Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1902-02-06


weeks, an they could git hitched up
then"
CD We hear that, Jim? Thar's no
ues in We bein' blowed on Sally Ann
any longer; her an Bud'll leave the
cove, an yen never see nary bit
more of neither of EN-"
"That letter said, fer Sally Ann let
Polly read it, that Bud had heared that
Sally Ann wuz bein' pestered by sew
eral other fellers, but that he wuzn't
scared about them a-sparkin' her; he
knowed that when he come to fetch
her away, that would be the eend OF
their sparkin', when she read the let
ter my woman said ez how Sally Ann
he'd tied red ribbon round her neck,
an he'd put on her Sunday clothes, she
wuz that set up over the news"
you lie!" said the pale-skinned
young man, as he mounted his horse.
Il hev that letter in my pocket right
now takin' it to her; hit hain't never
been opened yit; yer woman's never
laid eyes on it, an all that rot which
ye've been talkin' is lies, an ye know
it. Hyar's the letter, and you-uns kin
see fer yerse'ves that hit hain't been
broke open nary bit. Good evenin'
square, reckon yell be a-tellin' the
rest of what yer woman read, but
hain't got time TO listen"
With this parting shot the young
man rode off at trot, leaving the little
group to receive the squire's further
information as they chose. Jim Far
ner was indeed in love with Sally Ann,
and the constancy which she had
shown in her feelings for. her old lover
had been source of much bitterne SIS
to him. "Hit seems like she mout a
TUX up with me after he went away
from the cove. Eff he didn't think the
mountains wuz good enough fer him
why does he come along an take OIL
one of our gals? She'll die eff she hev
to leave, an he he'd ort to know it; she
can't stand bein' away from this set
Element"
Now Jim could see the light of he1
mothers ca bin far up on the mountain
and he turned into the trail which
would soon lead him to the side OF
Sally Ann. His heart beat faster as he
approached the dwelling. This would
be, perhaps, his last visit. Afterwards
he Planned to go into the far west, any
where, he thought, to escape the mem
DRY of his blighted hopes.
The door was open, and after stop
ping moment to speak to the dog
who had recognized him, he crossed
the narrow porch. His steps were ar
rested, however, as he saw the Widow
Larkin bending over the bed, tanning
Sally Ann, whose face seemed very pale
to him, he stood there in the shadow
watching. The widow looked up, and
smiling family, came outside, shutting
the door after her. "She's asleep
"What's the matter, Martha?
hedn't heared that she wuz sick abed.'
"She hain't been on her feet fer these
two weeks. Ye ricollect she wuz right
puny when We wuz hyar the last time
Two or three days after that she TUX
to her bed, an she amt eat skasely
anything since. Hits the kinsump
llOu, St dleuIcu, al tASl wv SAN
that crazy over Bud that hit makes il
all the wusser. At times l think tina
his fergittin' her has brung it on soon
err. She KEEP expectin' him to write
an ontil she TUX to her bed, she never
failed a-goin' down fer that letter
which never come. Thar, she's WOKE
up. an l reckin she'll be glad to see ye
on'y she's that weak she can't talk Ions
at a stretch. Here's Jim, Sally Ann
come up fer to see how yer FARM
"Oh. I'm a-gittin' pretty weak, jim
I reckon we won't fuss at each Other
much longer. we've alluz treated me
fair an squar', Jim, an Pm 'bleeged t.
We fer that; we've never lied to me, an
p'raps that's more than kin say fe'
some of my friends"
"Air We talkin' about Bud, Sally
Ann?"
Ibid say anythin' about Bud, Jim?'
she said, family.
"Nary word, Sally, but l lowed "
meant him, an eff We did, hit may be e.
kin hep ye a little. Here's letter
that / lowed come from him."
A cry of JOY was the only response
and he saw that the news had made
her faint away. In an instant he1
mother was at her side, and in shor
while brought her back to conscious
ness, Sally Ann snatched the letter
from his grasp, and pressed it first t.
her lips, then tightly against he1
bosom. A smile of satisfaction Lighted
I'D her thin wan face. and the watcher:
could see that the death angel lowered
over her head, that her frail body
would soon be tenantless.
Slowly she extended her arm to jim
and handed him the letter.
"Mammy's no scholar, Jim; We reat
it fer me? Yer my friend, amt ye
Jim?"
With trembling lips he began t.
read, while she strained every nerve tc
it's utmost tension, listening eagerly
her eyes fairly glowing with expec
fancy: "Dear Sally Ann, I love-
He got no further. Those word!
! were like breath from heaven. He1
face flushed, then grew deathly pale
and with the word bud" upon her lips
she died, fully convinced of his faith
| fulness.
While the poor widow wept over th'
body of her daughter, Jim drew out the
letter which Sally had intrusted te
him, and by the Pickering fireligh
finished the sentence that he had be
| gun to the dying girl. AS he read it his
| face grew livid with emotion, and hi