Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1901-06-13
OWNEY
THE PEDDLER.
A Story Of Irish Coun-
try Life.

gray colt came over the road draw
ing cart behind him. with a man and
a woman sitting on the crossboard oil
1t. The sun was white upon the road
Rusty pastures. speckled over with
the snowballs Of the bog cotton. were
on each side. Above were mounds and
hillOcks covered with screens Of pine
and larch. There was moss rs green
as emeralds under the larches. and
threads of streams dwindled through
1t. and brown rabbits leaped over 1t.
Between it and the lower boughs black
birds flew with Il whir of wings and a
chatter of golden tongues.
Were up against the house Of the
smith" said the girl in the cart. She
put into the mans hands the reins she
had been holding She cracked the
colt with sharp cutting stick. He
broke into great gallop. The kerr
chief few from the girls head. The
yellow Of her hair shamed the sun.
The wilderness Of the lily was on her
cheek. The red of the rose was the
color Of her mouth.
The forge was by the side of the
lane. near the corner where the gap
between the hillocks opened out upon
the bog. High mountains were beyond
one end of the gap. The bog was out
side the other.
Get down. Shamus!" said the girl
to the man who was with her in the
cart. '"Tell the smith We want a shoe
to the horse. Say that the Dublin
road is hard road for horse to COW
er. Ill put word in then. Watch
him an he putin on the shoe. Bid him
be quick. an then say there's no hurry
upon ye."
They stopped at the smithy. that was
like witch's cavern with the murk
dark that was In it. The broad wheel
shaped stone was set 10 the ground by
the door. Hard at hand was the pond
for cooling the redhot iron. The gal
Looping horse drew up of a sudden. The
smith and his son came out Of the dark
cavern. The smith looked at the colt.
The son looked at the girl.
More power to ye. good manv said
the smith to the driver.
1--WE want shoe on the beast" said
Shamus. getting down out Of the cart.
The girl got down after him. He let
her do it without help. The smiths
son said within himself that the stran-
ger must be either the girls brother or
her husband. He felt his heartstrings
tighten when he thought of husband.
He had taken two steps forward to
help the girl to allght. He took them
backward and remained leaning
against the doorpost under the Intel.
The smith led the colt from between
the shafts.
""Tis long road to cover. that road
to Dublin" said Shamus. pointing
down the road. His hand trembied as
lie held 1t out.
He ground his teeth in his head.
"TwOuld be n long road II one was
goin it," said the girl. Owney Joyce.
the son of the smith. fixed his eyes
upon the girl.
The color Of the rose went from her
lips to her cheek. She turned her head
away.
The colt was walked into the forge.
Owney followed. He went to the fur.
mace bellows. He blew the furnace into
fire and molten gold. The smith red
dened the lion. He hammered It into
shape. He did to II all tina. was neces-
sary. He. was careful and slow at his
work.
"ie'd be a good messenger to send
n ., a
hand against the doorpost
The girl sat on the bank by the road
outside. There were primroses on the
bank. and humm!ng bees went about it
and red ladybir,is The girl was look.
ing at them. and the tears began to run
down her cheeks. Owen Joyce won.
dered why the sight at the prmroses
and the bees and tue pretty iadybirds
should make the girl cry.
THE oak that takes longest to grow
takes longest to fall" said the smith.
But II ye're in hurry IN do my best
to meet ye."
There's no hurry upon me-" said
Shamus. turning toward the girl sitting
on the sunny hank.
CANVpt W Set ~ our SFHuOId(O0rS
funeral" said the girl
The colt was shod and brought back
to the cart and harnessed under 1t.
"f'ought let me put clamp OF iron
there upon the shaft" said the smith.
THAT'S a dangerous crack In it,"
"'Twas troken before we set out"
said the SRI IAN havin lasted so far
it will likely last nll the way. We can't
wait"