Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-05-10

OUT an unusually sharp twinge of pain
warned him that words were the bet
ter part OF valor for him. II told Sam
Yesterday that / should be awful busy
now Tor quite spell, an couldn't no.
now go over to Zone OF them Red Mems
meetin's-that hadn't no time"
That you hadn't no time! Well,
David Marston. you might've told him
1 wouldn't let you."
didn't want to say that, because
he told me oncet that 1 dassent say my
soul was my own"
Much you was a-think kim of your
soul when you got in with that set!
That was more of your foolishness. /
couldn't leave you for two days. whilst
1 went over to Benton. 'thout your
goin' an j'inin' that show"
1T amt no show, Polly"
whats it for, then?"
''Sam says it's an Order of Red Men.
A secret sassiety for little soshil ricre-
alton"
''Soshil fiddlestick! 1 tell you they
are jest a-practicin' for a wild Injin
show; that's what they are. An if I
hadn't put stop right on the spot to
your a-goin' they'd "a had you a-traip-
sim round the country by this time,
a-hootin' an a-yellin' an a-scalpin'.
Nice you'd "a looked; a man old enough
to know better. an a churc h member,
too! There's no tellin' what you'll be
up to next Seems as though I only
got you out of that wild Injin thing in
time for Sam to make a fool of you. "
The tone of voice in which this was
Csld rn6 - he -%4 Id -
the idea that if there was any differ
ence between personatlng an Indian
in show and drinking with Sam
Sloan that difference was not in favor
of the latter. just shade of sorrow
was mingled with the anger in her
voice as she added: 'It seems, David,
as though no savin' grace could keep
you out of the broad road that leads to
ruin"
Eyes, was always a powerful ham
at blackslidin'. Seems as though !
couldn't help it, some way. Guess I've
blackslid more'n a hundred times. But,
Polly, you've managed to git along
with me some way for a good many
years 'thout really gittin' tired of me
till now. Mind. l don't say but that
you're right about it. l amt no call to
find fault with what you say. You al
ways could see your way clearer'n
most people. l don't want to be no
burden to you. nor stay where
amt wanted. When 1 git my boots
creased I'll put my clothes in the car
pitbag, an git my other hat from up
stairs, an then start for Carbonville.
Jest as like as not can git something
to do in them mines"
Polly looked frig htened at this, and
paused in her work of drying the coffee
pot. and opened her lips as if about to
speak; then. seeming to change her
mind, she set the coffeepot on the pan
try shelf without a word.
The boots were put on, with some
difficulty-owing to the lame back
and the carpetbag was soon ready
David's wardrobe was not an extensive
one; and then he went upstairs. When
he come back with 1.-THE other hat"
Polly saw, as she took a sidelong glance,
that during his absence from the
room he had placed something
heavy in the breastpocket of his
coat, and carefully pinned up the
pocket They had never owned pis-
toll. had never ad any use for pis-
toll; but could Sa m have loaned David
one? 1t was hard ly possible, and yet
what else could it be? Sam could GER
tainly be expected to do anything he
ought not to do. Before taking up the
carpetbag he asked Polly if she
thought she could milk the COW. The
flies bothered SO they made the COW
restless like" he said. "An' Polly,
don't forgit to cover up the tomatoes
tonight, for onless it should come on
to be cloudy there1l be frost as sure
as preachin'."
Then he crossed the kitchen to the
mantelpiece, pretending to look for his
pipe, which he knew was in his pocket,
and on the way back hung up the boot.
jack and put away the can OF grease.
Seeing then no further excuse for lin
gering, he took up the carpetbag and
went out He stood for a moment tc
gaze far away, hesitating and shrink
ing from something new and strangs
which he seemed to see in all the world
beyond the doors5one. AS he CLOSED
the gate he turned and looked back t.
say: "Good-by."
Polly hung up the dishpan, and Their
looked after him in utter amazement
She was in. earnest, or thought She
was, when she said she was tired o.
him; but she had never thought he real
ly would, or that she wanted him to go
During all the years they had lived to
gether his careless, easy ways haG
| fretted her, but never had she felt quite
SO discouraged. The ''carousin' OF
the day before had been too much fol-
her naturally hopeful and happy dispo
sition. David's intentions We're good
| always good. He was not drunkard
not even what would be called "a drink
| ing MANI" but the days were always
| too short for him, aud Sam SIoan's free
| and easy ways and persuasive tongue
had always had, and perhaps Away:
would have, an irresistible fascination
| for him.
Still angry, and perhaps little con
science stricken, Polly hurriedly pu
the little kitchen in order; then taking
her sunbonnet and shawl from thei1
nail behind the door, she prepared t.
go out TO her days work. After lock
ing the door. the key, from sheer force
of habit, was put in the usual hiding
place under the doorstone. More mis-
cradle than she had ever been before
and half blinded by tears, she walked
to the village.
She did her work as well as usual
but in an almost mechanical way: he
thoughts all day either with that lone
ly traveller on the road to Carbonville
or in the little, still house she had LET
in the morning.