv said he and tossed the comb upon
the table violently.
Mamie uttered cry He had broken
| it in halves.
| Aleck was not sober enough to care for
\ the mischief he had done; but Mamie
cried over it all night. and to every one
who came her sister told the story of
how Alecs, in his tipsy jealousy, had
broken "Nannies Draw comb. and it a
| token of her sweetheart" +"
AT last one said TO her:
''She can get it mended There's a
man know OLA cripple--that does such
work, and he mends anything made of
shell or ivory. and he does it we'll"
And then Mamie. with "A little hope in
her heart, took her poor comb and sought
out the shop.
/ 1t was toward sunset when she reached
it, and entered tiny corner shop cut
from a larger one by thrifty shoe
maker. that he might profit by leasing
| 1t. and behind the counter sat man al
work, with pair of crutches leaning
against his chair
Mamie stood and watched his delicate
manipulation of broken fan for some
time before she spoke. II reminded hel
Of Jocks way of handling things. Al
last she uttered soft IF you please,
and he turned He looked at her. she a
him.
GOD be good to usr' she gasped. Il
h Jocks wrath. or I'm beside myselflH
Then he arose
Ma. Mamie. not my wrath. but jus
al, there is left of me, my lass. = he said
You were living then and cared nj
more for me, she cried. 1.-THE while
mourned yonr'
81 could not come back and hold yoI
to your promise to q strong man." h,
said "When the accident happened
that laid me on hospital bed and mad,
me rise up n cripple said: 4 viii neve1
see her again. Iconld not give her N
IL did, and it is my duty to do so. |
she thinks me dead she'll mourn me AMI
forget me and marry better man."
..You were cruel. said Mamie. "Oh
Jock, what difference could hurt maxi
to the woman that loved you but Il
make her love You better"
She held out her hands TO him and b
clasped her in his arms.
And SO when Donald took his wife {,
the far western farm Mamie stayed be
hind, for she had married Jock and wa
the happiest little wife in all the world
Mary Kyle Dallas in Fireside Compan
on.