Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1894-12-19

| place WIS DUrHt OWI ANU Ho Chtho ihbo
my shanty. / saw RUDE three days
back.
"You saw Rube?" Mary clasped her
hands above her heart.
"Yes. He and his chums passed
through Long Toms ranch, I've been
ont there this two months past helping
him brand and count the cattle. Rube
told me that you and he had parted
and the reason why. He asked me to
look after you bit. You see, we'd
been good pals, and I'd like to do him
n turn when he's gone under. You
will let me look after you now and
again, won't you, for Rube's sakeg"
The handsome cowboy, straight as a
dart, tail and strong rs II giant, clad
in the picturesquely rough clothes oil
his calling, bent like reed before the
tiny blue-clad figure of the post-mls'
tress, who laid a slender white hand in
his great palm and lifted her violet
eyes to his dark ones.
"Surely, Paul Harding, for Rube's
sake, you may look after me when I
can't look after myself"
With that soft glance burning in
his brain and those gentle words pulls
ing in his ears, "Beauty" Paul swung
himself into his peaked saddle and
sent his horse full speed down the hill
to Ffolliotts saloon.
1t was for Rube's sake that the fol-
lowing Sunday Paul dressed himself
in his best, brought little two
wheeled cart, gay with bells and
bright colors, to Mary's door and
asked her to drive out with him.
The day was fair, and "Beauty"
Paul amused her with stories of RUDE,
and when they came to an end he told
her of his own home, in the heart of q
green county in England. He made
her laugh with his tales of college
life, and shudder with his description
of the campaign in Egypt, which he
had gone through. Only he did not
tell her how he, an English gentle
man and a gallant officer, came to be
loating and drinking and gambling
away his days and his health in the
Great White canyon. Paul Harding
degraded as he was, and lacking in
reverence for women-at least had too
much respect for the little post-mis-
tress to tell her that black page in his
life.
The day was an entire success, but
it left \ bitter after-taste in Mary's
mouth when she heard the next morn
ing that Paul had spent the night at
Ffolliott's, drinking and brawling till
dawn.
The next Sunday Mary shut herself
within her log cabin, and neither the
blue sky nor the gay cart and smartly
caparisoned horse nor "Beauty" Paul
himself could wheedle her out. She
would not be seen, she said sternly,
with one of Ffolliott's lot. She, how
ever, relented and forgave him on his
promise to amend for her sake.
As weeks and months went by, and
the green Of the canyon changed to
red and gold, Paul found that, if he
was to ''look after" Mary, he had to
give up the saloon.
And, indeed, for n space, Ffolliott's
knew him not; till one October morn
ing his allowance-the money which
bought his family freedom from his
disgraceful presence,-arrived from
England. For the next week Ffol-
liott's was II pandemonium, with the
Beauty" as presiding demon.
Mary heard of it and refused to
speak to or look at him. Then it was
that he flung himself before her one
day, and prayed her to save him from
that from which he was powerless to
save himself-from drink and dice and
bad companions And she did what
other good women have done before
her and will doagain. She rlaced her
hand in his and, with her heart full OF
Rube Halse, she promised to marry
Paul-for his souls sake.
The eve of their marriage day ar.
rived and with it Paul's allowance
from England. The occasion and the
opportunity suggested carouse and
Paul informed the "boys" he would
be standing treat at Ffolliott's that
night for the last time. The bar was
soon crowded, for the "Beauty" was
just the song.singing, yarn.telling,
whisky-drink'ng scamp who would be
popular among the wild crew, especial
ly as he stood treat so long as the bar.
tender would stand him.
Paul was full of liquor-he had
drunk Mary's health with every man
in the place and he was also full of
luck for once in way. A pile Of
gold lay before him on the table and
he was just proposing another round
in Mary's honor, when big Bill Red
fern strobe in and was greeted with
shout of "Halloo, Bill. you back
What luck, pard?"
"Luck, my lads! I leave luck to
fools and deadbeats. I've been work.
ing and, thank God, I've worked for
something. I've put my sweat and
muscle into the ground and I've struck
ore! None of your dust or pockets,
but vein as broad as an ox's back
and as long as river, an SO I've
come back with Rube-"
Paul looked up with start. His
eyes flashed and he seemed to grow
sober in moment as the situation
presented itself. Here was he drunk
in gambling hell on the eve of his
marriage with Mary and Rube had
come back.
"What did you say?" he muttered.
81 said RUDE and had come back.
But don't let me disturb the game"
''The game is up!' cried Paul with
an oath as he struck the table and
made the money jingle.
Had bad luck, eh?" said Bill.
Sorry for you"
"Keep your sorrow to yourself and
your partner, Reuben Halse."
"Come, come" said Bill, good hu.
moredly, have drink; I'm standing
treat, and as to Rube, here's his health
and Mary's!'
"'m standing treat !" shouted Paul,
springing up. "Have drink with
mel" And with this he flung his
liquor in Bills face and made q rush
at him.
A pistol flashed, a pale blue puff of
smoke died in the hotair, and Beauty"
Paul lay stone dead on Ffolliott's