The Winslow mail., 1898-04-02

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. l was just foolin' from the
first"
My very deliberate opinion is that
this statement was lie. 1t is my opin-
ion, furthermore, that in this single,
ungrammatical, mispronounced, mutt
lated lie there was a loftiness Of
thought and purity of purpose such as
an angel in heaven might we'll aspire
to. Bill did not take any such view
OF the matter, though, for he only look
ed 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 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.
"Tm surprised at you, joe" said Bill.
The ghost Of forced smile lowered
piteously on Joe's lips for a moment,
but he merely rubbed his forehead with
the knob on his wrist in the nervous
way peculiar to him on such occasions,
and said nothing.
from -
like this-which. are hardly worth
counting as exceptions-BilPs coutrship
was an illustration of the fact that,
Notwithstanding a certain very emi-
nent 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 wedding. The ceremony was
to be performed at what was known as
Plum Greek school house, and early in
the morning Bill went with a number
of his friends to get ready for the fes-
tivities. In some countries it might
not be considered as a part Of the
groom's duties to make these prepara-
tions, but in Texas 1t is etiquette for
anybody to do anything provided there
was 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.
"Are you lost"
"Yes," answered May, with nervous
laugh. 81 never was so glad to see
anybody in my life. This here creek
bottom timber's so thick a wildcat
would mighty nigh get lost in it-let
alone a woman"
81 should think you and Bill had
been to Plum Greek schoolhouse often
enough to know the way by this timer
81 amt goin' to Plum Creek" said
May, with foolish giggle.
"What! Amt you goin' to get mar
ried?'
"Yes."
"Well, Bills at the schoolhouse now,
waitin' for ye."
May tossed her head and then giggled
again.
II amt waitin' for him none," she
said. 81 might as we'll 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
l want you to tell me how to CO."
AT the mention of Jackson's name
,LGe'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 reason
with Mary as to her conduct, but very
few moments sufficed to show him the
futility Of the attempt Promptly
changing his plans, he gave her a de-
tailed account of the way to Round
/ Timbers.
"Say" interrupted Jim Smith, who
had listened in profound astonishment
to the whole conversation, you're mis-
taken about
mo, | amt" retorted Joe. "The
trails been changed lately. That's all
right, May. Come on, jim"
Il still think you were mistaken
about that TRAIL" said Jim, as the two
men rode on together.
mo, wasn't mistaken" said Joe. 81
just lied-that was all. 1 did it for
Bills sake. If May goes the way sent
her she'll not get to Round Timbers
this morning.
After they had ridden a few moments
in silence, Joe began again:
Jim, old fellow, for Gods sake don't
let on that you've seen or heard moth
ing this morning. It'll be plenty tough
on Bill, anyway"
81 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 with
out with flowers and leaves and other
ornaments more or less appropriate to
the occasion. However, there was one
ornament generally considered neces-
sary on wedding occasions which was
still missing-namely, the bride.
"See anything of May latelyY' asked
Bill, stepping to the front as the new
cOmers rode up. There was just trace