The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-11-21

stiffness. Mrs. Cray waited until a quarter
of ten, then she strobe out to the wood pile
''Tom Cray she said, excitedly II m
goin' to do jest one thing or tother.
Either you'll hook up thet team an git
me to town time fur dinner at the Gran
Interoceanic Continental, or when Ole
comes fur the hay I Il git him to drive me
into town, an | won't never come back =
Tom continued to chop.
''Did you hear what | said p
"Wall, amt struck def all O sud.
den.
care you goin' to cit thet team p
"No, ma am, | ain't':
';Tom Cray Mrs. Cray was tremb-
ling visibly. 'Tve worked like dog fur
you on this ranch fur years I've cooked
an scrubbed, an lit fires I've jest pot
rastled in your kitchen worse nor Il nigger,
an | amt had bit o fun an you can
say thet | hevn'
"Wall, said Tom, drily, "you looked
like you was enjoyin' yourself some at
them six dances [ took you to last winter,
not to speak on the barb cue in September
an as to workin', wall, | seem to rekellec'
you sayin' bout six thousand times thet
there want no hired girl in the country
could suit you, an you d rather save her
wages an buy you dimant ring some day,
an do the work yourself -
can done itr' said Mrs. Cray, ener-
getically can AIM goin' to do it no
more! I'm goin' to town, an I'm goin
10 stay therep'
"Wall,' said Tom, 81 aim akin you
to stop here eff you don want to. Wimen
folks is might pesky stock to keep on the
range, anyhow; allus wantin' this hoss or
thet Jest when they can't hev 'em, an
forever cryin' to be took to dances or to
town. Fellers is fools tibet settles down to
marry, anyhow"
"Tom Cray! You gimme the cash, an
you can keep the ranch an critters, an
we Il quit pardners!
Tom emitted low, angry laugh. His
face was quite red. He threw down his
ak without word, picked up a spade, and
marched over to wild rose bush beside
the house, and began digging vigorously.
His wife watched him with flashing eyes.
After considerable earth had been brought
up, Tom spade caught on something.
He stopped, and pulled out of the ground
plump canvas bag. 1t contained about
about three thousand dollars-the result
of ranch savings. Tom handed it to his
wife. and she went into the house with it.
Two hours later she emerged again,
dragging great war-sack filled with hel
clothes. She was dressed in her greer
plaid gown, with the new hat percheC
jauntily on top of her black locks.
Tom was still chopping wood-in slow
thoughtful way. His usually cool heao
had recovered its normal balance, and ht
was pondering. He watched his wife ou
of the corner of his eye as she appeared OF
the veranda, then went marching over t.
the stable and got halter.
She went out to the coral, caught 3;
horse, hitched him to a light blackboard
and drove around to the side of the house
She sat there waiting for Ole Olson II
come. Ole was to have come for a Loaf
of hay about eleven, but he was late
Mrs. Cray waited for some time. Nov
and then, as she sat there, her glance wan
dered over the big white house Ton
had built to please her special fancy, il
place of the former old log ranch, but sh
viewed it with hardened eyes.
"'Tain't nothing but pack o troubl
cleanin' house with stairs in it, an In
glad to get shet o it, she told herself.
Still Ole did not come, and at last tn
Boom City stage appeared in the distance
Mrs. Cray glanced at it, then looke'
determinedly the other way, She hat
certainly desired to get of before the stag
should arrive, but at any rate she shoult
have nothing to do with the passengers
Tom saw that her eyes were glued ol
the eastern horizon as the stage approach
ed FROM the west.
The stage, which was only three-seat
ed wagon, had its top up. Probably thu
cattle buyers from the East were afraid o
spelling their compilations, since it was tai
from coldl Evidently, too, they were
afraid of being run away with the broncho
Neddy usually drove, for four steady ole
grays were hitched to the wagon Ane
instead of his customary, joyous, hurrah
arrival at the road ranch, Neddy came
driving along as pious and quiet as par
son going to meeting.
"Whoar' he cautioned his horses,
gently. But as Tom came up his face
broke into exactly the same expression OF
radiant delight that had illumined Charlie