The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-14


his.friencs 10 get ready for the festivities
In SllDe countries 10 might not he cons
siderec as part of the croomt duties 20
make These Preparations but IN Texas III
II sflquette Tor anybody 10 40 anythan
provided there was moi some one else 10
90 IL
The ceremony was 90 take place at 10
O'Clock. Perhaps half an hour before that
time Joe and his frieDd Jim smith were
riding through the timber which always
ab0uDds around crssk bottoms IN Texas
md were rluuh ast0nishe1 when, NJ a suo-
oen bcndiin the traiL they came across
The supposed JrospecUiv We bride she was
on horseback and nnscccIn panied.
~Heie," exclaimed Joe ia surprise
Are yen lostg''
Yes. answered May, with n nsrvous
laueh. II never was "a glad 10 SIZE any
body In my life. This hsre creek liottnm
rimber's 90 thick n wild cat would mighty
nigh SET lost in if--let alone woman
] should thlnE yon and Bill had been
10 bum Greek schooihonse often enough
10 know the way ~ this timer
Il Amt agoin' 10 Plum Creek, said
May, with foolish giggla
What, ain't you goln' 10 get mar
ried ~
Yes"
Well Bin's at the scboalhouse now.
May tossed her head and then giggled
again
Il amt a waitin' FOR him none. - she
SAID. Il micat as wei tell you Dow as
any time I'm goin' 10 he married
20 Tom jackson this morning at Round
lin hsrs. I've lost nv WAY there, and
want you 70 sell me how 10 go. ="
AT the mention or Iackson's 5 name -loe's
face hardened for moment he was The
man who had been SO quick 70 take blils s
part IN the Quarrel with hls brother Then
Joe hesan 10 reason with May "a 10 her
flr~faf
10 show him the furlity of the attempt
Promptly changing his plans he gave
her detailed account OF the way 10
Round Iimbers
'Sayp interrupted Jim Smith. who
had listened in profound establishment 10
the whole conversation, yon re mistaken
about
No / amt" retorted Joe. The
trails been changed lstely. That's all
right MAY. Come on. .lim-
Il stili think you were mistaken about
that trail said Jim. IS the two men rode
on together.
ma / wasn't mistaken" said Joe.
81 Justried-that was all ! did i Tor
Biils sake II May goes the way i sent
her she III not get 10 Round ilmhers tins
morning
Afrcr they had ridden q few moments in
silence. ice began again:
".lim. old fellow. Tor GOD sake don
let on that you've seen nor heard nothing
this morinG. lt'n be plenty tough on
Bill, anyway
Il shore won't" said Jim.
There was quite crowd assem- bled
around the door OF the little log school
house when these two men rode mp. The
groom was there. and 50 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 appropriate 10 the occasion.
ant
orally considered necessary on wedding
occasions which was still missing
namely. the bride
Seen anything OF MAY lstely!" asked
Bill. stepping 10 the front as the new
comers Icde mp There was Just trace
OF anxiety in his voice as he spoke.
Nav" answered Joe promptly. His
face looked perfectly unconcernea as he
spoke : but in few moments cloud
began 10 rest upon 1T i suspect though,
that instead OF grieving over the lie re
hso tolG-As of course be sho'v& have neep
he was merely wondering how he might
spare Bin the modification which a pub
lie discovery of the Teal facts in regard TO
May might occasion. lie was now sitting
with one leg thrown over the horn @. his
saddie Suddenly his face lighted up
with its old sickly smile ard in voice
that trssn bled a little in spite OF the
hrayado he tried to throw into II, he be-
gan: Say, Bill that was TIE .dsvil Of
IL told You abCnt May JUS; now. ] saw
hcr not over hals an hour aga
you die, did you! When will she be
herey'
."Sbe won't be here at all. !"
Bills face grew stern and white.
s.Why wort shey' he demanded.
because directed her in tie wrong
road Jim tried - tell her right and i
wouldn't let him. Amt that so, Jim.
Jim nodded grimly. With faces that
now began TO grow aravn and anxious
the spectators glanced from one speaker
10 the other in turn. Bill's face was fairly
livid with rage and his voice treinbled
with the awfulness Of repressed fury as he
asked TIE next question.
What cid you do IL foT'
The expectant silence that followed
was deathlike, but even then Joe's
with the same siokly smile still lowering
about his white lips:
Because 1 useter court her myself and
You cut me outl
Before the words were fairly out of his
mouth Bill spranc at him with the fury
of a wild beast With ali the force Of his
mighty right arm no struck ana the blow
uessnded upon the arm the crippled,
krotfed arnl-which Joe had interposed
to ward il off. Some say IL descended
upon the very knot ITSELF he feii from
his pony as IL he had been shot and lay
lor SSNerNA III sAS NASAS ~
had fallen.
Which way did You send her.y'
asked Bill, in the same awful tones ne
had used before
II won't tell" gasped Joe
Then get of that ground
Joe moekly obeycd
"Get on yorr pony-no, see it's got
away from you. Then saddle up mine
wonder and go after May and bring her
back at once, sir, Do you heary"
Joe mcckly took the huge Texas saddle
in his left hand and carried il To where
the pony stood grazing, tied - long rope
TO a tree. His right arm hung limp by
his SIDE After some Intellectual efforts
20 throw the saddle on with his left arm,
be gave up tho attempt
81 can't get the thing on, " he said.
"use your right arm, sir!' called his
brother.
II think you've broken his game arm,
Bill" said Jim Smith.
Its lie" shouted Joe, that arms
as good rs ii ever was.
To prove the truth OF this assertion, he
made a mighty effort and managed TO
lift his arm to his shoulder, though the
=, loDsalx from no, a. Al