Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-05-08
SHE WAS A WOMAN.
And For This Roason There Was No Occa-
 sion For Surprise.

And For This RNason There Was No Occa- sion For Surprise The sun beat down that bliStering aft ernoon on the little adobe cabin just be- yond the arroyo, and on tho far sida in the shade sat two sweltering COW punch CTS with a pack of cards between them. It was too hot for even this mild eNer- else, but it served to keep their minds off the weather, and they played lazily along. At last one of them throw his cards down.
 By gravy, Bill" Eo exclaimed, "I can't play any more. " Whats the mat;or?" inquired Gill ''Too hot for you:' No. 'Tain't that. though tho Lord knows it's most hot enough fur any thing It's that little girl down there at old Slocum's." What's she got to do with tho gamer" asked Bill in surprise.
 Nothing much, guess, but good deal with mo "
 How" and Bill picked up tho pack and began shuffiing tho cards aimlcsSly
 ''Oh. don't know"
 'Stuck on herr" inquired Bill, with laugh, which struck his companion as rather harsh. Not exactly, 1 guess. Shes the purticst thing in this val. ley. ," said Bill admirinGly
 II know it." admitted tho other. "I was down there last night. anG sho was sweeter than ever
 "Well," impatiently. "what arc you going to do about it?" "What would you adviser" That depends on what kind of ad- vice you want" II was thinking about marrying her. "
 Bill gave n long whistle and stopped | shuffiinS the cards.
 What, marry half breed, and you ! having the kind of folks you have back in the east?" ho said seriously. II don't see how I can get out of it honorably." he reluctantly confessed. "I've been going down thcrc to seo her l for six months now. and sho has been kind of expecting me to come. 1 didn't | think much about it at first, but now blame me if 1 don't think about her pretty much all the time Tho last four or five times Two been to sec her she showed me straight that she thought d lot of mo, and last night she told mo everything, and said if I left her her | heart would break and she would drown herself in the river. cant stand that, you know, and besides I'd rather marry her myself than have anybody else marry ! hcr.'
 shell git old man Slocum's prop l erty when he goes over tho divide, said | Bill thoughtfully, and that $ worth d pile"
 "Yes, but don't caru for that It's the girl and my own honorable action in the matter. They talked until tho sun had sunk behind the mountain, and by that time it was decided that Bill would go with his friend Joe and settlo the business with the girls father, old man Slocum Early tho next morning they set out. and before the sun had reached the hot place in the heavens they werC at Slo- cum's-
 "Where's Meg?" asked Joe, after they had passed the compliments of tho morning.
 ''Oh. she's skipped" answered Slo- cum, with laugh.
 "Skipped?" gasped Joe.
 'Yes. Skipped some timo in tho night with Pete Smiley. and sho needn't 'a' done 1t, fer Pete was agreeable to me, |" ! and he laughed again.
 Joe felt something riSo in his throat and drop back again like piece of lead. Bill looked at him curiouSly.
 "Gals will be gals, said Bill. turning to Slocum. but what We como down here to see you about, MT. Slocum. is cattle. and he carried it through mo- bly.-Detroit Free Press