Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1895-10-18

oShNa MIN plCoChIIy.
NO" Paul said slowly, taking in
every detail of the girls pretty figure,
clad in cotton frock of gentian blue.
But might / speak to one minute
privately"
You can say what you've got to say
where you are"
How different you keep your place
from what a mans shanty is"
You live down by the Blue Pools,
don't your
Yes, next to Reuben Halse, till his
place was burned out, and he came to
my shanty. l saw Rube three days
| back"
"You saw Rube?" Mary clasped her
hands above her heart.
Yes. He and his chums passed
| through Lon Toms ranch. I've been
out there this two months past, help
! ing him brand and count the cattle.
RUDE told me that you and he had
parted and the reason why. He asked
me to look after you a bit. You see,
we've been good pals, and I'd like to do
him turn now he's gone under. You
will let me look after you now and
again, won't you, for Rube's sake?"
The handsome cowboy, tall and
strong as giant, clad in the pictur-
esquely rough clothes of his calling,
bent like reed before the tiny. blue
eyed figure of the postmistress, who
laid 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 /
can't look after myself"
1t was for Rubes sake that the fol-
lowing Sunday Paul dressed himself in
his best, brought a 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
green country in England.
He made her laugh with his tales OF
college life, and shudder with his de-
SNi APSioho VI tHC hpdiSu III ESy Dl,
which he had gone through. Only he
did not tell her how he, an English
gentleman, and gallant officer, came
to be loafirg and drinking and gam
bling away his days and his health in
Great White canyon.
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" nor
himself could wheedle her out.
She would not be seen, she said stern
ly, with one of Ffolliott's lot. She,
however, repented and forgave him on
his promise to amend for her sake.
AS weeks and months went by. and
the green Of the canon 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 a space Ffolliotts
knew him not, till one October morning
his allowance-the money which bought
mis- family freedom from his disgrace
full presence-arrived from England
For the next week Ffolliotts was
pandemonium, with the Beauty" as a
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 which
he was powerless to save himself-from
drink, and dice, and bad companions.
And she did what other good women
have done before and will do again.
her heart full of RUDE Halse, she prom
Used to marry Paul-for her souls sake.
The eve of the marriage day arrived,
and with 1t Pau's allowance from Eng
land. The occasion and opportunity
suggested carouse, and Paul informed
the "boys" he would be standing treat
at Ffolliott's that night for the last
time.
Paul was full of liquor--he had drank
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 Marys
WHICH, Dl6 Dill INCulcl III
and was greeted with shout of Hal
loo, Bill; you back! What luck, pard?"
Luck, my lads! leave luck to fools
and dead beats. I've been working.
and, thank God, I've worked for some
thing. I've put my sweat and muscle
into the ground and I've struck ore,
None Of your dust or pockets, but a
vein as broad as an ox's back, and as
long as river, and so I've come back
with Rube-"
Paul looked up with a start Here
was he drunk in gambling hell on the
eve of his marriage with Mary, and
RUDE had come back.
What did you say" he muttered.
Il said Rube and I had come back
But don't let me disturb the game
Come, come, have drink I'm standing
treat, and as to RUDE, here's his health
and Mary'sv'
I'm standing treatr shouted Paul,
springing up. Have a drink with
me?" And with this he flung his
liquor ia Bits face and made rush at
him.
A pistol flashed, blue puff of smoke
died in the hot air. and Beauty" Paul