Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-11-23

Huh, huh, he said.
II bet I'll have Nellie here with me
before there is another freshet in the
river" cried Matt.
Me, too" said Sang.
"Youp
"Reckon so, if she'll have me-"
"You don't think she would marry
you, do you" asked Matt, looking
his partner over from head to foot
scornfully.
Don't know. Thought I'd ask
her"
"Hal hal ha" laughed Matt. But
his laugh was so offensive that even
stoical Sang Redeemed in the face.
You'll see, he cried "Dangedif
don't cross the river tomorrow and
ask her."
You're too burned slow, Sang"
sneered Matt Tomorrow never
comes"
That's all right. It'll come soon
enough for you, and ! amt no proph-
ct neither"
"Why, the idear cried Matt. "a
great big gawk like you wanting to
marry little girl like Nellie Tobin.
III 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
defiantly at his partner.
Oh you'll" roared Sang. "Ihave
taken all l 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
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.
It was late that night when Sang
returned home, dripping wet. He
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 feel
uneasy and did not close his eyes
again till morning dawned gray and
cloudy and with fine sprinkling OF
rain.
AS the daylight increased so did
also the rain, and by the time the sun
should have been up it was pouring
down in torrents. Sang felt i'll at ease
| and walked about restlessly, peering
out through the rain in every direc-
ton, hoping he would see Matt return
ing. Hour after hour he watched and
waited in vain, until at last he could
stand it no longer and left the house
AS he had done the day before, he
rode down toward the river, and al
he rode along he muttered to him
self:
"What a pair of fools we have beer
to fall out as we did, just for moth
ing! l wish Matt would come bacl
so that might tell him"
Then he smiled grimly III his oic
way, and in spite of the pouring ram
rode on toward the river.
"I reckon Matt will flare up Tx
thunder, as is usual with him, whel
he finds out, (" he unused. ut was
hard pull to swim across the rive
Yesterday, but it was good thln
Matt made me mad, or l wouldn't b
able to do it today, after all this ram
| Lordy! What a joke it will be o
Matt and he so sure that Nelli
|, would jump right into his arms toC
as soon as he asked herr
The water was roaring down ever
o,,llv and ravine and went rlshln
toward the river, swelling 1t ever
: moment. AS Sang approached u
river he could hear the angry roar
|, the water as it forced its way owe
and through the raft" OF uproote
+ trees and drift that had lodged IN II
g hend below the ranch and had grow
;, ; steadily for perhaps hundreds
n years. ,.;,,ar \
. was surprised to see how 1t had rist
y since the day before. Old logs al
l. trees came whirling down the mlgn'
e food, spinning round and round
q, tbeeddies before being hurled again
d ond over the raft, a little distance
N low.
- - The water wasrushing over ever
T. +h;no and only one huge tree. whi
Is bad lodged in the raft with It's roc
70 70 in T the air, was visible above
AZ A An,ono the roots, which seemed
10 1.-THE and twist like serpents IN :
z, sin g pouring rain, Sang thought
10 Gould see something move ana g
ho ticulate, and a faint cry reaenea
=, sa,s above the roar Of the water d.
IL Dang my picture II tha. al
'r' uatt :" he shouted, unconscious
~ tbe Ioud tone he used. "On ms "
III 70 tI see Nellie, l bet. Little good 60, a
at " Nd M do him, and would tel b
ck OK so pretty quick if l could just re'
i. him.