The Western news., 1904-03-30
A LEAP YEAR
PROPOSAL
BY JOHN BRIDGES
Copyright, 19Us, by 7. C. Mcclure

"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
good sleep tomorrow morning. I'm
going away today, and shall probably
not be back again tonight. Did l say
anything in my sleep?"
Il 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 name!'
"Not While 1 was listening. Ipulled
the blanket up over my head and re-
fused to 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. ,.s... ,;
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 aud 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, Il propose to con-
struct rabbit pie for dinner like
mother used to make. and guess
can land few jacks before breakfast.
Poor little devils." he continued. Pm
going to give them chance for their
lives anyway. l hate man who will
shoot rabbits with shotgun. With a
rifle like this it takes some skill, and
there is at least u fighting chance for
the beasties. I'll be back in an hour.
You don't mind getting breakfast alone.
do you?"
Henderson made no reply, but ground
some coffee and stirred up the fire.
Macdonald swung off down the hill and
across the plain toward the sagebrush.
Henderson watched him till he was u
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, Il little buckskin brute, which
till Henderson took her in hand had
been known as the ugliest pony in the
San Luis She whinnied delightedly as
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 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 a can of food in saddlebug
and carefully tied it to the saddle
which hung beside the door He filled
! his revolver and his belt With car
tridges and put his rifle alongside the
saddle. From under his bunk he drew
a small tin box. unlocked it and took
out Il package of letters. He did not
open the package, but threw it, 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.
| The coffee is all made and is pretty good
this morning l have taken some of your
cartridges l found l didn't have quite
enough OF my own. and may not have a
| chance to get any more. l am going
away now l shall not be back l hope
the rabbit pie will turn out to be good
| one Yours, HENDERSON.
He folded the letter and placed it
under Macdonalds cup. Then he took
the saddle to the stable, c.nched it
tightly on the pony, took his rifle,
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 it to attract Hen
derSon's attention. open the door,
will YOU, old man?" he called
| There WAS no answer. Macdonald
put down his rifle 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 backv
he exclaimed. Wont be back. What
| does all this mean?"
| He went to the door and looked up
and down the trail from the stable
There We're no marks of Il horses feet
showing on the frozen earth. Return
ing to the cabin he cooked his eggs and
bacon, ate hurriedly, and again sling
Ing his rifle over his arm he walk ed
| n niHlv in tho Siroof;nn