The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1899-01-13
THE RUNAWA
HCA EENis to me, Tiny, the folks
might quit"

&C ~ EINds to me, Tiny, the, folks
might quit"
- The two stood on implanted
ground an odd strip about hundred
yards wide, running both ways as far
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.
''riny,p said Sim, as If celebrating
you an mes Of age"
The girl quivered q little. but she
looked at him resolutely.
"And there amt no reason why we
should stay here all our lives. I'm a
strappin' feller an though hate to
leave toway, l reckon there's other
States where man could work fer
fer himself an WIFE"
30, Sim, you never mean fer us to run
away2 Why, 'twould kin nav, an
Aunt Susan an Aunt Elizag' gasped
Tiny
"'Twouldn't kill EN-" he responded.
"rhlnk O. me, danglin' on a string nigh
onto two year already; it's a wonder
It 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've mind to. There's no use In
waiting neither. is there, Tiny?
pan never forgive your ma, norIshe
him. You an mes a trenholm here on
the ragged edge o. dislCivery every min
ute, an tell you / won't stand It a
great while more. There, there, Idnyl
] amt meanin' TO be cross, but eff
you've got women folks to leave, I've
got men folks. There's father; he's the
obstinatst old man you ever see, an 1
know 1t; It's Jest him to see pretty
dotter right within reach. an him to
refuse her because It's you. It's n
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
was born.
''But I'm a-goln' 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 vel
come. Say youl come, little girl, say
you'n Gomez
Tiny looked up at Sim then, with the
look woman gives n man ouly once
IN her life, and that when she herself
goes with 1t, and then the tears slowly
welled Into her eyes.
80, SIM" she consented "but Wen
come back an bid 'em Goodbye
eyes, he replied, STRENGTHENING him
self to his feet >, Eyes, after the
weddln'w
Hardly had the two parted-indeed
the shaking tassels of the corn yet be-
trnyed 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 sandy
gray In the sun.
A scaAt 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 IL 30 meet him.
When too late to retreat they spied
| each Other-Old Tom Salisbury and the
widow Taylor.
"IIem,' he said, grufly.
"Mm-m" she said at the Same mo-
mcnt, with a little screech IN her voice.
81 never s'posed-I never thought"
she stammered. y
"No. you never s'picioned l was nigh;
puther did / you-but L do s'picion.
now, you've ben about we're long
enough TO see what's goin' on between
my boy an your girl give you my
word, Mis- Taylor, never drumpt Of
St before, an stumbled on It today"
Il couldn't n believed It Of my Tiny
unless I'd follered her a-purpose, an
seen u. ia be's wondering this long
time what tuck her so often In this di-
reCtion," the woman half sObbed.
Il heard how She spoke Of her moth
err nom, an hope you likewise heard
Jest how Sim mentioned me, fer I'm the
main he done me justice an himself
credit Sims strong, hard-wOrklu'
young man, an an Improvement on his
father, / should jedge. Should you,
nom, sayin' ne wasn't a salisbury,
now, feel comftable tibet your dotter
should hev himw
"Tiuy's a darlln' good girl, active a.
willin', an always healthy. an cher
ful Don't seem s ef she was old
enough, an yet-well-ruther n I
she shouldn't marry at all, like Susan
an Eliza-turrlble old maids. both Of
'em-why, yes. But a Saulsbury-Og'
Mrs Taylor protested pointedly.
The old man shifted his weight to the
other foot and gazed into the clouds.
mis- Taylor, we've ben engaged IN
uphOldin' principle nigh onto twenty
year, now, an don't know but what