Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-04-16

| spite Of herself, broke into a cry that
cOnvulsed her frame, and rendered her
speechless for some time. The sympa-
thetc young bachelor gazed upon her,
wonder and pity in his face. He had
vague idea, however the occasion of her
grief When she had mastered herself,
she briefly related her troubles, and beg
| ged him to save her.
| The young man sat for moment, his
mind working double time. The girl
| watched him mother would watch
the lights and shades in the face of a
child approached by death. Soon his
face lighted up. He slapped his big leg
and said:
in" IN fix it. Have no further fear. You
| shall have your hearts wise choice. I'll
save you from that contemplate wretch
Tom Bradley. I'll be back in Sec
.opd.
He rose and hastily went out to the
| fence
DEERE" he said. I'm going to Vance
burg with Mr.. Tabor to get the license
sfor, Louis and Mollie's marriage. Ride
over and tel Tom we are gone. and get
him to go with you out to Abe Martins to
bring home the three cows 1 bought Of
him yesterday and III pay him WE'LL
Then he went back into the house and
said: 'Mo!lie. when your father comes
! in l shall pretend to agree with him re-
spec tin his choice. You will appear as
if reconced. I'll go to town with your
! father to get a license for your marriage
! Leave all to me-
Soon the Old mans footsteps We're
heard in the yard. and Richard. as II
in answer to words from Mollie, raised
his voice and said
"Oh. Mollie, you'll get over your fool
ish love for Ed. Bronson all right. He's
pretty young fellow, very attractive TO
girls, but one they would always regret
marrying Your father is right Mind
him. and the future will show you that
the wisdom of age is superior to girls
day dreams"
"Weu," replied Mollie. choking down a
laugh, 81 will mind him. Maybe he
knows best"
.'Bully for you, Moll!" cried the old
man. stepping in at the door
Hardin explained that he had sent
Bradley with Jerre after some cattleand
+ that he had come to go with him a1ter
the license The old fellow was delight
ed, and when they were we'll on the road
ne didn't refuse Hardlns proHer Oh
drink from his bottle.
The ola man WAS d SpiceI. "HCH !"
get one drink it was the beginning of a
Rtwo weeks "1runk'' Frequently tapping
Hardin's bottle he was in excellent shape
before town was reached.
The bottle exhausted. the pair entered
the nearest saloon and began to drink to
the health Of the young couple. Hardin
| took very small drinks while the Old man
was rapidly passing from the political
10 the religious stage of drunkenness. The
crying stage is next, and. before that was
reached Hardin said they'd better go
get the license.
When they reached the clerks Office
, the old mans eyes were tilted back in
their sockets Hardin whispered the
. names of the couple to the clerk.
GLOW old is your daughter, Mr.. Taor?'
asked the clerk.
TER {hic) me? Oh. lher-u-um. um (hic)
she's six-sic-sixx-er seven-
"She's seventeenth know her age,
said Hardin.
; "You give your free consent to her
, marriage?"
"Ne? Heigh? Err (hic) wy. yes. I
+ don't keer-think can stand one more.
Hardin and the clerk laughed. and the
former took the license when made out,
and paid the fee.
Hardin took the old man down to the
saloon and permitted him to pour down
drink after drink until he fell in heap
at the bar Then he had him carried to
he'd. where he slept in snoring uncon-
seriousness until o'clock the next after
noon.
i. Hardin handed the license to Mollie.
sen Cor Ed. Fron'~On and preacher. and
had the couple married four hours after
he and the old man had started for
Vanc burg.
Tabor continued his spree for two
weeks, never coming home during the
.. time
One day he was standing at the bar.
treating lot of appreciative 1oafers, ana
bra sging on his son-in-law. Tom Bradley
when the latter entered and called him
: out the hack way.
"Mr Tabor" he said. crying II think
Won treated me bad-promising me Mol
lie an then gvin' her to Ed"
) s'What." thumdered the old man. care
they married? got the license fer you
an her.
mo you didn't" mournfully spoke
!, poor Tom. at was made out for Ed an
Mollie. an the clerkk seq you wuz pres
| ent an gave your consent"
! The old mans whisky blooms faded
from his face for a second then he shout
: ed: Il was tricked! I'll kill Dick Hard
in"
! "And Mr.. Tabor misfortunes never
comes alone. My horses are dead with
> epizootic. and the dogs have killed all
. nv sheep
"WeI," laughed the old man. after a
pause II guess I won't kill Dick for a
1 little joke like that. Come in an take a
! drink"
,