The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-05-10

lsetscy I~re. firmly. "Gise us some
bacon and ham. coffee, and lots ci
tobacco" She gave these directions
from the back door of the stor- which
opened Into thu little adobe house &C.
cupi-i by the family. II shall wsni
more biankcts-ibc air VIII be ice nigh,
and morning. chiquits. gv, a plaicful
~ beans and bread and can of coffee
for Alexander now--quicki It's not
yet Ten. and NJ soon ~ be has eaten
we'll be on.
Hell never 90 for five dollars. and
You neetin', think il. Mis-. Leelr cried
Mrs. Day. hooking side Of bacon
from the wall.
IL lknow H." said Betsry Lee.
That's why began with five. But
be vii do il FOR fifteen maybe TWEEN
ty."
Have you the money!"
"No. Nothing but my December
voucher"
III guess We can let yon have IT,"
said the woman. donbtfnliy. Her hus-
band was stalking ont . claim AT the
old l&pHz diggings. Betsey Lee look
ed up gratefully from her shoe-lscings.
"l'll get ID there, Mrs. Day, It's
safer not " have cent with me, and
tell him at the start that it's all in
Yuma"
"And where'll You get il theref'
II don't know" said Betsey Lee,
but shall get it,"
She came ont Of her door and lifted
the ham and bacon from the counter.
And in Just one hour from the time
the children had found their teacher on
the mesa she was pushing the boat of
from the bank. for Alexander, full of
beans and good comfort, had sat on
the roll Of blankets smoking a cigar
site, and pleaded msnana, and Betsey
Lee had seized the long pole and push
ed the boat OF herself.
"Now row!" she said and Alexander, |
grumbling, gathered up the oars and
bent his back in servitude 10 the un-
daunted brown eyes that compelled
him. A little group Of women and
children, Mexican and American,
watched them go, and the storekeeper's
wife cried openly, and gave Betsey
directions where TO leave the boat and
what ranch 10 make each night.
IF one of us could only go!" she
cried, following along the bank.
Don't want any more weight TO de-
lay us!" cried back Betsey Lee, cheer
fully.
MAKE Picacho your third night.
Go right to-" And then the boat shot
past the sound Of her words, and Bet
sey Lee, standing in the stern, began
polling with long, easy sweeps, a. she
had seen the Indians do.
"Picacho the third night" she
thought. "We'll pass Picacho about
nine tomorrow morning God willing"
she added, softly, "and He will be-"
II was three o'clock before Alexander
drew his oars in suddenly, and said:
"Smoke." Betsey Lee dealt out a
small sack Of tobacco, and Alexander
rose and stretched himself on the roll
OF blankets.
VERY well," said Betsey taking up
the oars. lone half-honr you can
rest" She glanced at the little silver
watch pinned To her dress.
"Ueno," said Alexander, and he
looked at the watch, too; stared at it
so persistently that Betsey noticed
him. But she did not pull her coat
over the watch or in any way show
that she needed his evident covetous-
ness, only rowed steadily ahead, glanc-
ing about from time TO time 10 avoid
sand-bars or to swing the boat out from
the ever-rising mud-banks.
Zone little half-mile across those
fats TO the river again, and here we
must go two miles TO get around that
bend! It's wicked!" cried Betsey
Lee.
"Quien sabeP' said Alexander, eye
ing the opposite bank. Suddenly he
whirled the boat ashore. The sun WAS
down.
"Camp here," he said quietly.
Betsey Lee bent toward him.
There's plenty Of light yet. Go
ahead! Yon don't stop till tell you
TO-"
Alexander Was sulky. He leaned on
the oars, letting the boat drift, Betsey
Lee polling il back into the stream.
Night was coming down fast, but there ,
was q moon before twelve.
"Ocho pesos, compsdre!" cried Bet
sey Lee. polling with all the strength /
left in her aching arms. 4,
"Smoke," he said. Ii
"One--just one" said Betsey Lee,
and when be had finished the cigar
cite, Alexander pulled with will.
They eamped ON dry bank, secur /
ing the boat 70 . mesquit-tree that a
sprawled above it. II WAS bitter cold ,
and while Alexander got fre-wood, !
which be did with nimbleness that |
belied the long hours at the oars, !
Betsey Lee cut ham, mixed the coffee, \
md got out Alexander's blankets. /
Then she cooked the Indian the big h
pest and best meal he had eaten in all
lis vaQrant old life. II is either a
east or famine with IN Indian, and 4
I had been many a day since Alexan-
Ter had had feast. And Betsey Lee |
'iocd over him, refillina his plate with a
IAN and beans and fried oilions ssfAst b
y there was any hint Of its being |.
'mpty. la
"Ueno!" be grunted II last, and I
tretched bis gorged length on the
and st that sign Betsey Lee
urned 10 her own supper. Night and !,