Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-01-21
A ROUGH RIDER.

cduSHl SlSIt Oh tne unuStlai tHfOnS ana
iiung his horses head up sharply by
the side of the house.
What's the racket?' he asked Of
one Of the Men standing by. Some
one hurt
Jim McMillan's baby's dead
Bud Wilson was handsome fellow.
He sat Il 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
cd the tobacco into il. After n med
itated Whit or two that burned the
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 as
his high-heelcd boots and swaddling
goatSkin chaps" permitted
Bud Wilson at one time had been
very attentive To Lizzie Mcmillan he
fore she was I.iZZic Mcmillan. Certain
Of the range people had said iii would
sure he u match" hut Billy Howe.
Buds most intimate friend in the
roundup gang. had prophesied that
we wouldn't rope Bud fer no such
halter yet. and they had not.
The door was pulled open nj the
newcomers krnck. II" paused Il NOM
eni on the thr, slipld. then walked in
with bowed head and stood looking
iown NJ III" figure in the little white
,oilin. holding his broad sombrero in
both hards. Wits its heavy row of
Il L. Il In.
While he stood there the mother.
whose silence bad 1T last found voice.
sat in the adjoining room looking
pver the empty field She was Groom
ng to herself softly:
Yes. My p"r, chil'l's gone. But it's
better off All know it, Aid never
brought il M right. Ah'm sinful an
worldly. an Ah'd Il brought il up to
iayncr an all such things. All know
All would. Ah'm nci nj TO have a
.hild. So weak an sinful. an God has
taken il back now an he maght not
4 il he'd stayed with me an growed
up like me-"
She SAT by the kitchen window. her
.loak on aS though she were about to
20 ont. and swaycd softly back and
forth. her fine head and figure max
ing superb silhouette against the
square of light behind her.
But All cayn't bear to think of
Ter lyin' oat there in tn rain an snow"
she went on. ''Ef it was only Summer
m il was green an there was flowers
but To be oat there-Ah cayn't bear
"a think aboat il. Oh. All cayn't"'
Wilson stood looking down ut the
.hild while she spoke. not once Iais-
ing his head. Then he turned and
went ont as quietly rs he had come
in.
Whats she sayin' bout flowers.
I.ill:" he asked of one of the men on
he outside. indicating the direction o.
he mother wl,h twist of his brows.
Liz? oh. nothin'. She's picked out
he place for the grave out there on
The knoll by the river. where she can
'cc il from the window. and she wants
o have some flowers there some time"
$50 she's cryin' for flowers" Wilson
nuscd. Lets see. No up train till )
to morrow. and that's too late. I'll
10 it Dn me IL DON'T
The funeral service was not elabOr-
Ite. The one minister at Table Rock.
Who was also the carpenter. came over
or the occasion. There was Il hymn
~ jarrins voices. a chapter from tho
Bible. read while the men. for the
most part. crowded bareheaded around
he open door or trampcd heavily over
he faded flower beds that lined the
ed wall with starved stubble of
.reenery- poriulaca.. sweetwilliam and
bachelors button the Springtime
.caching out of some soul toward the
beautiful. now become. as everything
must. hut the setting for the common
ragedy Once. while the service was
Indcr way an ore train went pounding
~ with Sudden roar and clatter of
wheels =
After the service four of the men
arricd the coffin to the place where
he grave had been followed out on tha
,lufr above the river. The sagcbrush
crew thickly on the sides of the slope.
with an occasional yucca lifting its
lared blades There was quite n steep
ascent for a dozen yards or more. and
he men who were carrying the coffin
Iad to watch their steps. AS they
cached the top of the rise the leader
started. then went on amid a low muir
nur of surprise.
The yellow mound of newly turned
.arth had disappeared under the dazZl-
II. bank of flowers roses carnations.
lilies Il little Drowned nj the edges in
he chill air. hut white and glorious
still in the morning light. and hiding
ls one came up the slope. even the
jagged edge of the grave itself.
NJ one knew whence they came. and
he minister. taking advantage of the
wonder we've into his final words
'cfcrcncc to that promise of Him who
said Il will give YOU beauty for
iSheS"
Bud Wilson rode home with his
.ousin Medic after the funeral. You
u comm long over To stay tonight.
lint you?" she had asked Yes. I'll
20 over ana sleep. he had answered.
md then felt her eyes upon him rs he
lad tramprd along ahead of her horse
o where he had left his own animal
IT some distance from the station.
You muSi'vc been ridin' that horse
prctty hard. Bud" she began.
Yes. | have rid her little" he an
,wercd
'You brought them flowers. too" she
went on after Il moment.
lie ulu nor IIlSWtT- Announcer pause.
nrokcn only by the irregular clump of
he horses feet
Say. Bud" she broke in suddenly.
why didn't You marry that girl?
Il dunno. S'posc il was because
wanted To tear round with the boys.
She's the only girl | ever loved. an -
~ paused Il guess I've been going to
the devil ever since.
They went on in silence i'm the grow
ing dusk. each thinking of the things
that did not shape themselves to the
tongue. As they paused to dismount
;.eforc the gate Bud drew up 10 his
.ouSin
SAY. Medic. don't say anything
Iboui them flowers will you?''
Burr knapp'~ Farm burrows.
Better eat your hard crGsts in youth
when teeth are good.
To put air and water into salable
form is a neat bit of science.
A cold April will fill the barn. es-
Ia. ,.sss