Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-26
the freshly turned earth. 1T am going away
in he morning

the freshly turned earth. 1T am going away
in the morning
Going away" he cried blankly.
1T is all over" she said simply. There
is nothing more to stay for; is there?"
Il dunno he said slowly. II kinder
thought Ike you might be tempted to. I'm
chairman of the school committee. We was
goin to build aFschoolhouse this summer
anyway"
Il must go back" she repeated. My duty
Il was goin' to ask you to marry me- he
blurted out II know amt much-but
love you. I've loved you ever since you
came and l want you, Margaret"
She shivered slightly as he called her
mama. but she looked down at the grave.
II like YOU" she said. You are so big
and brave and tender, but 1t wouldn't be
right. 1 didn't realize how good Peter was
and L feel as If l ought to be true to his
memory"
Bat looked over the valley and to where
the moon was beginning to silver the
rugged outlines of the distant hills. For a
moment his face betrayed the influence of
some strong emotion, then he turned to her
with the light of resolution in his eyes.
rs 1t this that comes between us? ne
demanded. as he lightly kicked the sods.
IF you had met me somewhere else do you
think you might have learned to love meE,
II think that-perhaps, l. might have
she whispered.
Then here goes" he said joyousiy. II
KING Oh leII lIilS dllSiilpbift NiiNAa SNN 49,
cryin' so ought to tell you-Pete amt no
hero"
Mo- she exclaimed.
Nope" he assured You see. we amt
very old here in Poke Dog. It's only peeh
q couple of years since gold was found here
and before that there was just the gulch.
I'VE done pretty good for youngsters we
got a town hall and a ire company anu u
whole lot of things some towns twice our
size wont have in ten years. Why, orange
Of bp,. uybp and Iney
amt got no fire engine nor nothing; but
they put it all over US last year because
some tramp got killed by CONVOY ana
they found out that he fought in that CUBA
fight. -
Impossible for a decent man to talk to EN-
without shootin EN- up some. ms year
l decided it was UP to me to put crlmp
in EN-. ~
..'There's a veteran over Cat Creek way
in the poorhouse We offered to take care
of him till he died, but they wanted MN 1or
themselves and couldn't see II.
.orhen I remembered that down In the
ella country there was 9. duck by the name
of Pete Knoxville. who ulster brag that ne
had been a soldier. The name souhueo
good. and seems how he wasn't no use 10
any one when he was alive, ! I'M tnous"'
might borrow him for our cemetery
Il goes down to Denver and gets sec
ond-hand coffin and fills 1t up WIEN 10
pounds Of lead pipe and some Sunny SdcN'
and brings it up here. So long as the BOYS
don't know no better it don hurt en- none
and it makes those orange FIatS loolS plum
sick. ~
''Then YOU come. I was goin' to tell you
that ii was all fake; but you seemed so gao
that he did amount to something tlf't 1
didn't have the heart to tell you. ana De
sides l was afraid that you might let on
and spoil it all"
And Peter did not do any Of the brave ,,,.
things you told me OFF, she asked, slowly
even that last fight
.He was hung for horse steslin," was the
unexpected reply. The boys got to him be
fore | did, and by the time l had him locat-
ed we only had to hold the inquest
still" she said softly, he was my nus
band: and he did love me-unless that part
of your story was false, too.
He was married to some greaser Wom-
an" he said shortly. Il guess he was lit
tie absent minded at times and forgot he
had been married before
The moon had come up and as he search-
ed her face he saw it suddenly grow hard
and white For a moment his heart sank
and he half turned away with a slckenlng
sense of defeat: then hand was Ialu upon
his sleeve. and he quickly turned.
Bat" she said softly. I'm sorry that you
practiced this deception"
Il amt" he protested Independently.
The boys have had their fun. Pete's been
of some use to some one at last, and know
YOU l don't care if you do get mad at me-
| know you-and I've got memory to love
till they put me down here, too"
II am not angry" she said simply. Il
think 1 am glad you told me. 1t leaves me
free to"
Marry me?" he asked eagerly.
For answer she raised her face to his.
This bein' a public benefactor in a risin'
community is a good payin business, he
commented as he kissed her.