Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1893-11-16

in here, said the youth to himself us his |
heels dug very viciously into the soil.
why don't yer get outen hyar an see
ther world? Yer fit fer sumthin better
than livin an dyin in these mountin.,s
like yer par did. an never KNOWN
nothn. If yer git outen hyar yer kin
make er forum, an thet's Srmthin yer
can't make hyar no moren yer kin keep
outen ther clutches o ther revenoos
when yer make little whisky. B'gosh
Alb, why don't yer start terday?"
Alb answered his own question by as
suming standing position and kicking
huge chunks from the decayed stump
that had served him as seat.
81 reckon Meliss amt comm" said
Alb, after kicking at the stump for
time, IAN | reckon I'll so home an tell
mann as how I'm goin ter Saint Looey fer
ter make a furtun',"
Alb turned slowly and began walking
up 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 bel"
Alb stopped and Il broad smile spread
over his homely face as he turned and
saw girl step into the bride path.
I've been hidin in ther bushes fer
half'n hour, said the girl, IAN heerd
what yer said about goin ter Saint
Looey an maxim yer FORUM, Air yer
gitrn too good fer Barker's Clearin?"
"Wot yer wanter teaze feller fer,
Meliss| said Alb in Il deprecating tone
us 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 "in
Jail at jefferson City for the crime of
being caught in the act of illicit distill.
ing. and she and her mother lived alone
IN cabin that was perched upon the
bank of the rushing mountain brook
that furnished the power for the rude
mill that was the pride of Barker's
Clearing.
Ab and Melissa had been "sparkin"
for two years. and it was evident to the
whole clearing that there would be n
wedding rs soon as Alb was old enough
to go to the county seat and blushingly
assert that he was twenty-une
The leaves Of the scrub oaks were fast
turning brown in the autumn winds and
blowing hither and thither on the
breezes. Melissa had noticed II change
in her Alb of late. Not that he appeared
less affectionate than of old, but that he
seemed preoccupied and discontented
with his surroundings. The change had
begun soon after MIR. Goss had left Bar
ker's Clearing. Goss was II young law
student from st. Louis. and he spent the
summer at the clearing fishing and
hunting. During his stay Alb was his
constant companion. As the two idled
away many Il summer afternoon in the
shade on the mountain side Goss poured
into the ears of the listening Abithar the
myths and legends of ancient days, and
told of the great world that lay beyond
the rugged Ozarks that had heretofore
seemed to Abithar to be the utmost
bounds of the earth.
Come to St. Louis. Alb. and I'll make
II rich man OF you" were Goss parting
words, as he left the clearing to return
to his home IN the city.
The words had been spoken in jest
but Abithar cherished them in his heart
and as the days passed he became NOR,
and more convinced that out III tn
world was wealth and fame for him "a
well as for others
Alb and Melissa sat and talked as tn
afternoon waned. Melissa strived 4
persuade Alb that he would better re
main where he was and not attempt :
battle with the great outside world.
stay right hyar, Ab, said Melissa
IVY cant yer be content like yer pa
wuz; He wuz born right hyar Mt Bal
ker's Clearin. an at Barker's Cleariu h
died. Ye amt no better'n yer pap, al
yeg'
What is there hyar fer man to d,
|, Melissa; Ef stay hyar III never 'mour
ter nothin. but ef | go out an see ii
! world maybe kin get rich. Maybe
can get ter be what Mr.. Goss said WI
er hero-one o them fellers like Apollo
or like ther man rs ilung hisself on the
e Ostrian spears ter save his country.
r. KANT do ct ef ! stay hyar. Ef ! dor
e git out o hyar I'll never be wut
]. shucks,"
n "But whatll become Of me. Alb.
n yer 90 way asked Melissa in tearf
le voice.
d When get ter he one o them rit
10 heroes I'll come back arter yer. Meliss
u said Alb. ~ he frightened his clasp abo
II her waist and kissed her cheek.
d You'll fergit me when yer get out''
ID hyar, Alb. and the girls sobs shook b
IT slender frame.
10 Il won't nuther,- said Ab stubbornl
s. Yes. yer will. Alb. know yer 1
d well. Zoke Bigler went Ia Saint l.ooe
a. On he never cum bacA an married l.
=. Bullock. though he promised her
n would An you'll do jest like Zekc did
II won't do like Zel,e did" said A
"Ill cum hack an get her when ]
.o rich. an III take yer TO Saint Loo
~ with me.
:. But Abs eloluence failed 10 eonyin
bs the girl The sun sank slowly behi
4. Ball Knob and the evening shade
began to gather. A black and heI
cloud began 10 rise In the south. q
at ninttering thunder reached the ears
NV the lnvers An autumn rain was co
ne ing. And the lovers kissed each oil
good ui.ht and separated