Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-01-21

the Savage ranch. She was not high
ly educated girl, by any means, and il
is doubtful if she was more than fairly
intelligent; but she was pretty, and she
was fckle-and that tells the whole
story. In this case Joe was the first
victim. He met May at one of the big
camp meetings that are common in
that country in the fall of the year, and
after that he was very pronounced in
his attentions to her for several
months. Then his attentions ceased as
suddenly and abruptly as they had be-
gun. People noticed this and they
also noticed that just about that time
Bill began going to see her.
"Bill took it up just where Joe laid
it down." remarked one cowboy to an
other during one of the intervals in a
dance on one occasion.
Nav, that amt it," responded his
friend. 81 think Joe laid it down just
where Bill took it up"
One day as the two brothers and one
or two others were engaged in brand
ing some Of Bill's year!ings the subject
was brought up.
Sure enough, Joe, whatever made
you quit goin' to see that Conley gal so
suddent?" asked Jim Smith, one of the
helpers, in jocose way.
81 stopped SOS to give Bill a chance"
said Joe, with what was evidently a
forced attempt ut gayety.
"Shucksw calculated his brother.
"You needn't stopped for that If
couldn't beat you I'd better quit"
There was just the least bit Of con-
temptuous emphasis on that word
'you," and Joe noticed It, A slightly
shamed, pained 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 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 foolln' 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.
I'm 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.
Aside from one or two little incidents
like this-which are hardly worth
counting as exceptions-Bill's 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
1t ran smooth down to the very day set
for the wedding. The ceremony was
to be performed ut what was known as
Plum Creek school house, and early in
the morning Bill went with number
of his friends to get ready for the fes-
tivities. In some countries 1t 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 1t.
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 We're much astouished
when, at sudden bend In the trail.
they came across the supposed prospec-
tive bride. She was on horseback and
unaccompanied.
Hello! exclaimed Joe In surprise.
"Are you lost?"
YES" answered May, with nervous
laugh. 81 never was so glad to soc
anybody in my life. This here creek
bottom tmber's so thick wildcat
would mighty nigh get lost in it-let
alone woman"
Il should think you and Bill had
been to Plum Creek schoolhouse often
enough to know the way by this timer"
II amt goin' TO Plum Creek" said
May, with foolish giggle.
"Whatl Amt you goln' to get mar
rledg'
"Nes."
"Well, Bills at the schoolhouse now