The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-08-19
CHAPTER ".

When the boys advanced to their father the
idea of escorting Pollock past the possible
ambuscades of Big Jim Hoskins, he pooh
pooled with Pollock the necessity, but as
their work was we'll advanced, he thought
they might take holiday, and they scamp
cred off to saddle their horses, followed by
Pollock
The way to the stable did not necessarily
lie through the Kitchen but as Pollock had
not seen Miriam for as much as 10 minutes
he took the course likely to bring him to her
He found her on her knees before the fire
casting bullets.
"What mischief is Sweetheart up to now?"
inquired he, raising her and kissing her sweet
face, which glowed with heat of the fire.
"Sakes! how hot yer check is. 'Spect I'll
have blister On my lips"
''Tm gwine with we over the mounting
Clay, said she, nesting, bullet-molds still in
hand, in his arms. CPL take the squirrel
rifle. an I'm jest runnin' some bullets fur
hitn
"Gwine back with me over the mounting, :"
said he, delightedly, and kissing her again.
| "Thatll be scrumptious Want t see how
our new houses gittin' erlong, d. YEP"
| His face grew SOBER as thought occurred
to him. "But, then, Big Jim HOskins may
be skulkin' 'mong the laurels."
That's jest the reason why I'm agwine,
Clay" said she.
:" That's jest the reason why We Amt agwine
why l won't allow ye," said he deter
minedly.
Clay, don't begin layin' down the law so
| airly," she laughed. THAT'S the fust time
yo've ever said amt, and 'shan't allow We
t. me. Yo jest wait Mister, tell the preacher
gives yo' the right t. order me-" and she
shook the bullet-molds at him menacingly
Pm Miss Miriam Inrule yit, an ] go an
come Ell ] please An I'm agwine over the
mounting with yo'."
q Now, honey" said Pollock, drawing her
closer to him, 'yo' know haint dom no
orderin' nur bossin', not now nur never
married nur single Yo shall alluz be free
as the air. This is the fust time that ever
said | wuzn't glad t have yo 90 with me-
But eff thar's gwine t. be danger / sartainly
don't want yo' nigh hit / don't believe
thar's any danger, but, honey, love yo' so
well that don't want yo' whar thar's even a
thought o. danger. Besides eff Big Jim IS
ackchelly layin' fur me, what'll he an his
gang think o. me fur skulkin' behind yo'
| petticoats?"
Clay Pollock, yo do yerself wrong, y
said she, earnestly, "when yo' believe that
Big Jim Hoskins could imagine or say that
yo' skulked behind any woman's petticoats
| They'd be laughed ut ef they said so. The
mountings knows yo' too well fur that But
] must go with yo' / shouldn't have a
minnit's peace eff l didn't Pm more mar
vous bout this than | wuz ever before bout
anythin' in all my life. / had a horrible
dream bout hit last night Yo' may laugh
bout women's dreams, but they haint sent
S,,, :.f 10, 4 L. t.
hathaway Ef anything's t. happen | want
t be with yo'. Hits my place t be with
yo', Clay" and the warm tears welled from
her eyes.
9 Thar, thar" said lie caressingly, as he
kissed away her tears. 'Nuthin's gwine t.
happen. Yo' amt well, an yre narvous.
That's all. But come long / shell be
powerful glad t have yo"
Miriam frightened up at once, "necked y
her bullets, with some little jibes at Pollock,
put them in the pouch, loaded the squirrel
rifle, and was ready TO leap on her spirited
| little mare, when the horses were brought
around.
Elder Stornmont had departed in another
direction, after an apostolic blessing on the
house and all who dwelt in it. He had taken
Sally Hoskins to one side and counseed and
prayed with her. Believing in her desire to
lead better life, lie had advised Mrs Inrule
| that it would be a work of grace to aid and
shelter her and her child.
Pollock and Miriam, Bildad and Reuben
made blithesome cavalcade, as they dashed
along the road leading to the pass beyond
which Pollock lived.
Reuben was irrepressible with the spirits
of bubbling boyhood, and, mounted on q
fiery young colt that had no more discretion
than it's rider would chase anything that
caught his eye, even Il ground-squrrel, over
logs, rocks, and gulches, to Miriam's great
apprehension.
Bildad," she would call from time to
time to the more sedate elder brother, "dC
trash Reub back q little. He'll sartinly
break that ERE colts legs or dash his own
brains out agn tree"
80, let the boy alone" Pollock would
demonstrate good-humoredly. Yo' couldn't
kill him with club. He's got jest so much
devilment in him. Better let him run hi
out this away than in some wuss one"
How glorious the Springtime among the
mountains In the Spring Nature decks the
plains with sober beauty, but she reserves
her richest gifts for the hills and mountains
to compensate for the fierceness of her Win
ter moods Every rood of the rugged and
billowy landscape-where the winds had
howled, the storm beaten, the icy waters
torn-was eloquent with gladness that Tho
Winter was over and gone and the time O.
singing of birds had come The laurel alona
the roadside was dressed in new and vivid
| o,aan and i;c hudc c,uaIl;n,, 70, h,r,@ o,o,, =,