Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-01-24

HAohN' ~ ~ a NdiiiAs llllul
early autumn; the pure mountain air,
like an ethereal elixir, exhilarates and
cheers both man and beast.
In the starlit night man on horse
back is seen slowly riding toward JEFF
ferson Piggin's house. He seems to be
in no hurry, for he allows the splendid
mare he is riding to choose her own
gait. He rides up to the front of the
picket fence surrounding the house,
throws the bride over one of the pickets,
and knocking gently at the door is met
by the blushing Mandy and bashfully
invited in
"Howdy do, Miss Mandy? How air We
this evenin?'
Purity well, thank ye, Mr.. Gray.
How air ye and how air yer folksy'
I'm purity well, thank ye, and the
folks air about as common. Been enjy-
ing yerself today, Miss Mandy"
mo, haven't, Mr.. Gray. It's been
an uncommon dull day to me. You
been injying yerself today, Mr.. Gray"
mo, can't say that hev, Miss
Mandy, | was down at "a shootin
match at Cowskin Flat, but there wus
no good shootin done, and came home.
But looks like purity gal like you
shouldn't feel lonesome-hey, Miss
Mandy
"Why not, Mr.. Gray? Don't yer think
gals git lonesome sometimesp'
"Well, thought, Miss Mandy, yed
have plenty cump'ny, spesh'ly on Sun
day."
"Oh, yes, I've had cump'ny, but it
warn't bit agreeable I'd rather be
alone at eny time than to hev it."
"If it's fair question, who's been yer
cump'ny today, Miss Mandy?'
Nobody in pertic'ler-at least that's
whut think of Van JONES'"
"Why, seems to me, Miss Mandy, that
Van ought to be purity good company;
he's right smart feller, | allus
thought
"Well, | don't like him, Mr. Gray,
and hope he'll never call ag'in."
"Why, Miss Mandy, did you and him
bev any trouble?'
"a little. not much"
Would ye mind tellin me what it
was about, Miss MandyP and Sam bash
fully hitched his chair a few inches
nearer the blushing Mandy.
"Fd rather not, SAM" she replied,
hanging her head in modesty at calling
him for the first time by his given name.
"Of course, Mandy, if it's secret
don't want to hear it; it's none of my
bizness no how, reckon, is it, Mandy?''
and Sans arm began a cautious jour
ney around Miss Mandy's apron strings.
Mandy (unconsciously, no doubD help
ed Sans arm along little by leaning
toward him, as she answered.:
"Well, Sam, guess you won't tell
anybody if tell you Van Joness ben
tryin his best to get me to have him,
and jest p'intedly told him he couldn't.
He then wanted to know if | thought
more of some one else, and told him it
| didn't consarn him. had ter threaten
to call pa before he'd leave. He were
powerfully disapinted when | give him
no for an answer. I've allus thought
purity we'll of Van as a friend, but I'm
afraid if his dander's up he'll do some
thin mean.'
"And what did you refuse Van fer,
Mandy" said Sam as he gave the girl a
sly squeeze.
"How kin yer ask, Sam? Didn't yer
know kase why? Kin a woman marry a
man she don't luv?''
"Then yer didn't luv Van, Mandy. is
that fac, an couldn't yer if he'd mar
ried yer?'
"No Sam, never could" and Mandy
looked at the floor as she spoke.
Mandy, if yer don't and can't luv
Van, and yer amt luvin anybody else,
how, ,er-an-er-humph! would yer like
ter
"Like ter what?" softly asked Mandy.
"As wus goin ON ter say, Mandy"
and he took one of her hands in his as
he continued, las | wus goin on ter say
if yer don't luv Van, and yer have told
him to go, how'd it be if er-I-er-wus
ter AK Here Sam stopped stock still,
as if he was unable to proceed any far
ther.
Mandy beamed encouragingly on him
and smiling one of her sweetest smiles
said
"What wus yer goin ter say, Sam?
Yer needn't ter be bit uneasy, Sam,
fer | won't say word about it ter any
body, if it's a secret.
"Well, as | wus a-sayin, Mandy, if
yer don't like any other feller better
than yer do me-would er-er-yer mind
o havin me?" and Sam broke down COM
pletely.
Mandy turned as red as hollyhock,
and it seemed to Sam that the weight of
her shoulder increased as it rested heavi-
ly against him. Whether he feared
that he could not thus support her
weight OF that she would fall, he sud-
denly clasped her in his arms. She
threw her arms around his neck and
sweetly whispered in his ear, 81 luv yer,
Sam, and I'll have yer"
A pair of wicked eyes cleaned through
the single, uncurtained window at the
| picture. The eyes were those of Van
Jones.
.sAhi Yer there are YER blast yeri''