The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-01-26

there, and I want you to tell me how
to CO."
At the mention of Jackson's name
Joe's face hardened for 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 May as to her conduct, but very
few moments sufficed to show him the
futility OF the attempt. Promptly chang
ing his plans, he gave detailed &C.
count of the way to Round Timbers.
| "Say," interrupted Jim Smith, who
had listened in profound astonishm emit
to the whole conversation, "You're
mistaken about ~
"No, 1 amt retorted Joe. "The
trails been changed lately. That's all
right, May. Come on, JIM"
al still think you are mistaken about
that trail" said Jim as the two men
| rode on together.
"No, wasn't mistaken" said Joe.
~ just lied, that was all. did it for
Bills sake. If May goes the way l
sent her, she'll not get to Round Tim
bers this morDin'."
After they had ridden few mo.
ments in silence Joe began again.
"Jim, old fellow, for Gods sake don't
let ON that you've seen or heard moth
ing this morningl It'll be plenty tough
on Bill anyway"
81 shore WON'T" said Jim.
There was quite a crowd assembled
around the door of the little log school
house when these two men rode up.
The groom was there, and 80 was the
preacher; 80 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
necessary on wedding occasions which
was still missing-namely, the bride.
"Seen anything OF May lately7" ask
ed Bill, stepping to the front as the
newcomers rode up. There was just a
trace of anxiety in his voice as he
spoke.
"Naw," answered Joe promptly. His
face looked perfectly unconcerned as
he spoke, but in very few moments
cloud began to rest upon il. l suspect,
though, that instead of grieving over
the lie he had tobias of course he
should have been--he was merely won
dering how he might spare Bill the
modification which public discovery
of the real facts in regard to May might
occasion. He was now sitting with
one leg thrown over the horn of the
| saddle.
Suddenly his face lighted up with its
old sickly smile, and, in voice that
trembled lit lie in spite of the bravado
he tried to throw into it, he began:
"Say, Bill, that was the devil of a lie
1 told you about May just now. 1 saw
her not over half an hour ago."
"You did, did you? When will she
be here?
"She won't be here at ALL"
Bills face grew stern and white.
| WHY won't she?" he demanded.
"Because directed her in the wrong
road. Jim tried to tell her right, and
wouldn't let him. Amt that so, Jim?"
Jim nodded grimly. With faces that
now began to grow drawn aud anxious,
the spectators glanced from one speak
err to the other in turn. Bills face was
fairly livid with rage, and his voice
trembled with the awfulness of repress-
ed fury as he asked the next question:
"What did you do it for?"
The expectant silence that followed
was deathlike, but even then Joe's
voice was hardly audible as he answer
ed with the same sckly smile still how
ering about his white lips:
"Because ! useter court her myself
and you cut me out!'
Before the words were fairly out of
his mouth Bill sprang at him with the
fury of wild beast. With all the force
of his mighty arm he struck, and the
blow descended upon the arm-the
crippled, knotted arm-which Joe had
interposed to ward it off. Some say it
descended upon the very knot itself.
He fell from his pony as if he had been
shot, and lay for several moments on
the turf where he had fallen.
(which way did you send her?" ask
ed Bill in the same awful tones he had
used before.
81 won't tell" grasped Joe.
"Then get up off that ground"
Joe meekly obeyed.
"Get on your pony-no, 1 see it's
got away from you. Then saddle up
mine yonder and 60 after May and
bring her back at once, sirl Do you
hearl"
Joe meekly took the huge Texas
| Ill LILO iCtt uuuu anu CdIIitu IL W
where the pony stood grazing, tied by
long rope to tree. His right arm
hung limp by his side. Alter some in
effectual efforts to throw the saddle on
with his left arm he gave up the at
tempt.
~ can't get the thing or" he said.
"Use your right arm, STRIP called his
brother.
81 think you've broken his game
arm, Bill, said Jim Smith.
"It's a liel" shouted Joe. "That
arms as good as it ever was"
To prove the truth of this assertion
he made mighty effort and managed
to lift his arm to his shoulder, though
the wrist still dangled loosely from bis
elbow. Even then he could not re-
strain his face from wincing and his
teeth from clinching with the pain.
Dropping the saddle, he turned abrupt.
ly aud limped off into the woods with.
out word
Jim Smith afterward said that only
his solemn promise to Joe kept him
from telling the whole truth at this