The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-11-17

Bnt borrowed MIS- Saddler's cook
book, seein' as she don't cook much
but salt pork and potatoes, an l'll
read up, an try to put in some trim
MINIS after this"
Bat Burdock refused 90 be cast
down rs he walked along beside his
master, amiabiy wagging his tail. As
his horse turned the corner around
the clump of cotton woods that
screened tho door of the dugout, n
din2y emigrant outfit met Tobe's gaze.
The Weather beaten wagon, sorry
looking horses, even the battered pail
hanging ~ the back, betokened dilapi-
| dation. Near by, on block OF wood
beside the door-robe's favorite seat
in the evening, with Burdock Mt his
knee-sat woman. A better Judge
of femininity than lobe could not
have told whether she was young or
old, her huge sunbonnet conceating
hex face. and her limp gown any
you;hfulness of figure, as she sat with
her hands IN her lap and her head
dropping, the picture OF detection.
Burdock walked straight to her side.
Another dog might have fawned on
her, but this piece OF canine dignity
/ stopped directly in front OF her and
sat down, gazing on her with much
calm and friendly satisfaction. lobe
ent still for n moment in establishment,
| then, spriuSiug to the ground he
came toward her and queried kindly:
els there anything l kin do for you,
ma'am?"
At the sound of his voice the girl,
for such she was, as soon as she raised
her eyes, burst out crying.
eyes, sir, oh, yes. If you only will"
she sobbcd Fathers been sick in
the wagon for week, but yesterday
he went out of his head, and I've got
to stop, for cant drive and hold him
in the wagon. He's asleep now, but
he's been sc bad that / m afraid to be
on the road alone with him. We
haven't any money, but if you'll lot us
stop here till he's well, We'll both
work afterwards 10 pay you"
Burlock listened TO the girls appeal
with apparent interest aud when her
voice died away in sobs he raised n
sympathetic paw for handshake, and
seemed quite hurt when his offer went
unnoticed.
"Wby, yes, miss" answered lobe,
kindly. ''Of course you kin stay.
You'll find it a rocky place, but Bur
dock an NELL do the best we kin by
you. We'd better move the old gen
tlemGn into the house as soon as we
kin, an If you're not afraid to stay
here alone with Burdock I'll ride over
to Cordwood an bring Doc Salter out,
for maybe it's typhoid"
"Afraid?" answered the girl. eff
can get under roof once, I'll not
he afraid of anything. We've been
six weeks comm down from Dakota,
an it was awful lonesome ut the best,
but since fathers been sick the nights
out on the prairie have been just dread.
full. Ii you'll only help me I'll work
my fingers to the bone to pay you"
Don't talk about pay" answered
/ lobe, who was noiselessly unharness.
| ing the tired horses, 'In the days
before ma ic my stake ut cattle raisin'
I've knew what it was to be poor and
! lonesome, an what / do fer You an
| your pap amt goin' to hurt me- I'll
let you take my bunk fer your father,
/ an nN up shaNedOWn Ter you where
You kin watch him, an I'll sleep ont
here with Burdock, as I've done many
n night"
/ was into the night whom he re-
turned from Cordwood with the doe
| tor. The lamp burned dimly, but
there was light enough for the men to
see the interior eff the dug-out The
/ old mau turned and mutterel so weakly
/ that he did not disturb his daughter,
/ who, sitting on box beside the bed,
with her head laid on his feet, slept
/ OF exhaustion. the long braid OF her
light, sunburned hair dropping past
her thin, tanned cheek to the floor
Before and facing her sat Burdock,
blinking at her along his nose, in
/ drowsy content.