Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-09-16

'You needn't stopped for that. II
oouldn't beat you I'D better quit"
There was just the least bit Of CON-
temptuous emphasis on that word
s'you, and Joe noticed il. A slightly
shamed, panied look came over his
poor, thin face as he faltered.
"W-well, I didn't keer much for
her, no way. / was just foolin'
from the first"
My deliberate opinion is that this
statement was lie. 1t is my opinion,
furthermore, that in this single, un-
grammatical, mispronounced, mutilat-
ed lie there was holiness Of thought
and pnrity of purpose such rs an
angel in heaven might we'll aspire to.
Bill did not take any such view of the
matter, though, for he only looked up
and retorted angrily:
my opinion of anybody that would
go foolin' round woman when he
didn't care nothing for her is that he
amt much of . man."
"He's pretty small potatoes-he
shore is" put in Tom Jackson, the
fourth man at the branding. Nobody
L oticed the remark particularly at the
time, but subsequent events caused
them to think q great deal about it
later on.
"I'm surprised at you, Joe," said
Bill.
The ghost of forced smile lowered
piteously on Joe's lips for q moment,
but he merely rubbed his foreh cad
with the knot on his wrist in the nerv-
GUS way peculiar to him on such oc-
casions, and said nothing.
Aside from one or two little incl
dents like this-which are hardly
worth counting as exceptions-Bills
courtship was an illustration of the
fact that, Notwithstanding a certain
very eminent authority to the contrary,
the course of true love does occasion
ally run smooth-for while. In this
case it ran smooth down to the very
day set for the wedding. The cere-
mony was to be performed atwhat was
known as Plum Creek school house,
and early in the morning Bill went
with number of his friends to get
ready for the festivities. a
The ceremony was to take place at
10 o'clock, Perhaps a 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 astonisked when, at sudden
bend in the trail, they came across
the supposed prospective bride. She
was on horseback and unaccompanied.
'Hellow exclaimed Joe in surprise.
care you lost?"
EYES," answered May with ner-
vous laugh. 81 never was as glad to
see anybody in my life. This here
creek bottom timber's SO thick wild
cat would mighty nigh get lost in it,
let alone woman"
81 should think that you and Bill had
been to Plumb Creek school-house
often enough to know the way by this
timer"
81 amt a going to Plum Crick,"
said May, with foolish giggle.
what! amt you goin' to get mar
ied?"
eyes"
"Well, Bills at the school house
now, waitin' for ye."
May tossed her head and then gig
gled again.
81 amt waitin' for him none,"
she said. 81 might as well tell you
now as any time. I'm goin' to be
married to Tom Jackson this morning
at Round Timber. I've lost my way
there, and I want you to tell me how
to CO."
At the mention of Jackson's name
Joe's face hardened for a moment. He
was the man who had been so quick to
take Bills part in the quarrel with
his brother. Then Joe began to rea-
son with May as to her conduct, but
very few moments sufficed to show
him the futility of the attempt.
Promptly changing his plans he
gave her detailed account of the way
to Round Timbers.
"Say" interrupted Jim Smith, who
had listened in profound astonish-
ment to the whole conversation,
you're mistaken about"
"No, I amt" retorted Joe. sThe
trails been changed lately. That
all right, May. Come on jim"
81 still think You were mistaken
about that TRAIL" said Jim, as the
two men rode on together.
mo, wasn't mistaken" said Joe.
II just lied-that was all. L did it
for Bills sake. If May goes the way
1 sent her she'll not get to Round
Timbers this morning"
After they had ridden few mo-
ments in silence Joe began again.
slim, old fellow, for Gods sake
don't let on that you've seen nor heard
nothing this morning. It'll be plenty
tough on Bill, anyway"
II shore won't" said Jim.
There was quite crowd assembled
around the door of the little log school
house when these two men rode up.
The groom was there, and so was the
preacher; so also were the people.
The house was decorated within and
without with flowers and leaves and
other ornaments more or less appro-
pirate to the occasion. However, there
was one ornament generally considered
necessary on wedding occasions which
was still missing-namely, the bride.
"Seen anything of May lately?"
asked Bill, stepping to the front as tho
new corners rode up. There was just
n traca nf anxiatv in hia yoica 40 ha