The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-05-16

.alzzAAAa..a&.Al ..Al Bender observed
"and for one pro
pose to git the benefit of it,"
"In the usual way, reckon" Sam Burtoi
remarked, dryly. -
(Which means" Alb Lowell put in, tha
old Bender will 90 down to town and GIT al
drunk as biled owl. That's the way h'
celebrates his holiday"
81 don't know that it's any skin off o. any
o your backs, if / do" Bender retorted. VI
pay for my own drinks, an IT don't cost yor
fellers nothin', SO j reckon it amt particular
none o. your business. This is Tree coun'
try, reckon" :.
"Shore it is, Bender Alb replied, an Il
yeu want TO git on spree tomorrow VIC
amt no right to kick. We ought to stand II
if you can"
There was long silence, as the cowboys
sat about the cabin door smoking their pipes
but at last it was brokeR by Alf Sanders,
who said:
"Well, boys, you can all enjoy your holi-
day Just as you please, an L hope you'll
make the most of it. For my part, L amt
goin' to be here"
What" Loyel cried. "You aint going
away, are yOu?"
Eyes"
We'll, that's sudden, amt it
"Sorter so, reckon"
"Where are you goin', ARP" Bender
asked.
Back home" Alf answered, shortl-
"0n a visit?"
"No. Coin to stay"
"Well, that beats me- Say, what got that
sort o notion into yeu, Alf?'
Been thinkin' o. il a coed while" Alf an
swered "an' Jest been waitin' till I'd got
money enough saved up 10 answer my pur-
poses. / have got it now, an tomorrow Im
going TO start East"
What do you reckon you'll do East when
you git thar?n BeHder questioned.
Alf hesitateG moment, thea said:
That's a kind Of secret, fellers an /
don't know as / ought to tell it. Still, L
reckon there aint no harm in it."
Shore thar aint," Lowell asserted. Thar
can't be-"
"No, s'pose not Wal, boys, T'm going
back home to git married"
There Was n1omentary silence, during
which Alfs companions looked at him in
blank astonishment. Then old Bender gave
vent to prolonged whistle.
"Goin' to git married." he exclaimed at
last. Wal, by Joye, that stumps my taters!
Who'd thought o. sich thiRg?"
Don't know whether anybody wou2d a
thought Of it," All replied; "but it's the
case just the same"
Tell us bout the woman you're goin' to
marry, ALT" Lowell demanded. Whats
her name, an how does she look, an all
that? ?n
"Her names Tidy Hicks, an she looks
out o. her eyes, sn -
n II
Af i want to know what she looks like" T"
" She looks like a wenan, Of course"
Wal, but is she purty?"
think SO. Roses an peonies an lilies
an all them things amt patchin' to her
beauty; an peaches an cream amt in sight
o. her when il comes to pure downright
sweetness. She's the purtiest, the sweetest,
an the best wonan that ever lived, fellerz,
an nobody can say no more than that, l
low"
There was burst of laughter at Alfs ear
nestBess. Such love-talk from Alf's lips
struck the cowboys ~ exceedingly funny.
=" / don't reckon Alf is q good judge o
beauty, an in sich a case like this" Lowell
finally remarked. He'd naturally be preju-
diced in the woman's favor, loving her as he
does"
That's Sc" Bender agreed. guess, now,
Dick could come higher giving US the straight
facts in the matter, cause he wouldn't be
love blind Come, Dick, you know Alf's
sweetheart, / reckon?"
Dick was Alf's brother, and two years his
Junior. So far Dick lad taken NO part in
the conversation, but had sat little apart,
with his eyes fxed sn the ground. Now he
locked up and said, very quietly:
I'm well acquainted with Miss Hicks"
" Is shs as purty as Alf says she is?"
"She's handsome
"An' sweet?"
Sweet as can be-"
Bender looked round on his companions,
and, with a sod, observed:
1t must be, fellers, that Alf's sweetheart
is all he claims for her. Dick says she is,