Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-11-03


II bet I'll have Nellie here with me
before there is another freshet in the
river" cried Matt.
me, too," said Sang.
"YouQ"
"Reckon so, if she'll have me-"
"You don't think she would marry
you, do you1" asked Matt. looking
his partner over from head to foot
scornfully.
Don't know. Thought I'd ask
her."
"Hal ha hal" laughed Matt. But
his laugh was so offensive that even
stoical Sang Redeemed in the face.
You'll see, he cried. DANCED if
l don't cross the river tomorrow and
ask her"
You're too burned slow, Sang"
sneered Matt. Tomorrow never
comes" Pc
That's all right. It'll come soon
enough for you, and I amt no proph-
ct neither"
why, the idear cried Matt. "a
great big gawk like you wanting to
marry a little girl like Nellie Tobin.
If had just the least thought that you
dared to insult her by asking her, I'd
kill you right where you stand"
Matt was angry now and his dark
eyes flashed dangerously as he looked
defantly at his partner.
Oh you" roared Sang. "Ihave
taken all am going to take from
you, so you better keep your mouth
shut"
Sang was white in the face as he
turned around and walked out of the
house. He went to the corral, caught
a horse, saddled him and rode away
toward the river.
Half an hour later Matt also left
the house on horseback, but headed
farther up the river than Sang had
done.
1t was late that night when Sang
returned home, dripping wet. lie
went into the house and looked
around, but there was no sign OF
Matt, and as the latter did not return
Sang soon went to bed and to sleep.
During the night, however, he
woke up and finding that Matt had
not yet come back he began to fee
uneasy and did not close his eyes
again till morning dawned gray and
cloudy and with fine sprinkllng Of
rain.
AS the daylight increased SO die
also the rain, and by the time the SUI
should have been up it was pouring
down in torrents. Sang felt i'll at eas'
and walked about restlessly, peerlnt
out through the rain in every dlrec
ton, hoping he would see Matt return
ing. Hour after hour he watched ant
waited in vain, until at last he coul'
stand it no longer and left the house
AS he had done the day before, h
rode down toward the river, and a
he rode along he muttered to MIN
self ftt J'-
"What a pair of fools we have beel
TO fall out as we did, just for moth
ingl Iwish Matt would come oacl
SO that l might tell him"
Then he smiled grimly in his on
way, and in-spite of the pouring raj
rode on toward the river. -,
II reckon Matt will flare up ilk
thunder, as is usual with him, whe
he finds out" he unused. 1T was
hard null to swim across the rlve
Yesterday, but it was a good thin
Matt made me mad, or wouldn't D
able to do it today, after all this ran
Iordyl What a joke 1T VIII DC o
Matt, and he so sure that Nell
would Jump right into his arms to'
as soon as he asked her."
The water was roaring down ever
orllv and ravine and went lTushir
toward the river, swelling 1t eve,
moment. AS Sang approached u
river he could hear the angry roar
the water as it forced its way oV
and through the raft" OF uProot,
trees and drift that had lodged IN I
bend below the ranch and had grow
steadily for perhaps hunureuS
years. Ia +ho river
was surprised to see how !. hau 1..i ris =
s;nce % the day before. Old logs a
trees trees came whirling down the mgr
, sood spinning round and round
/, the eddies before being hurled agal W
! and over the raft, a little distance
, low. , ove
: tb;ng and only one huge tree, wn
; had lodged in the raft with us n 10
Q - the air. was visible ABOVE
y y Among the roots, which seelIe' ei ;T
d A eth be and twist like serpents IN
J, stin mourning rain, Sang thougn'
q o1 Sid see something move ana
70 ticnIate. and faint cry reacheu
, ears above the roar of the wafer ,
l. .'Dang my picture If tina! -, :
+ !. Matt" he shouted, uneonsGiou ,oll h;S
81 y % tba loud tone he used. "on ms ms,
= 20 G zee Nellie, / bet. Little gGo
~ ,Donld ~ do him, and / would tel u
x !. so pretty quick if l could just II
him"