The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-01-22

Presently he glanced up at the mouth
of a tunnel On the mountain behind
them. HAS Aft struck good ore yet?'
he asked.
"He tells me he's taking out pretty
fair stone; but. good gracious" Miss
Lovilla laid her shuttle in her lap and
spoke with pleasing briskness-''t the
stuff in it that shines like gold amt
gold at ALL just copper. he says, and
don't believe it's worth digging for;
but, then, he's making the best of it. !
guess"
Unlucky looked at her with a smile
ger. Then it died away into an express
sion of thoughtfulness. Sometimes,
Miss Scanlon, | wonder if this sort OF
| life is best for any of us fellows.
There's your nephew" The man hes
itated and gazed wistfully across the
canyon at his own little shack. He
might better be trailin' a good home
somewhere back east-and a wife,
4 Unlucky came to an abrupt stop and
! twisted the stems of the flowers, but
! there was an expression in his eyes
/ that deepened the pink in Miss Lovil-
| las cheeks and caused her to glance
| beyond him.
| Immediately her attention was ar
| rested by mans head among the will
/ lows across the river. The head wore
a brown hat and was moving toward
the upper ford. She frowned as she
recognized Dutch 10, who kept a sa-
loon on the Meadows. Unlucky's
glance also followed the progress Of
the brown hat. and when it's wearer
| had forded the stream and turned to-
ward them he arose. quietly laid the
flowers on the stone and, with brief
GOOD day, Miss Scanlon," departed.
Miss Lovilla glued her eyes on her
work. apparently oblivious of the pres
ence of the horseman until he had dis
mounted some distance away, his
broncho refusing to approach so I'M
accustomed an object as a woman,
and greeted her with "Gut day, Mees
| Scanlon.'
Then she arose and laid her work in
her chair. Good morning, Mr.. Sahler.
You want to see my nephew, l pre-
sumo" Her voice savored only Of
business.
"Nein." Dutch 10 covered her with
a covetous albeit respectful eye and
abstractedly fingered the handle of his
six shooter, which he could manage
with more dexterity than he could the
English language. Say! Marry NIT
me, heinz" he finally burst out.
Instinctively Miss Lovilla shrank
back and glanced at the flowers. "Oh,
no." she cried hurriedly. II couldn't
possibly"
| The man wasted no further speech,
but, stepping deliberately on the bou-
quet, ground it beneath his heel,
mounted his horse and rode off, leav-
ing an indignant woman nursing the
trampled blossoms. The clock striking
II aroused her to a sense of her house
hold duties, and when her nephew en-
tered the lean-to kitchen she was her
busy, serene self again.
81 declare, Aunt Lo," he exclaimed
merrily, you are getting nicer every
day. l don't wonder the boys all want
to marry you
A half bashful smile touched his
aunt's lips. "Pshaw, Alf. It's because
I'm the only woman here Now. if
Abigail and Salina weren't married
and were here you'd see"-
Alfred removed the towel from his
face and interrupted solemnly. "Aunt
Lo, when Gabriel comes down with his
trumpet | expect to hear you tell him
that if there happens to be seat left
after Abigail and Salina have been
ushered to the front pew, why. you'll
take it, please, and make the best of
it."
'Alfv' Miss Lovilla demonstrated.
Nevertheless she looked pleased.
Praise had not come her way back in
New England.
"And I'm lookin' to Gabe to say" AL
fred continued, .'that he's reserved a
box seat for the best and sweetest and
most unselfish little woman on earth.
Now, Aunt Lo don't be shocked, but
tell me what poor unfortunate struck
the matrimonial trail today. You look
ed guilty when l came in. Whose
horse was it saw at the door,"
| "That-that Dutchman's from the
Meadows" returned Miss Lovilla in
tone savoring of the snap of a whip.
Alfred threw his head back and roar
ed. Dutch Jop' Still laughing. he
entered the living room, raising his
voice as he continued. by Jove! Hes
the thirteenth too. That's unlucky for
himself or some one else. His mark
can't be too crooked either, for if
there's man this side of Meeteetse
without Conscience
The closing kitchen door shut out the
rest of the sentence.
Sniffie was throwing a long shadow
eastward that afternoon before Miss