The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-04
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the shack got. I'm a kind Of jack carpenter. A
fellow good many trades the range
All this time the girl hoping-and Gliding herself
the hope-that the talk of home building would lead
her fourth proposal She growing skilled in set
conversational for such But she reflect
this self-respeeting man, and who
would follow the footsteps of the squaw And
just then voice behind her shoulder interrupted their
conversation.
'Mornn' !" it proclaimed mpersonally. Then, they
both turned This Miss Louise Blake? I'm Jake shuIs-
old Skulls from over to Hydro. The old man
he was talking to you yesterday-reckon you
haven't forgot?' And he included them both in rich
smile
Postons friendly, familiar attitude. THAT
brother. Miss Baker he inquired
mo; this Mr.. Poston. He has the section north of
mine. Mr.. Poston. Mr. shulls." And she looked help
lessy the other.
''Married?' inquired the newcomer promptly ap
parently resolved calm his fears, know the
worst, out of hand.
The cowboy shook head. His color rose he
bit his lip, He looked though he wanted to laugh.
and Louise hated him for it, s--a s--
mighty lonesome work homesteadin'- all by
your lonesome" Again Skulls spread them that
sirupy SMILE 'Well-er-not particular lonesome fer
man, mean, but mighty lonesome fer a lady
Burch apparently remained with the
ton of relieving the girl of She
chin with sudden jerk. How dared he hint by his
self?
We'll good-morning. Mr.. Poston." she said. crisply.
Mr.. Skulls father sent him business
And before she had time to thoroughly regret this step
her tall neghbor and Jake Skulls was in the
middle of the most sentimental proposal she had
received
Her gray eyes followed the figure as
Burch strobe back the direction his own claim
bithely whisng and blinking his longshanked spurs;
and he broke the song which lulled
slumbers the night before indg
nation took possession of her She caught the
Skulls about third period of his elaborate
speech with, No! If had wanted to marry wouldn't
be homesteadng fourth that's asked
me that same fool question in four days. I
the man yet that wanted to marry"
Apparently to bolster some Inward weakening she
repeated this last statement in somewhat louder
her fixed the light feather of wood smoke
hung above her neighbours cabin, Jake Skulls
his detected adieux.
4 Louises trip Little Rock was in the nature
of a triumph Captain Carmack, the conductor, was
friend of her fathers, admired exploit
though had been the brilliant achievement daugh-
ter The rest of the train crew seemed to share in his
enthusiasm and she tasted the sweets of being regarded
as heroine There were couple of drummers in the
Pullman. One of them she knew, and the talk
her section her enterprise
ward he brought up his companion and him
After little conversation-in which. aferward
remembered, she had been very positively
that she had registered formally marked possession
her claim. and that her quarter section was an ex-
cellent piece of land-the went back seats
She out of little reverie, in which Bureh Pos
tons pleasant voice smiling eyes hgured-as she
thought-raher too prominently, note absently
in her strip of mirror, that the, two Tipping
quarter The elder-and fatter-who had just pre-
sened to her. apparently He pocketed the COIN
and down her nquiring deferentiay: May
sit and talk to the Oklahoma heroine again?
Now, what you going do with this 100 acres
vi land, little w0man? he began, with pendereus gal
lantry. xt
well . rejoined Louise her natural inclination to
chac getting the better her desire play the sent-
mental and lead the proposal which hoped
coming-"we thought I'd just let stay right
where it is. and farm it,"
''You-farm it, murmured the, fat drummer That is
he intended to murmur; but, desiring that his
should reach her above of train
this remark, in almost menacing tone Look" he
slight hash 4he o1fcora
speaking somewhat softly'1ook that little hand
and tell if it could farm"
The girl looked obediently at hands pressed
her lips hard together to keep the wicked
curving them and assumed what she be
imbecie expression meet for the occasion We'll then,
I'm don't know how I shall get along"
Joined. in a small. decetful voice.
You need man; that's what a dear, little, de-
pendent woman like you always needs"
Highland I'll give you $35 a month";" hung on
Louise lips She fairly held her keep back
the pert sducy words repartee so delicious
and yet till she could honestly call the thing
she must not scare him away Yah it's hard work stalk
ing proposals." fitted through her mind while the fat
drummer's voice lurched
You need take charge things. Now, I'm
lonesome fellow, and friends have always been
showing It at that ought marry; but don't
wife that's going to board in of the city hotels and
always said that if I could find a woman-like YOU
Ffve!" calculated Louise, involuntariy5 and then
bushed burning crimson
Five what?" inquired drummer suspciousIy.
We'll, I've had five proposals of marriage in the five
days since drew this claim explained Louise honestly.
And I'm the fifth" supplied the drummer, rising
The girl nodded.
Yes that's I did think of a good thing
in my life but what lot of other fellows had thought
of 1T ahead Of mel thought of it till then of
course. Just like this thing. Ohh-h-so long, and the
fat drummer trOtting dejectedly back
leaving Louise victorious. little remorsefuL
Suddenly she remembered the tossing of the coin
other drummer, her acquaintance, in his
She turned her head; he approaching from the
ing compartment. rs this engaged; mss?" he
asked with the humorous pretense of being stranger
No"
Neither it the girl in it?" He gave her a shrewd
searching glance III tell you Louise-youn me
call you Louise, won't you?-Tve had something my
mind I've say to you for don't
get much chance together, we? I'm on the
road and you're demonstrating of earth,
SO guess I'll just seize this occasion"
Finding nothing TO tried her hest look