Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-09-23

'"ui, hiC "A holly lulhSu ~ ONtr u |
lot N finally concluded th't I'd hev t
go summers else eff l ever got fore
handed; so, one day, we says good-by,
daown in the medder lot, an pulled
out fer Californy,
"Sence then I've ben knockiu'
raound all over tn kentry, tryin' one
thing m mother Purity hard luck
most o tn time, tew-but jes' fore !
come hyar located claim, me N
mother Teller, over in Colorado, an
worked it some. 1t didn't pan out
none, so we had t. try somcthin' else,
an hyar ! come, leavin' Peters Z keep
up work on tn claim, him havin' job
clus by, WAL, tn other day Peters he
sold aout tcw Boston comp'ny fer
twenty-five thaousan'-an' my half's
what l went t. brownsville fer.
That's all"
Hen filed his pipe, said GOOD night"
lnd went out, whistling softly.
"By Jovew said the boss, ''to hear
him tell it, in that easy way of his, with
the cGWboy lingo and the occasional
Yankee *wang, you'd think it very
commonplace affair. / don't know
what you think of it, but think it de-
| cidedly romantic, and Pm glad it's
turning out so we'll. Hens an honest
| chap, and deserves all the luck in the
world. The girl must be plucl1y one,
too. Hum! hum!" And the boss looked
at the ceiling and blew smoke rings in
a pensive way he sometimes had.
| There wasn't man on the ranch
who didn't hate to see Hen go and who
wasn't honestly glad at his good for
tune. Even the misanthropic Poscy
evinced not q little regret as he said
good-by to him when, the morning
after Thanksgiving, Hen sat on his
bronco all ready to start for Jersey,
the railroad town to the east of us.
1t was beautiful morning, almost
like spring, and Hen couldn't have
wished for better day to start on.
The last good-by said, hs Strengthened
up, shifted the cool breeze, looked to
see that everything was all right
and with an "Adios, boys" was off,
waving his hand in acknowledgment
of the rousing cheer we gave him as he
reached the top of the hill across the
creek.
Jersey was only twenty odd miles
away, and Hen expected to arrive there
at noon, in time to get his dinner dis
pose of his bronco and make the two
o'clock train cast. There was plenty of
time, so he let his horse take it's own
gait, and gave himself up to his own
thoughts.
Not living creature was in sight on
all the broad plain. Hen and his horse
were as much alone as if they had been
on the open sea. Human habitation,
between the ~ bar" and Jersey, there
was none. Hen dismountcd and laid
his ear to the ground listening intently
for few seconds. Yes, there it was,
that dull, whispering, indistinct roar,
which the plainsman knows and fears
the voice of the coming blizzard. The
horse heard it or felt it, and turned his
head toward his master, whinnying
softly.
On and on they went, Pokey, alive &c
the situation, pounding along at his tor
travelling speed, steady as clock. On
and on came the storm, covering horse
and rider with snow as fine as floul
until they looked like ghosts. Hen
leaning back to get his overcoat, lost
the direction, but he had full faith il
Pokey, and knew that the little ANNA
would do better without any plotting
How cold it was Hens hands anC
toes were like Jumps of ice-worsc,
they had hardly any feeling left il
them. His ear and check, on the side
exposed to the storm, were getting
nippeo. Well, he would soon strike tn,
stage road, and then, if he had not mis-
calculated, there would be only five o.
six miles
"Great Scottw
, For Poley had given sudden higl
! leap and stood still, painting, Almost
under his feet lay u snow-covered OBJ
, icct, with queer look about it. Hel
! leaned down from the saddle ant
turned it over. 1t was dead man
holding tight, in the stiff right hand,
; whip such as stage drivers use.
r "Stage driver, deader'n Tom Jeffer
| son. Drunk, likely, an fell off; poo
cuss!' But there was no time to stol
and investigate. In another secon,
r Pol1ey was turned to the left and pound
e ing along up the stage road.
A ~. L.
they shot past, and sudden thrill sen
: the sluggish blood coursing through
t Hens veins. He halted and turnet
G Pokey's unwilling head on the bacI
e course.
n Sure enough, it was the stage; bu
e there were no horses attached. Hel
S felt around and reached the doc
e handle. A cry-a child's cry-cam
S from within. Hen tied Poley firml
!, to wheel, found the door again an
entered.
: THANK God"
l. 1t was woman's voice, and He
e almost tainted to think that its owne
should be in such terrible predica
:, ment.
n "Oh, sir, have you come to take II
il away? The driver fell off, | think
S and the horses broke loose, somehow
:, and we're almost froken."
Hen could see her now. 1t was
c young, goodlooking woman, and sh
d held, tight clasped to her breast,
1 child about three years old Neithe
! was clad for such awful weather
D Hens heart stood still for moment
If that woman and child remained her
:, it was almost certain death Itmigh
is be days before help could reach then
e and even if aid could come to them tC
a morrow, they would have frozen NEAR
while. On the other hand -
L. Can you ride, missis?"
Eyes, indeed"
y "Wal, come then, quick"