The National tribune., 1898-07-28

| mattock and shovel"
| Terrible fears assailed the three unhappy
prisoners at this. What could a mattock and
shovel be wanted for but to dig their graves?
| Shorty stepped over a little distance to a
large clump of red sticks" These grow in
long wands of brilliant red, as straight as
corn-stalk, and slenderer. They are much
used about the farms of the South for rods for
rough measurements. He cut one about six
| feet long, and stripped off its leaves. The
anxious eyes of the prisoners followed every
movement.
Two of the boys appeared with an old
| mattock and shovel
8 Guess you'd better dig right over there, {"
said 81, indicating little bare knoll.
Nothln' else's ever bin planted there. At
least nothin's ever come up. The chances
are agin their comm up if we plant 'em
there"
Stand up" said Shorty, approaching
blackberry with the bright crimson rod in his
hand. Pm goin' to measure you for a
grass-green suit that'u last you till Gabriel
blows his horn"
blackberry gave a howl of terror. The
Squire and Mrs. Bolster began clamor of
protests.
Don't fuss" said Shorty calmly to them,
| as he took Hackberry's dimensions 81 amt
goin' to show no partiality. I'll serve you
both the same way. Your turns'll come after
his'n"
The children, aware that something I'M
usual was going on, yet unable to compre-
bend what it was, stood silently around, their
| fingers in their mouths, and their vacant eyes
| fixed in the stolid stare of the mountaineer
youth. Even the dogs were quiet, and
| seemed watching the scene with more under
standing than the children.
| Mrs. Bolsters mood suddenly changed from
bitter vituperation. She actually burst into
tears, and began pleading for her life, and
making earnest promises as to better conduct
in the future. The Squire and blackberry
followed suit, and blubbered like schoolboys
Mrs. Bolster reminded ST and Shorty how she
| had saved them from being killed by the fierce
| blackberry and the still fercer Simmons.
This seemed to move them. She tried a
CHASTITY travesty Of feminine Establishments
| by telling Shorty how handsome she had
thought him, and had fallen in love with him
| at first sight. Shorty gave grimace at this.
He and 81 stepped back little for consulta-
| ton.
When they came back Shorty said oracu-
larly:
"Our orders is strict, and we should've
carried 'em out at once. But, talkin' with
my partner here, we're reminded o. some
thin. We believe it's the law that when
man or woman is sentenced to death the exc
cution kin be put off if they kin find anybody
to marry 'em. Is that good law, 'Squire? ="
Hmm" answered the Magistrate, re-
Stunning his judicial manner at once; " that
| is general belief, and Pve heard o. some
instances of it. But before sayin' positively,
| | should like to examine the authorities an
| hear argument"
"Well, there haint goin' to be no continu-
ance in this case, for you to look up author
| tiles and hear arguments" said Shorty de-
cisively. 'We're the higher court in this
| case, and we decided that the laws good
enough for it. We've settled that if Mrs.
| Bolster'll marry blackberry, and Hackberry'll
| marry Mrs. Bolster, and you'll marry 'em
| BOTH We'll grant stay O. proceedings in the
matter o. the execution o. the sentence O.
death, until we kin be advised by the higher
authorities"
"I'll do anything, Mister" blubbered
blackberry. ''I'll marry her this minnit.
Say the words, Squire"
"I've said I'd rather die ten times over
than marry yo', Pete blackberry, "murmured
Mrs. Bolster ''I've bin the wife o. one
ornery snipe Of whisky-sucking sang-dig-
ger. and when the Lord freed me from him 1
said I'd never git yoked with another But
l s'pose I've got to live for my children,
though the Lord knows the yaller-headed
brats haint wuth hit. They're everyone of
em their dad over agin-all Bolsters and not
with the powder to blow 'em to kingdom
come I'd a heap ruther marry Pete Hack
berry to make sure o. havin' him shot than
to save him from shootin'."
''You hant no choice. madam" said !
Shorty severely, "Law and orders is strict |
on that pint"
"Well, then," said she, "since hits
chico betwixt death and Pete blackberry, |
Pll take Pete blackberry, though l wouldn't
take him on no other terms, and I'm aieared |
Pm maxim a mistake as hit is"