The Bemidji pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.) 1896-1917, 1901-03-28


eyes; the young lady continued to find
new beauties In the cloud Of smoke
arising from the sawmill. John turned
slowly and gazed at the road and back
to the face Of Lucy. Finally he turned
to go. He had gone but a few steps
when the young lady awoke from her
reyerie: 81
MIR. Hacks. y
a dynamite explosion in a prayer
meeting would not have more aston
ishcd the young man. There was such
a sweet softness in her voice that his
ears fairly leaped at the sound. She
gazed at him with altender look ia her
|eyes and a sympathetic smile upon her
cleaning lips:
Mr.. Hacks; I'm sorry for you
for the loss Of youI. horse..'' All
He said nothing he CROPPED for
words, but they danced away from
him. His heels took pity upon him
and hurried him off down the road.
And the girl continued to gaze at
the smoke arising from the sawlnill
down the river, wholly unconscious
that her bright eyes had burned the
brand Of love upon his soul, and that
I her golden 8hair had woven a net
around his captive heart.
And thus began the courtship OF
shiftless, aimless John and the cold
and distant Lucy.
The summer days had lied, but the
rose Of love, which had fully blown III
the garden Of his heart, had not felt
the touch OF changing season IS blight.
In their frequent walks through the
sweet-scented pine woods, over paths
strewn with golden rods and gentians,
and BY streams that seemed to ilnbibe
the purity Of the silyery clouds, many
a time was he tempted to declare him-
self. But, although love is swift it
often has but dilatory messengers.
When finally he published his love he
felt sorry for speaking SO soon. Lucy
threw up her naughty chin and burst
into q peal Of shocking merriment.
4 s.Me marry You? How dare you
ask its Hash t your father all on his.
hands now that he can support? Do
you intend to even make him buy the
marriage license? Before you think
of marriage you should prove that
you can keep a wife out OF the poor
house. The wife you heed is one who
can handle q peyy to get g move on
you. You had better go now, but
when you can show that you are able
to support q wife you may call again.
I Another outbuist Of scornfnl laugh
ter followed him homeward and Whis-:
tied in his ears for many thought
full day.
Winner had gone when he came
again. The robin and the sparrow
were fitting among the never-changing
pines and the frogs had re-establ ishedl
their concert halls in the river bot.
tom. Old ST sat in front OF his shanty
door, while by his side sat Lucy gaz-
ing at the newborn smoke arising
from the smokstacx OF the; sawmill
down the river.
John it was, but not the j Ohm OF old
The NJ ackinaw jacket had made way
for q neat-ftting suit, and diamond
as large as a nest egg CLEANED from
his shirt front. There was no How
|dedo, ST, Z this time, for love is impu-
dent as we'll as ungrateful.
Lucy put forth q dainty hand i'm
Ipulsively. And John broke in:
You told me to call again when !
could prove that I could support a
wife. You words fired me with am
abition, and thank you for your adj
vice. / struck out the next day with
an ambition as big as a barn. / got
hold Of a piece of land where rail-
road was going through. \ staked out
astoWnsite. / sold lots made 'em
buy. I'd think of you and / wouldn't
let u buyer pass me ND. Well, I've
got money to burn, if The money amt
too wet with sweat. I've bought that
sawrnill over there and that sleek en-
gfheer is making smoke for me now. =
With d blushing face and sweet,
penitent chances Lucy placed her hands
onshis shoulders. But John stepped
back.
Hold on; its my deal. How did |
get that townsite? did not take it as
4 claim. had no capital. was
thinking Of You, and you inspired me.
i killed an old trapper and robbed
him. But I'm all in now. Those fell
lows out there by the road are sheriffs.
and am on my road to the pen.
they kindly let me stop long enough
To pay my respects and make my re-
port. WE'LL so long. Them fellows
out there pear nervous, and ] must
90 and take my turpentine. So long.
IL always knowed there was the
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