Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-03-27
A ROUGH RIDER.

Jisit a.e1 crowded around when he ap-
preached the bed, where white sheet
Iet itself stiffly over all that had re-
Iuired his ministrations. Bud Wilson,
.antering down from the Hill range,
.aught sight of the unusual throng and
Jung his horses head up sharply by
he side of the house.
whats the racket" he asked Of
,ne of the men standing by. Some
,ne hurt? 2"
Jim McMillan's baby's dead"
Bud Wilson was handsome fellow.
He sat a horse superbly and rolled
cigarettes to perfection, bending them
the Mexican way. In the surprise
)f the announcement he rolled one
low, placing the wisp of paper on the
)ommel of his saddle while he pour
I'd the tobacco into it. After a med
tated Whit or two that burned the
paper half down to his fingers he
:hrew his cigarette away, and swing
ng down from his saddle tossed his
oridle over the nearest fence post and
walked back to the door as softly as
ais high-heeled boots and swaddling
yoatskin chaps" permitted.
Bud Wilson at one time had been
very attentive to Lizzie Mcmillan be-
'ore she was Lizzie Mcmillan. Certain
)f the range people had said sit would
sure be a match" but Billy Howe.
Buds most intimate friend in the
.ound-up gang, had prophesied that
we wouldn't rope Bud fer no such
lalter yet and they had not.
The door was pulled open at the
newcomers knock. He paused NOM
,nt on the threshold, then walked in
with bowed head and stood looking
lown at the figure in the little white
.offin, holding his broad sombrero in
Doth hands, with its heavy row Of
buckles glinting around the crown.
While he stood there the mother,
whose silence had at last found voice,
sat in the adjoining room looking
over the empty field. She was Groom
ng to herself softly:
Yes. My pore child's gone. But it's
better off-Ah know it. Aid never
brought it up right. Ah'm sinful an
worldly, an Aid "a brought it up to
iaynce aflssall such things. All know
Ali would. Ah'm not Mt to have a
.hild, so weak an sinful, an God has
AIKEN it back now, an he maght not
# 1t he'd stayed with me an growed
lp like me-"
She sat by the kitchen window. her
.loak on as though she We're about to
70 out, and swayed softly back and
orth, her fine head and figure max
ng a superb silhouette against the
square of light behind her.
But All cayn't bear to think of
Ter lyin' oat there in TIL rain an'snow,"
The went on. "Ef it was only Summer
IN 1t was green an there was flowers
but to be oat .there-Ah cayn't bear
% think aboat it. Oh, lAh cayn't!"
Wilson stood looking down at the
.hild while she spoke, not once 1ais-
ng his head. Then he turned and
vent out as quietly as he had come
whats she sayin' bout flowers,
3ill?" he asked of one of the men on
he outside, indicating the direction Of
he mother with twist of his brows.
Liz? Oh nothip. She's picked out
he place for the grave out there on
he knoll by the river, where she can
Zee it from the window, and she wants
have some flowers there some time"
80 she's cryin' for flowers" Wilson
nused. Lets see. No up train till 5
tomorrow, and that's too late. I'll
10 it. D-n me If | don't!''
The funeral service was not elabor-
lte. The one minister at Table Rock,
Who was also the carpenter, came over
or the occasion. There wns a hymn
W jarring voices, chapter from the
Bible, read while the men. for the
most part, crowded bareheaded around
he open door or tramped heavily over
he faded flower beds that lined the
I'D wit cfp Of
,reenery-portulaca, sweet-william and
bachelor s-button the Springtime
eaching ont of some soul toward the
beautiful, now become, as everything
must, but the setting for the common
ragedy. Once, while the service was
lnder way, an ore train went pounding
~ with sudden roar and clatter of
wheels.
After the service four of the men
arried the coffin to the place where
he grave had been followed out on tha
duff above the river. The sagebrush
rev thickly on the sides of the slope,
With an occasional yucca lifting its
,ared blades There was quite steep
lscent for dozen yards or more, and
he men who We're carrying the coffin
lad to watch their steps. AS they
| eacneu lne Top OI tle rise tne leauef
tarted, then went on amid low muir
nur of surprise.
The yellow mound Of newly turned
arth had disappeared under the dazzl.
ng bank of fiowers-roses. carnations,
ilies-a little Drowned at the edges in
he chill air, but white and glorious
IT'LL in the morning light, and hiding
is one came up the slope, even the
agged edge of the grave itself.
No one knew whence they came. and
he minister, taking advantage of the
wonder, wove into his final words a
eference to that promise of Him who
said. Il will give you beauty for
shes"
Bud Wilson rode home with his
ousin Medic after the funeral "You'-
e comm long over to stay tonight.
int you?" she had asked. "Yes, I'll
20 over and sleep, he had answered.
md then felt her eyes upon him as he
lad tramped along ahead of her horse
where he had left his own animal
It some distance from the station.
you must've been ridin' that horse
l.. Iv..I