Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1898-12-16
THE RUNAWA


ground-an odd strip about hundred
as the eye could reach, while on either
side the ranks of corn toed the line,
seemingly afraid to encroach one inch
beyond their mark.
1t was deep, fertile prairie Land, COW
cred now with the characteristic coarse
grass and gum weed, but as capable Of
good yield under cultivation as the
fields on either side.
''Tiny," said Sim, as If celebrating,
"you an mes Of age"
The girl quivered a little. but she |
looked at him resolutely.
"And there ain't no reason why we |
should stay here all our lives. I'm a
strappin' Teller, an though l hate to
leave Ioway, l reckon there's other
States where man could work fer
fer himself an wife,"
20, Sim, you never mean fer us to run
away? Why, 'twould kill nav, an
Aunt Susan an Aunt Eliza" gasped
Tiny.
"'Twouldn't kill EN-" he responded.
Think O. me, danglin' on a string nigh
onto two year Gready; it's a wonder
1t amt killed me, that's what! There
amt no other way but fer us to go be-
fore the preacher, an when we're man
an wife, both our folks can kick all
they're a mind to. There's no use In
waiting, neither, Is there, Tiny?
pail never forgive your ma, nor she
him. You an mes tremblin' here on
the ragged edge O. diskivery every min
ute, an, l tell you won't stand it a
great while more. There, there, Tiny!
4 amt meanin' to be cross, but eff
you've got women folks to leave, I've
got men folks. There's father; he's che
obstlnatist old man you ever see, an
know 1T; it's jest him to see a pretty
dotter right within reach, an him to
refuse her, because It's you. It's a
comfort to feel eff you're marryin' into
sech an obstinate family, you're mar
ryin' outen one about as bad. All the
same, hate to leave pa an Uncle Sim,
an old John, thet's ben our hired man,
an fed hogs with us, sense before l
was born.
"But I'm a-goin' to leave 'em, Tiny,
an you an nell start off into the world
an find a place fer ourselves; then the
| Saulsburys thet's left can fight 1t out
with the Taylors thet's left, an well
come. Say you'll come, little girl, say
you'll comet!
Tiny looked up at Sim then, with the
look a woman gives a man only once
in her life, and that when she herself
goes with it, and then the tears slowly
welled into her eyes.
80, Sim," she consented, "but Wen
come back an bid 'em good-byr'
"Yes," he replied, Strengthening HIM
self to his feet 2, Eyes, after the
weddin'y'
Hardly had the two parted-indeed
the shaking tassels of the corn yet be-
trayed the opposite path each had
taken-when an old man stepped grim
ly into the clear strip, the stubbly beard
on his set, square jaw showing a sandy
gray in the sun.
A scant skirted calico dress and a
Stat sunbonnet, with long, pointed
nose and an obstinate chin appearing
within IT. glided from the stalks on the
other side, as If TO meet him.
When too late to retreat they spied
each other-old Tom Salisbury and the
widow Taylor.
"Hem," he said, grufiy.
"M-m-mv' she said at the same mo-
ment, with little screech in her voice.
81 never sposed-1 never thought
she stammered.
sIN o. FlAO 4 tnh O..
nuther did I you-but do s'picion,
now, you've ben about we're long
enough to see what's goin' on between
my boy an your girl. I give you my
word, Mis- Taylor, never drumpt OF
It before, an stumbled on 1t to-day"
81 couldn't "a believed 1t of my Tiny
unless I'd follered her a-purpose, an
seen 1t. I'd ben wondering this long
time what tuck her 30 often in this d.
rection," the woman half sobbed.
81 heard how she spoke of her moth
er, nom, an hope you likewise heard
lest how Sim mentioned me, fer In the
main he done me Justice an himself
credit. Sims a strong, hard-workfn
young man, an an Improvement on hii
father, should jedge. Should you
MON, sayin' he wasn't a Salisbury
now, feel conf table thet your dottel
should hev him%
"Tiny's a darlin' good girl, active an
willin', an always healthy, an cher
full. Don't seem 3 eff she was ole
enough, an yet-wen-ruther n
&. she shouldn't marry at all, like Susar
an Eliza-turrible old maids, both o.
'em-why, yes! But a Saulsbury-o?
Mrs. Taylor protested pointedly.
The old man shifted his weight to tn
other foot and gazed into the clouds.
"Mis' Taylor, we've ben engaged u
uphoadin' q principle nigh onto invent!