The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1896-12-18

Nhen charlie ComStock came, pale and
| breat athless, into the town for aid, saw
ing his hunting companion, George
Nichols. had been killed by the acciden-
tai discharge of his gun, the air was
rife with suspicion that his death was
the result of quarrel between the two
young men. for they were known to be
rivals for the hand of the heartless
belle of the Canadian.
Among the dashing cowboys of the
ranges bordering on the Canadian,
| Madge Coleman was the one idol of
worship and adulation. A score or more
OF them, each believed himself TO be the
favored suitor, and quarrels in which
the name of the petite princess was
spoken by anger-whitened lips were OF
frequent occurrence. Pistols were
drawn hastily from their leathern
holsters, and it was said that i'm one or
more instances bloodshed resulted from
these antagonisms, and when the re-
| ports reached the ears of the maidenly
bone of contention, she would shrug
her fair shoulders and aver that il they
we're fools enough to fight about her
1
of them, they should both have been
killed.
Frank Logan, cowboy employed on
the Coleman ranch, was a most ardent
suitor for the hand of his employers
daughter. He was a handsome young
man, daring rider, in disposition gen.
erous to fault, and universal favorite
among his fellow riders. 1t had be-
come matter of general comment
among the rough but manly knights of
the saddle and rope that Frank would
bear off the prize, for he stood high in
old Tuck" Coleman's favor, and the
girls sweetest smiles were lavished
upon him. 1t was observed that soft,
| tender look drove the fire from her
piercing eyes when Frank was near,
and her tones were never sweeter than
when in conversation with the hand
some rider. One by one the bronzed
boys of the range withdrew their at
tentions, as it was noted that she
showed decided preference for Frank,
until he had the field almost TO himself.
They were riding one day down along
the bank of the Canadian, and in grove
of cottonwood trees dismounted TO
gather wild flowers and permit their
horses to Craze. With the floral wealth
they had secured they sat down on the
| precipitous bank of the quiet flowing
stream, and Madge, with deft fingers,
wove a wreath from the flowers she
had gathered.
Isn't that beauty, Frank?" she
cried. in delight, holding the wreath.
aloft for his inspection.
/ 1T sure is, Madge; an it couldn't be
no other way when your hands made it.
Everything is beautiful to me when you
are near"
"Oh, I've heard that sort of talk till
it makes me tired, Frank. It's got 81
that every time one O. you boys opens
his mouth to me there's whole string
o. love talk waiting to pop out, and not
one o you means word O. it,"
! "Madge, you know better than that.
You know that just worship you, and
that | never would dare to tell lie to
you. You told me t'other day that you
thought whole lot more o. me than
you did O any O. the other boys. Do
1 ) w '''''h ohot away yi, hduScs
| "Oh, | don't know. Mebbe so. Let's
talk about something else"
| NO, l won't, Madge. | want you 10
hear me now. I'm talkin' jest as hon
est, square talk as | know how, when
l tell you that | jest can't live without
you. | can't think of nothin' but you
when I'm awake, an your face is in
every dream that comes to me when
I'm asleep. | kin see your angel face
peepin' out from amongst the stars
when I'm out on night herd, and kin
hear you whisperi.. to me in every
breeze that stirs up the grass around
me. | amt like | used to be, Madge.
You're sure 'witched me. You don't
never hear tell o. me goin' in to the
railroad no mo- with the boys 10 have
| time; an there's jest lots o. words /
usted to use that hate now. sence got
to lovin' you SO. 1t jest seems to me you
hear every word l speak, an see every
thing do. an | try to say nothin' an
| do nothin' you wouldn't want me to.
I'm a better boy sence | come to know
| you, Madge-a heap better boy; an If
you'd jest promise that you'd be mine,
I'd be the happiest boy that ever sat
| in saddle. Don't you believe what
say. Madge?"
"Oh, l guess you do think a heap OF
NE, Frank, but it's too soon yet to talk
that way. I'm only 10, and you're only
| a year or two older, an we can wait
awhile. | want to have lots o. fun yet
before | git married. fur that's the end
OF girls fun, You know"
NO, 'tisn't. Madge. It's jest the be-
ginnin' of girls happiness. With a
husband that thinks the world an all
o you like would, you wouldn't know
nothin' but high-grade happiness all
your life. You don't know how love
you, Madge. There isn't anything
wouldn't do: anything | wouldn't dare
for you. Come. now, let me take this
wreath an put it on yer dear head an
crown yon my queen"
"Oh, listen! What is that?"
A low, deep rumbIing was heard away
up the river, toward where gathering
clouds denoted storm. Angry flashes