The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1893-12-07

up under the influences of the highest
refinement she adapted herself readily
to her new surroundings.
She treated her fathers employees
with the kindest consideration, laugh
ing and chatting with them with per-
feet freedom, little suspecting what
stress they placed upon every word
and every ripple of laughter that fell
from her lips.
Anson and Alb both grew more san
guine and hopeful as the days went by,
and each in his own heart came to feel
assured that he was winning his way
into Roses love.
Deacon Jim had continued on from
the first in the even tenor of his way.
He never thrust himself forward at
all--never made any effort to gain ad-
mission to Roses society, but, if any
thing, rather seemed to avoid her.
A change had come over the deacon,
too. Always serious, he had become
almost melancholy.
He liked to NOPE about alone or sit
tor hours gazing thoughtfully into
space.
He was in love, though he tried hard
| to conceal the fact from himself, and
for all the world would not have ad-
mitted it to any one else.
One morning when the men were
preparing to begin the work Of the
day, dispute arose between Anson
and Alb, and as it grew warmer and
more bitter the former said:
"When I become q partner on this
ranch, you'll go, Alb johnson, as sure
as shooting. 1 won't have you here. :"
"When you get to be a partner
sneered Alb. "When 1 get to be q
partner you'll go, and don't you for
get it."
"You a partner?" Anson said
mockingly. ''Why, Rose Newell
wouldn't have you if you were the last
man on earth |"
"My notion is you'll both see that
you are making fools of yourselves,
old Barton observed. "Miss Rose will
never have either of you. II had to
name anybody on this ranch that she
was most likely to marry, I'd say it
was Deacon JIM"
There was an universal roar Of
laughter at that last remark, and
every one seemed to think it good
joke.
'Why," said Anson, "the deacon
don't stand ghost of show. He
amt shined around her bit, and they
never take any notice of each other,
scarcely. You're off Barton-away
off. Jim amt in it at all. "
That day Rose rode with her father
across the country, and late in the
afternoon was returning alone to the
ranch.
When within two miles of her des-
tination she was aroused from
drowsy reverie by a rushing, surging
noise that came suddenly up from be-
hind her like the onsweep of q great
storm.
She listened an instant, glanced
back, then uttered a cry full of terror.
A little distance away she saw
great herd of cattle in full stampede,
sweeping down upon her in one
mighty, irresistible mass.
On over the level prairie the horse
sped, and on, on, in the rear came the
surging sea of horns.
One mile was thus run, and part OF
another, and the girl, bending low
over the horses neck, urged the AMI
NAL to still greater speed, while
hope of escape came into her heart'
But at that instant the horse STUN
bled and fell to his knees, and she was
thrown forward to the ground.
The horse recovered its footing and
sped away.
She arose, looked about her in
daze of wonder, saw the herd almost
upon her, and in a hopeless despair
attempted to run, but with cry OF
pain she sank down helpless
She had sustained sprain and
could not support her weight.
She heard the cattle as they swept
up nearer and nearer over the hard'
dry sod.
Another minute would bring them
upon her.