Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-11-03
ORIGINAL STORY.
M A Y.
BY y c. NICK KAY.

A tall, darkly handsome woman
stood looking ont over II wide, dreary
Texan prairie There were tears in
the fine, bright eyes, for she was think
ing of her eastern home and her loved
friends so far away. 1t was not often
she permitted herself to think sadly of
them, for the thought of former as
sociations was bright spot in her
lonely life.
"Willie will surely come by-and-by,
for he has already been gone several
hours longer than usual" she said,
straining her eyes to catch a first
glimpse of her husbands returning
figure. For he had been gone two
days after needed supplies, only to be
gotten at little town seven miles
away. She, the brave wife, had staid
alone at the little cabin, never fearing
except that storm might overtake
Willie. for the season of those frightful
Texan hurricanes was near at hand.
But now she saw him returning
rapidly and glad light came into the
eyes lately so sad. AS he rode up she
stepped down from the low doorway
and went forward to meet him.
He was handsome man-so very
handsome and tall he did not seem to be
so large and powerful as he really was.
"Well, brave little woman, how did
you get one Billy" their one other
horse. "did not run away, did he, or
did the barn burn up? p he inquired.
laughing AS he kissed her fondly and
put the tired horse to rest in the tiny
log stable.
80, May" he began as soon as he
came in, 1--WE the most delightful sur
prise for you,' ard as May held out
her hands with pleased look, he laid
into them a large square envelope.
ga letter from home, o. Will !" and
carefully she opened it.
Delightful it certainly was, for it
contained the pleasing information
that Katie Durtment, Mays dearest
Virginia friend, was coming to visit
them-was even now on her way.
The letter had lain for several days at
the post-office at Puelo. SO that by com
pairing dates they found she expected
to arrive within two or three days.
Will. Henhing was almost as much
delighted as was his wife, for though
he only remembered Katie as shy
girl in her teens. when on one of his
short visits to Virginia he had met
her, still she WAS Mays dear friend,
and as such would find warm welcome
in the little cabin home on the wide
prairie.
May was in a hustle of cleaning up
and preparing for her friends visit
A dozen times a day she thought and
talked of all she and Katie would dc
while the latter was there, until Will
declared he was quite jealous of this
wonderful girl.
Bright and early Monday morning
Will. harnessed his two horses to the
rough wagon and drove off to meet
Katie Durtment, leaving behind him Il
radiantly smiling and happy woman,
Late that night May, alert and
listening, heard the faint rumble OF
wheels and, rushing out, stood impa.
tiently awaiting the arrival of the
travellers. If she had not been sc
agitated she would have noticed that
the noise was certainly not that OF
Wills old wagon.
AT that moment it stopped IN front
of the little home and May saw with
horror two rough men descend from a
rudely-made cart, drawn by an old raw.
boned horse. May was equal to the
occasion, as she schooled herself to be
out in those wilds.
What do you want ~ she said while
her heart quaked with terrible feal
that perhaps these men had met hel
husband and Katie, and-but she would
not allow herself to think of such a
thing. Desperate ruffians often roam.
ed those prairies she knew. Perhaps
but one of the strange visitors was
addressing her, and her heart beat fast
and her cheeks grew pale as he spoke
for he demanded in hoarse. rough
voice that May should give him the
money in the cabin.
Don't ye dare lie to me ~ he cried
fiercely; 'don't We say ye amt got
none! know ye has. Get it, get it y
he commanded excitedly, seeing hei
stand perfectly still.
May was helpless. All alone in that
vast wilderness. no possible aid could
reach her What eouM she do She
had not long to deliberate.
"Aiu't ye goin' to get that cash ?
fairly roared the man, ''or has ] got
to help you ?"
81 will get it for you, SIR" said May
calmly.
Walking quickly into the cabin, she
reached the loaded gun from the shelf
but before she could turn and level it
the man. who had anticipated her pur