Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-01-20
A ROUGH RIDER.

preached the bed, where white shee
set itself stitfly over all that had re
CURED his ministrations. Bud Wilson
cantering down from the Hin range
caught sight Of the unusual throng an(
hung his horses head up sharply BY
the side of the house.
whats the racket" he asked OIL
one Of the men standing by. som,
one hurtT
Jim McMillan's baby's dead"
BUD Wilson was handsome fellow
He sat horse supcrbly and rolled
cigarettes to perfection, bending them
In the Mexican way. In the surprise
OF the announcement he rolled one
now, placing the wisp OF paper on the
pommel of his saddle while he pour
ed the tobacco Into II. After med
itated whiff or two that burned tho
paper half down to his fingers he
threw his cigarette away, and swing
Ing down from his saddle tossed his
bride over the nearest fence post and
walked back to the door as softly AZ
his high-heeled boots and swaddling
goatskin chaps" permitted,
Bud Wilson ut one time had been
very attentive to Lizzie Mcmillan be-
fore she was Lizzie Mcmillan Certain
OF the range people had said at would
sure be match" but Billy Howe,
Buds most intimate friend IN the
roundup gang, had prophesied that
'ye wouldn't rope Bud fer no such
nalter YET" and they had not.
The door was pulled open ut the
newcomers knock. He paused NOM
INT on the threshold, then walked In
with bowed head and stood looking
Town at the figure In the little white
,offin. holding his broad aomhrero In
both hands, with Its heavy row Of
buckles glintlng around the crown.
While he stood there the mother,
whose silence had at last found voice.
sat In the adjoining room looking
aver the empty field. Che was Groom.
ng to herself softly:
"Yes. My pore chIld's gone. But It's
oetter oif-Ah know 1t. And never
Drought II UP right Ah'm sinful an
worldly, an Aid IA brought II up to
laynce an all such things. All know
All would. Ah'm not nj TO have n
jhild, so weak an sinful, an God has
aiken II back now. an he maght not
II IT he'd stayed with me an gr0wcd
Up like me-"
She sat by the kitchen window, her
'lOnk on M though she were about to
20 out, and swaycd softly back and
'Orth. her. fine head and figure max.
ng superb silhouette against the
square of light behind her.
"Bnt All cnyn't bear to think OF
ler lynn oat there in IN rain an'snOw,"
the went on. EFF II was only Summer
IN II was green an there was flowers
but to he Oat there cayn't bear
o think aboat II. Oh, All cayn't!'
'hild while she spoke. not once Iais.
ng his head Then he turned and
vent out as quietly as he had come
n.
whats she sayln' bout flowers,
3lllT' he asked Of one Of the men on
he outside. indicating the direction OF
he mother wnb twist of his brows.
"Li2? Oh, nOihin' She's picked out
he place for the grave out there on
he knoll by the river. where she can
tee II from the window. and she wants
o have some flowers there some time"
$50 she's cryin' for flowers" Wilson
nused. Lets see. No up train till 3
0mOrrow. and that's too late. Ill
10 IT.. DIN me II | DON'T
The funeral service was not elabor.
Ite. The one minister Mt Table Rock.
who was also the carpenter, came over
or the occasion. There was hymn
~ Earring voices, chapter from the
Bible read while the men, for the
most part crowded barehraded around
he open door or trampcd heavily over
he faded flower beds that lined the
ed wall with a starved stubble OF
Ireenery -portuIaca,, sweet william and
bachelor H-buttoh IN" Springtime
'eachlng out OF some soul toward the
beautiful, now become, ms everything
must, Dut the Set,ing Tor the common
Tagedy. once whlc the service was
Inder way, an ore train went pounding
~ WIN a sudoeh roar ana cIntter OF
wheels
After me service four OF the men
'arr1ed the comm 10 the place where
he grave had been followed ont on tho
'lun above the river The sagebrnsh
rev thickly on the SIDES VI me slope,
With an occasional yucca llftlng Its
'ared blades. inere was qult" Steep
49, - ~
ne men VINO were carrying the CONN
iad TO watch tnelr steps as they
eached me Top OF tne rise tue leader
tarted theh went Oh anna low muir
hur OF surprise
The yellow mound Of newly turned
apth had disappeared under the dazZl
nR bank OF flowers roses, carnations,
ilies--a liitle Drowned at the edges In
he chill air. but white and glorious
I'LL In the morning light, and hiding
II one came up the slope, even the
jagged edge OF the grave itself
No one knew whence they came. aud
he minister, taking advantage OF the
Wonder, wove into his Gnal words a
eference TO that promise OF Him who
,aid. ~ will give you beauty for
shes"
Bud Wilson rode home with his
olisin Medic after the funeral You.
e comm long over 10 stay tonight.
int your" she had asked Eyes. I'll
md then felt her eyes upon him as he
a aom. diatanco frn,n tha sta,I,,