The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-10-03

"Sure enough Joe, whatever made
you quit goin to see that Conley gal SO
suddent?" asked Jim Smith, one of the
helpers, in jocular way
81 stopped SOS to give Bill chance
said Joe with what was evidently
forced attempt at gayety.
"Shucks!' calculated his brother
"You needn't a-stoppcd for that. If I
couldn't beat you, I'd better quitP'
There was just the least bit of con-
temptuous emphasis on that word
"yOu, and Joe noticed it. A slightly
shamed, panied look came over his poor,
thin face as he faltered
W-well, didn't keer much for her,
no way was just a-foolin from the
first. "
My deliberate opinion is that this
statement was a lie. 1t is my opinion,
furthermore, that in this single, I'M
grammatical, mispronounced, mutilated
lie there were loftiness of thought and
purity Of purpose such as an angel in
heaven might well aspire to. Bill did
not take any such view of the matter,
though, for he only looked up and re-
torted angrily:
My opinion of anybody that would
go foolin round woman when he
didn't care nothin for her is that he
ain much of man.
Hes pretty small potatoes-he
shore is" put in Tom jackson, the
fourth man at the branding. Nobody
noticed the remark particularly at the
time, but subsequent events caused
them to think great deal about it later
on.
'I'm surprised at you, Joe, " said Bill.
The ghost Of a forced smile lowered
piteously on Joe's lips for moment,
but he merely rubbed his forehead with
the knot on his wrist in the nervous
way peculiar to him on such occasions
and said nothing.
Aside from one or two little Incl
dents like this-which are hardly worth
counting as eXceptions-Bill's courtship
was an illustration of the fact that, not
Withstanding certain very eminent
authority to the contrary, the course of
true love does occasionally run smooth
for awhile. In this case it ran smooth
down to the very day set for the we'd
ding. The ceremony was to be perform
ed at what was known as Plum Creek
schoolhouse, and early in the morning
Bill went with number of his friends
to get ready for the festivities. In some
countries it might not be considered as
a part of the groOm's duties to make
| these preparations, but i'll Texas it is
etiquette for anybody to do anything,
| provided there is not some one else to
do it.
The ceremony was to take place at 10
o'clock. Perhaps half an hour before
that time Joe and his friend Jim Smith
were riding through the timber which
always abOunds around creek bottoms
in Texas, and were much astonished
when, at a sudden bend in the trail,
they came across the supposed prospec-
| tive bride. She was on horseback and
unaccompanied.
"Hellon' exclaimed Joe i'll surprise.
care you lost?"
Yes, answered May with nerv-
GUS laugh. 81 never was as glad to sec
anybody in my life. This here creek
bottom timber's so thick a wildcat
would mighty nigh get lost in it, let
| alone woman"
Il should think that you and Bill
had been to Plum Creek schoolhouse
often enough to know the way by this
time?"
81 amt a-goin to Plum Creek" said
May, with foolish giggle.
"What! Amt you goin to git mar
ried?"
eyes"
''Well, Bills at the schoolhouse now,
a-waitin for you. s."
May tossed her head and then giggled
again.
Il amt a-waitin for him none," she
said. q might as well tell you now as
any time-I'm goin to be married to
Tom jackson this morning at Round
Timbers. I've lost my way there, and !
want you to tell me how to 60"
At the mention of Jackson's name
Joe's face hardened for moment. He
was the man who had been so quick tC
take Bits part i'll the quarrel with his
brother Then Joe began to reason with
May as to her conduct, but very few
moments suiiiced to show him the fu-
tility OF the attempt Promptly chang
ing his plans he gave her detailed
account Of th2 way to Round Timbors.
Say. interrupted Jim Smith, who
had listened ii profound astonishment
to the whole conversation, you re mis-
taken about -
mo, l amt. retorted Joe. 1.-THE
trail been changed lately. That's all
right May Come on, jim -
Il still think you We're mistaken
about that trail " said Jim us the two
men rode on together.