Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-06-05
THE WRONG MAN.

charge Of the ranch. This was equivalent
10 a promotion of Blddy also, for the Mis-.
sourian, whose bony frame had been built
from the limestone waters Of his native
state, was still the partisan and protector
of the sappy youngster'from northern Yer.
mont.
"You are Canadian pony and am
Hambletonian, said Robert "But II we
like to trot together guess the other bosses
Of this range will have to take our dust "
The friendship between these two men
was founded on complementary qualities
md only a woman. could break 1t. The
woman In this instance was Miss Bell, the
schoolteacher at the Bend. ats
The burned child breads the fire, but
bird will return and again dash into the
flames. Roberts encounter with the fair
fence cutter was like fame to the bird He
sought an introduction and forthwith be-
came sutton for her hand. Biddy, the
only one in camp who took 1t upon him
self to criticisc any act of Roberts, remon-
strated with him.
"You are bird, aren't your" said he.
"Thc girl mcsmerized you once She'll
bamboozle you for twice and bounce you
for three times. What do you mean to dof'
~ mean to marry her II she will have
me-" replied Robert simply. Eyes, 1
know told you plenty times that cow
boy had no business to marry, and that's
right but I'm an exception. don't know
how and don't know why, but know
I'm hit hard. I've got to have her."
So Robert, big, hulking, 40 years old,
was in lovo for the first time in his whole
life. If force and earnestness avail, he
should win.
Less forccful, less earnest, half as old,
Ia tr ivhf II dot,
to Robert to let the girl alone was in good
faith. He thought it the best thing-for
Robert-but he had IA bad case of "physi-
clan, heal thyself" upon his hands. He,
too, was resolved to win and marry Miss
Bell. He did not say SO to Robert, so hard
Is 1t FOREMOST men to be open In love af-
fair, and for time Robert knew nothing
Of 1t. Every ono else saw it, and Scotty
told Biddy he had better stand from under
"If you lock horns with Robert" said
he, "he'll get you down and walk all over
your frame" And Scotty added some re-
1ections on the law of supply and de-
mand. "If there were 30 schoolmaa ANS
round here, you would not look at one Of
them, but because there is only one you
are fixing to get your skin so plumb full of
bullet holes that the wind won't whistle as
1t blows through"
Biddy laughed and went his way to call
upon Miss Bell and urge his suit.
And Robert went his way-which was
tho same way-upon the same errand.
do not know whether Miss Bell gave
to either man any manner OF encourage
ment, but as the dead shot is said to add a
notch to the marks ON his pistol grip for
each man he drops, SO it is supposable that
about this time this young lady increased
her list Of rejected suitors by the names
of these two cowboys.
1t was done in her kindest manner, this
rejection, and she had said to each: 81 am
sorry this has occurred, but since you have
20 honored me, you must come to my we'd
ding. l am to DO married next month in
the church at Hammond. I shall really
feel it II you do not come"
And each man had promised to be there
1t had come to Roberts notice before
this time that Biddy was his rival, but
with the hope and intention of success
strong within him he had been affected
differently from Scotty' g forecast. He went
straight to Biddy and told him to Ego in
and win II you can. don't want the girl
unless can got her fair and hold her
against all Corners" But when both had
been refused, each man thought the other
was accepted, and each waited for the 9th
er to broach the subject.
1t was difficult time. Theirs were
dark looks, but no explosion. They avoid
cd each other, and this little cloud no big
ger than woman's hand, seemed about
TO cover the whole sky. Biddy asked for
leave Of absence and got 1t. They did not
meet again until the wedding day.
That day found Biddy still storming at
fate, but Robert, who had simpler and
stronger nature, had put his own disap-
pointment behind him and was looking
forward with pride, If not pleasure, to his
friends happiness.
What follows Is in Roberts words:
81 got there early and took seat In the
back part of the church. WANTED to be
where I could get out II my nerve failed
mo. Many people came in, and at last the
bride, looking very beautiful, came out
from side door with three men and stood
up In front. And i was proud for Biddy
that he was going to have such fine wife.
But couldn't SEQ him anywhere, and the
preacher said any man having an impede
ment WINS to step forward.
"Then / looked for Biddy, but he didn't
come. I had never before been at we'd
ding In church, and l thought maybe it
was the way to keep him oorralled In the
little room until the last moment for fear
he would go back on to the old range
The preacher went on saying things, and
didn't pay close attention, because was
thinking how pretty she looked, until a
bold man in Hereford shirt and low neck
cd vest took her hand, and the preacher
said. i pronounce you man and wife.
"Then jumped up wild. Great Scott,
yelled, that's the wrong mani
"At that instant somebody clapped a
hand over my mouth and hustled me out of
tho church.
"'n you don't want to get shut up for
drunk and disorderly,' said Biddy, for he
u was who dragged me out, stop that
kacketv
"'what's upf' said soon us could get
my breath. why aren't you in there get
ting married.
i am not IN there getting married,
said Biddy, because she wouldn' + have me.
thought you were to marry her today
"'N'hati Mep' said l. 4 never was with
In thousand miles of it.
why didn't you say SO, old mann ask
ed Biddy.
"'Say SO yourself, said l. You were
dumb as an oyster
'"Then we both laughed, and while the
folks inside were crowding up to the front
to congratulate tho happy pair Biddy and
] had u hearty hsndshako on the side
walk, and We went home together. AR
gonAut
POULTRY ON THE FARM.
- A