The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1896-08-01
WOODS WOOING

slope a mans figure went slowly,
plodding onward after a sturdy
black mare and turning up the
ground between two tall rows OF
corn, which at times hid him COM
pletely from view. The shoulders
under the straw hat proclaimed
him young and manly, and the
steadiness with which he went for.
ward and his short stay at the top
of the slope bespoke him a man of
purpose.
Then came galloping through the
white dust of the road below a lanky
boy on a roar horse, in whose veins
was the racing blood of generations.
Clear and futelike came the call,
Marion, oh, Marion!"
Marion, handsome Marion, came
leisurely up to the rails. He did not
expect any letters and was not OK.
cited. However, the boy knew his
news was worth attention, and burst
out impetuously: Yer won't be Sc
cool when yer hev heerd it, either.
Beck Bailey's man is dead!'
He had the qualification of seeing
Marion grow pale to his lips.
What killed 'im:"
THE doctors air calm it blood
pizen," returned the boy. Say,
Marion, they're gittin thar hot fut.
l seen Tom Pence hitchin up and
Cunnel Will hez been thar, high an
dry, sence the turn KUN"
Still Marion did not speak, but the
boy saw his lips tremble.
Run along, Pete, with the mail.
Folks'll all be waiting,' he said
finally, and Peter, disappointed at
nothing moro definite, dug his heels
into the colt and galloped away.
Then the man unhitched Dolly
and, mounted on her bare back, rode
down the lane into the sunlit woods,
on, on, without path or guidepost,
deep into the woods until he was
sure he was far enough from human
beings to be safe. And then, with a
shout jubilant enough to brighten
tho black mare, he threw back his
head and laughed a sonorOus peal
that astonished himself. He knew
he was happy and he had come
away here to fight the impetuous
demons of newly aroused passion
and eagerness until he could subdue
them enough to be decorous before
the world. For he had loved Beck
Bailey when she was a slip of a girl
and as Il young woman, and when
she had married another he had
come away here to the woods to
fight out his hatred and misery and
rebellion. Nature, dear mother, had
Gained him and he even became re-
signed. But Beck Bailey's man was
dead and she was free, and the heart
OF the man went after her as a bird
after the homo nest. Beck-slim,
sweet Beck, with her laughing,
hooking mouth and wonderful,
changeful eyes! She should be his
for what cared he for Tom Pence
and even Colonel Will, the old, bow
ing, Sinking beau? He would GO
down with the country side and see
Beck at the "berryin," but not be.
fore. Oh, no-he could wait awhile
now.
The "berryin' was "a great affair.
The Baileys' house had been throng.
ed for days, and Beck kept up by a
continual state of excitement. II
was all grist to her mill, for she
loved "somethin goin on" and in
this case vas almost wild, besides,
with a of freedom and relief.
Her new black clothes made her
look mighty peart," as the women
said, and she was the adored and
center idol of every one, petted and
condoled with, cried over and ap.
pealed to for advice and assistance
in planning the great funeraI.
Never had quiet Edward Bailey
made such q stir i'll the world as
now, when, quieter than ever, he
lay in state in his black coffin, one
with solid handles" The tradition.
al ceremonies were all gone through
with-the weeping, the waiting, the
dolorous hymning of quaverins
voices, the sermon. long and full Of
eulogy, the farewell to the dead, a
which Becky tainted dramatically
into her fathers arms, and the SLOW
walk to the graveyard near, a long
procession of the country people fol
lowing. 1t was all over, and, a:
nightfall came on, the crowd dis
persed, wondering what Beck wut
do jist at fust an who'd git 'er." Fol
not one had missed Tom Pence a
the "berryin, with his pleasant, 10
vial face and smiling eyes, nor Mari
Oh Moore, silent and watchful, mol
the ''ole cunnel, mussin aroun.
They had all been to "berryin's' be
fore, and they all knew Becky Bal
ley. 1t was only four years since she
set the country mad with her beau,
and her fun and her daring esca
pades. Ana DOW she was Il wido~'
rich, handsomor than ever. AN !
the ole Nick hain't let loose in thes