The Western news., 1903-07-29

Ioily reau II, lnat Buu 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.
II 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
we've been ta,kin' 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, l reckon yen be a-tellin' the
rest of what yer woman read, but l
hain't got time to listen"
With this parting shot the young
man rode off a 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 a source of much bitterness
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 of,
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
tlement.'
Now Jim could see the light of her
mothers cabin far up on the noun ain,
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, t. escape the men,
ory of his blghted 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, as 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? l
hedn't heared that she wuz sick abed."
"She hain't been on her feet fer these
two weeks. Ye ricollect she WIZ right
puny when ye 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-
ton, Use afeared; an then too she's
that crazy over Bud that hit makes it
all the wusser. At times / think that
his fergittin' her has brung it on soon
er. 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 reckin she'll be glad to see ye,
on'y she's that weak she can't talk long
at a stretch Here's Jim, Sally Ann,
come up fer to see how yer FARM"
"Oh, Pm a-gittin' pretty weak, jim;
l reckon we won't fuss at each other
much longer. Ye've alluz treated me
fair an squar', Jim, an I'm 'bleeged to
We fer that; ye've never lied to me, an
p'raps that's more than l kin say fer
some of my friends"
"Air ye talkin' about Bud, Sally
Ann?"
did say anythin' about Bud, Jim?"
she said, family.
"Nary word, Sally, but I lowed ye
meant him, an eff ye did, hit may be ez
l kin hep ye 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 her
mother was at her side, and in short
while brought her back to conscious
ness. Sally Ann snatched the letter
from his grasp, and pressed it first to
her lips, then tightly against her
bosom. A smile of satisfaction lighted
up her thin wan face, and the watchers
could see that the death angel hovered d
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; ye reat
it fer me? Yer my friend, amt ye
Jim?"
With trembling lips he began te
read, while she strained every nerve te
its utmost tension, listening eagerly
her eyes fairly glowing with expec
fancy: "Dear Sally Ann, love-"
He got no further. Those word
were like breath from heaven. He,
face flushed, then grew deathly pale
and with the word bud" upon her lip
she died, fully convinced of his faith
fulness.
While the poor widow wept over tn
body of her daughter, Jim drew out tn
letter which Sally had intrusted t.
him, and by the Pickering fireligh
; finished the sentence that he had be
gun to the dying girl. AS he read it hi
face grew livid with emotion, and h
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