The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-01-17

what an expert at jumping Mr.,
Hart is. > He could outdo Sam Patch
and not half try"
How do you know that?" asked
Della, rather tartly.
II saw him practising last night"
replied George, coolly.
DID you?" wonderingly.
Yes; you must have seen him, too,
you were with him. How he did &C
over that five-reil fence. Is he still
laid up with his back?"
Della could have cried with vexo.
ton. Guy had fallen considerably In
her estimation since the day before.
If Guys inglorious exit from the
lane must be witnessed, why must II
have been by George?
Della would much rather anyone else
had seen 1t. George was brave She
knew, and, In spite of herself She
could not help thinking that Guy was
a coward. Guy Harts back was lnme
lndeed' and for several days he kept
within doors. One day, when he fell
well again. he volunteered to carrv
lunch to the haymakers. Della handed
MIN the basket, and he kissed her for
the first time'as he took it, in anticipa.
ton OF favorable answer to the nil.
important question which ut length he
mad fairly proposed and to which he
was to receive an answer that night
Della directed Guy to take the path
across the great pasture lot to the
meadow. 1t being nearer way than
py the lane, adding, mischievously:
Molly is in the five-acre lot so you
need not fear"
Dinner time came and with it the
hungry men. but no Guy. The horn
was blown for supper, and yet he did
not make his appearance.
Mr. Gould said he was glad of it and
hoped he had gone for good. but his
daughter felt concerned. She h0d
quite forgotten the little episode of the
COW lane and anxiously puzzled her
little head to fathom the mystery OF
Guys strange absence. Had he been
to the meadow with the lunch?
NO. No one there had seen anything
or him. AS no one else took any in.
terest in the affair, Della considered
1t her duty to go in quest of her straw
lover. She walked up the path lead.
ing through the pasture. When nearly
through the field she found the basket
Its contents scattered about on the
grass. All the cattle, including q nai1
or huge oxen, were huddled together
under an oak near by.
'Oh, I'm so glad you've come Della
Drive them away, darling. so 1 can
come. down."
Inc voice was surely Guys, and 1t
came from the oak. And there bo
was. perched on a limb about midway
up the tree
why. Guy, what in the world are
you doing up thcre?"
Drive that vicious OK away. He
is bent on killing ME. He made me
run for my life"
Della did as she was requested and
when the cattle We're ut a safe dis
tance, Guy crept down from his perch
1t is shame. Della, for your father
10 keep such animals on his place. The
cow laid me up for n week. and now
mat brute Of an OK has nearly starved
NE 10 death, besides the shock TO nv
nerves."
II never knew the OK to offer harm,
to anyone. What did he do. Guy?"
Della said. almost sternly.
He tossed his long horns lust as
that brute of a cow did, and galloped
round here like fury. He was right
at my heels. I knew by the sound
when [ reached the tree: but I made
quick work getting out of his way"
can we'll believe that" said Della.
smiling quietly; "but you surely needn't
nave stayed up there all day"
Il tell you, my dear, they hovon,t
oeeh hundred rods from the oak
since was fortunate enough to find
refuge in If, except once, and then T
ventured down, but the brute saw me
ana came toward me again threaten
ingly."
Tic only wanted to make your ac-
qualntance. He sees you are a stran-
ger" said Della, dryly.
Il would make him acouainted with
the butcher, if he belonged to me-"
said Guy, as he hurled a stone at his
ooVlhe enemy. who was quietly graz
Ing a few rods away. The creature
looked up and shook his massive head
as the misslve grazed his back, at
which Guy took refuge behind his
companion.
Della led her faint-hearted lover into
the presence. Of her parents with any
thing but triumphant air.
Her eyes were open at last.
She could not wed coward. md
she told Guy so, as gently as possible
that night, when he asked her for her
answer.
Mr.. Guy Hart left that night for
parts unknown, and ere another fort
night passed George Riley's ring once
more adorned Delia's plump hand. The
night after its replacement De9ia whis-
pered, as she kissed her mother good.
night "You were right, mother; George
Is worth dozen such gentlemen as
Guy."-New York Weekly.
He Fooled Her.