Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-05-23
STORY OF A BACKWOODS WOOlN0.

nor FORMED ono OF the young men, aye,
even the W1ddle-aged and old men,
who nev1r tailed to CROWD sbout the
young widow whenever Dbe tpde into
the county town on Sunday ASteraoon.
Being the only man she missed, Beck
grew FESTIVE. and one October day,
when Marion was clearing up Q new
bit Of ground for the spring tobacco.
she came riding down the lane toward
him, her black skirts flying, her checks
blasting and her tendril.like curlS all
falling down from under her black
cap. He cav her coming, Away 81,
and be knew the GRAND % VAleo che
came, and b had 10 STEEL bic heart
against her to hold bic VANTAGE ground.
Handsome. stalwart, brawny, hs rest.
ed on bic AZ calmly, though the blood
In bic veins ran % riotous q course %
. Q brooks after Q storm. How Beck
laughed % she drew upi
II haven't been up here for years."
che said. "Come over 70 the cliff, Mar.
Ion. I'll walk Black Nell"
II must work, Beck" hs said. life
isn't play an around. 70 know"
(which means - WON'T" she smiled.
but ! know yer want 10 20, plum
badl Ye'rs playiu' losin' game, Mar.
loo. fur I know By yer eye that ye'rs
jet the same ~ ye WERE" and she
laughed tantallxingly. Don't think
yer can fool me. Marion"
He threw bic az down with angry
vehe'uence and stood looking at her.
II don't know whether ys'rs q witch
Or what" 10 said. hoarssly. II am
jest the same. Beck. an yer want to
look out can't stand foolin'."
II WON'T marry ag'in. I'm goin' b
enjoy rfs." she Knocked. "What's the
uss Of my marryin'7 rye got money
and land and years Of good times
ahead o me. Whatd I GIT In ex.
chanssf"
Marion never answered except BY bic
persistent case.
"(;ood.by." she said presently, "ys'rs
b too bad . humor. Ys're takin' life
too serious. Marion. There's more'n
gray skies above my head. Give me
tho blue ones" Then she galloped
away to the bluffs and Marion's tenn.
pie Of nature. high In the woods above
the river. He half fancied she would
come back his way: but no. Tho after.
noon wore away and no 1.-THE, slim
figure on . black marc appeared on his
horizon.
30 she knew, and, since she knew,
she Knocked him. Well, he had al.
ways loved the brier rose. How could
be tame this untamable tigreas, this
guesser Of mems secrets and mocker
Of mems lowest The intuitions Of Mar.
lon Moore were better than his knowl.
edge or his reason. He guessed that
only . real lasting affection would
ever make her moro faithful more
tender. moro true than any other WON.
an-but how, how, indeed. was this 70
como to herr"
The mad reports went flying hlther
and thither. Becky was here, there,
everywhere. II was Colonel win and
Tom Pence and Arthur smedlsy aud
Henry Carroll. Tho widows bonnet
was now never worn. and bows Of
lavsndar and elaborate black and
white toilets were sent for to Cinciu.
natl. and cooking and feasting and
fun went on in the Bailey house.
Thanksgiving came and Beck was tho
queen Of the Pence family gathering
that day.
Ono morning Marion Moore was near
bis favorite wood haunt. and stopped
to look over the fair valley and the
INFINITE bills spread out before him,
like Q beautiful winter picture. A
hs stood quiet there fell from the grcat
tree beside him something rustling au,l
dark and green. Q lovely piece Of the
native mistlstos. with ito waxen bsr.
riss thick and plentiful. A smile came
to Marion's face. He had bsen sent
Q token, and one he would accept.
He would hesitate no longer. He
took bic bunch Of mistletoe and walked
away. He would become the wooer,
for nature, whom he trusted, had sent
him q token. He dressed himself With
care and rode his fine chestnut horse
up 10 the side gate In the lane, lead.
ing to the cluster Of cabins that long
ago have been tho quarter" but now
were turned to various uses. Becky.
wrapped In q gay shawl he well re-
membered, was giving directions 10
some men at work inside the nearest
building. II was Just sunset. Per.
haps nothing In the world had evor
seemed 10 fair to Marion Moore %
this saucy and careless creature. who
greeted him with q cool triumph which
be had expected and ignored. He &C.
cepted her invitation to supper and
walked BY her side to see the promis'
Ing colt1 In the harm lot. Then they
went into the house, and Marion pro-
ceeded to make himself comfortable
In a very matter of fact way. HI
looked critically about. much t.
Becky's astonishment.
"Whatever air yer lookin' about fur
Mari0nT"
"Seein' Of this house IL as comfort
able a. mine." he made reply.
"Well, II plum 10, Marion" she re
piled. forced into earnestness. "Th'
outlook II better with yer all, but thil
house has more comforts"
ave could soon put some OF 'em int
mine." he replied musingly.
"We?"
Eyes. yer an T."
Eyer takin' deal fer granted, pear
ter me. don't intend ter leave hera.