Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-06-10
ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND FRIDAY MORNING. JUNE 10. 1904
A LEAP YEAR
PROPOSAL
BY JOHN BRIDGES
Copyright. isOs, bp T. c. Mcclure

1OnsnepOpepsppsnOneHeHeHSH
Henderson rolled uneasily in his
sleep. Macdonald, his bunk mate, jab-
bed his knee into Henderson's back.
For heavens sake, lie STILL" he cried.
You're getting all the blankets off.
and it's colder'n Ice"
Henderson woke up. I'm sorry, old
man." he said. But you can have a
good sleep tomorrow morning. I'm
going away today, and shall probably
not be back again tonight. Did l say
anything In my sleepy"
81 should say you did," replied Mac
donald. You were talking half the
night-a whole lot of rubbish about
blue eyes and black eyes and hair and
things"
Did mention any ones name2"
mot while l was listening. pulled
the blanket up over my head and re-
fused 70 be let into your secret"
The two men tumbled out OF their
bunk. They went to the door Of their
cabin. The first rays Of the sun came
swiftly over the Sangre de Cristo, and
the whole range was outlined In Grim
son.
The snow capped peaks rose cold
toward the sky, and above the blue
was unlocked by cloud. Across the
valley there had been but little snow
only here and there were little patches
which the wind had brought down
from the mountain side and scattered
against the windward OF the sage
brush. Rabbits scurried across the
plain In search Of what little food
might be found. As they ran they
showed white tails-like great chrys-
anthemums drifting across the levels.
Macdonald got into his corduroy and
pulled on his heavy hunting boots. He
reached for his rifle, little 22-long,
and started out. Tomorrow being
Sunday" he said, II propose to con-
struct a rabbit pie for dinner like
mother used to make, and guess l
can land few Jacks before breakfast.
Poor little devilsv he continued. "Pm
going to give them chance for their
lives anyway. | hate u man who will
shoot rabbits with shotgun With d
rifle like this 1t takes some skill, and
there IL at least fighting chance fol
the beasties I'll be back In an hour
You don't mind getting breakfast alone
do your
Henderson made no reply, but grount
some coffee and stirred up the fire
Macdonald swung off down the hill ant
across the plain toward the sagebrush
Henderson watched him till he was q
mile away; then he went out into the
open air and took great long breaths OF
1t. Going into the little stable, he fed
his pony, little buckskin brute, which
till Henderson took her In hand had
been known as the ugliest pony In the
San Luis. She whinnied delightedly az
Henderson opened the stable door. He
fed her double portion Of grain and
brought water for her from the spring
He gave her, too, an extra quantity OF
hay Better eat It all. old lady" he
said. you've got a long day before
you"
He went back to the cabin. cooked
some eggs and bacon, made coffee and
drank three cups Of It, hot and strong
and without sugar or milk. Then he
packed can OF food In a saddlebag
and carefully tied 1t to the saddle
which hung beside the door. He filled
his revolver and his belt with car
tridges and put his rife alongside the
small tin box, unlocked II and took
out II package Of letters. He did not
open the package. but threw 1t, still
tied with bit Of leathern thong, into
the fire. For two or three minutes he
stood and watched the letters burning;
then he sat down at the table and
wrote rapidly;
Dear Old Mac-You will find the bacon
cut and the eggs ready for scrambling
This coffee IL all made and IL pretty good
this morning. | have taken some Of your
cartridges. 1 found ! didn't have quite
enough Of my own. and ! may not have a
away now. l shall not be back. I hope
the rabbit pie will turn out to be good
one Yours. HENDERSON,
lie folded the letter and placed 1t
under Macdonald's cup. Then he took
the saddle to the stable. cinched II
tightly on the pony, took his rife,
mounted and rode away up the trail
which led directly into the mountains
An hour later Macdonald returned
with FIVE rabbits swinging at his side.
He was whistling. In one hand was
his game and In the other he carried
his rife. When he reached the door
OF the cabin he kicked II TO attract Hen.
derson's attention. "Open the door,
will you, old manT he called.
There WAS no answer. Macdonald
put down his rife and entered. Prob
ably he's out at the stable" he thought
Then he saw the letter.
Macdonald sat down and stared
blankly before him. won't be backw
he exclaimed. won't be back! What
does all this meanT
He went to the door and looked up
and down the trail from the stable
There were no marks OF horses feet
showing on the frozen earth. Return
ing TO the cabin no cooked his eggs and
bacon, ate hurriedly, and again sling
ing his rife over his arm he walked
rapidly in the direction OF Alamosa.
Henderson rode all day. At night be
had come 10 the very crest Of the
mountain where the trail descended 10
the camp on the other side II was
near o'clock. A moon was rising
somewhere In the east. and Henderson
watched It eagerly. He took from his
saddIobag a can Of meat and opened II,
eating ravenously. The pony watched
him. She wbinnied, and cahed hs at
tention 10 the fact that she had had
nothing 20 eat since morning.
Henderson rose from the snow and
put her bride rein back over the sad.
die and led her to the trail which led
back toward bis cabin. Go home, old
girl" he said. but don't tell them
where you left me. This IL az good a
place az any in which 10 die. 90
home"
The mons, .ta.taH Aa.... A. ...u