Idaho semi-weekly world., 1893-11-24
"AB' BECAME A HERO.

sSAy oNn tuiiiOis "A NCCp SCOWI IldQ StC-
tied on his sunburned face, and as he sat
on astump by the brille path he dug his
heels into the stony soil and uttered
maledictions on the world in general.
Abithar Achish Higgins was evidently
waiting for some one who was not on
time Abithar Achish was the Scriptural
name bestowed upon tall ungainly
youth of twenty summers by mother
who was deeply religious, and was taken
haphazard from the good book. Just like
all the names for the Higgins progeny.
And Abithar Achish's mother always
called him by his full name. But she
was the only one who did. Everybody
else called him Alb.
"Ab Higgins. yer durn fool fer stay
in here, said the youth to himself as his
heels dug very viciously into the soil
why don't yer get outen hyar an see
ther world2 Yer fit fer sunthin better
than Iivin an dyin in these mountings
like yer par did. an never KNOWN
nothin. If yer git outen hyar yer kin
make er FORUM. an thet's srmthin yer
can't make hyar no more'n yer kin keep
outen ther clutches o ther revenoos
when yer make a little whisky. Bgosh.
Alb, why don't yer start terdayy
Alb answered his own question by as
suming standing position and kicking
huge chunks from the decayed stump
that had served him as seat
Il reckon Meliss amt COMM" said
Alb, after kicking at the stump for a
time, IAN reckon I'll go home an tell
man as how I'm goin ter Saint Looey fer
ter make furtun'."
Alb turned slowly and began walking
mp the bride path He had taken scarce
half dozen steps, when soft voice
issued from the bushes and hailed him:
"Oh, Alb. what silly thing yer gittin
ter be!''
Alb stopped and broad smile spread
over his honely face as he turned and
saw girl step into the bride path.
"lve been hidin in ther bushes fer a
half'n hour" said the girl. IAN heerd
what yer said about goin ter Saint
Looey an maxim yer FORUM. Air yer
gittin too good fer Barker's Clearin?"
"Wot yer wanter teaze feller fer
MelissT said Alb in deprecating tone
rs he and the girl sat down in the shade
and clasped hands lovingly.
Melissa Rankin was pretty, despite
the ungainly bonnet that surrounded
her face and homespun dress that lily
; fitted her form. Her father was iii
Jail" at jefferson City for the crime O
being caught in the act of illicit distill
ing. and she and her mother lived alon,
in cabin that was perched upon til,
, bank of the rushing mountain brool
that furnished the power for the rud
! mill that was the pride of Barker
Clearing
Alb and Melissa had been "sparkin
for two years. and it was evident to tn
! whole clearing that there would be
j wedding as soon as Alb was old enougl
to go to the county seat and blushingl
3 assert that he was twenty-one.
The leaves of the scrub oaks were fas
turning brown in the autumn winds an
blowing hither and thither on tn
: breezes Melissa had noticed chang
= in her Alb of late. Not that he appeare
less affectionate than of old but that h
seemed preoccupied and discontente
y with his surroundings. The change ha
:, begun soon after Mr.. Goss had left Bal
kers Clearing. Goss was IL young lay
= student from st. Louis. and he spent tn
= summer ut the clearing fishing an
u hunting. During his stay Alb was h
:. constant companion. AS the two idle
- -, away many Il summer afternoon in tn
!, shade on the mountain side Goss poure
into the ears of the listening Abithar tt
:. myths and legends of ancient days. an
- =, told of the great world that lay beyon
~ ~ the rugged Ozarks that had heretofol
io seemed to Abithar to be the utmo
T., bounds of the earth.
40 Come to st. Louis, Alb, and I'll NAL
IA rich man of you," were Goss parti1
I II words, as he left the clearing to retul
=. to his home in the city.
e The words had been spoken in jes
Az but Abithar cherished them in his hear
a. and as the days passed he became mo
y and more convinced that ont i'll Il
world was wealth and fame for him
well us for others.
Alb and Melissa sat and talked as Il
o. afternoon waned. Melissa strived
III persuade Alb that he would better l
m main where he was and not attempt
Us. battle with the great outside world.
lot Stay right hyar, Alb" said Meliss
'% IVY cant yer be content like yer p
II WIZ? He wuz born right hyar at b
ne kers Clearin. an at Barker's Clearin
ne died. Ye an't no better'n yer pap. ;
III ye:'