The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-05-10

Buekleys looked at Long Jake in won
oer as he sat day in and day out, with
MS chin sunk in thought.
Winter passed and spring bloomed
upon the hills. Like the flags of con-
quering army the trees shook out their
green banners, and the birds sang in
the thickets. Then summer came and
the wild grapes ripened in their tangled
coverts.. In the little cabin on the CEN
trail spur Rosie's hour had come. She
lay upon her rude pallet, her face
stamped with an undefinable terror.
The holy mystery of motherhood con-
fronted her. Pete was there, silent,
helpless. His ox-like strength could
not help her. An old woman and a lit
tie girl were in the room. The woman
lived in a miserable hut at the base of
the mountain, with her grandchild, and
sided with neither faction. Pete had
prevailed upon her to come. With the
rising of the moon a boy was born. The
mother lay very still.
Pete, she said, after a long time.
send fur 'em-your dad, my dad"
The man was dumb, he could not
leave her. He swept his eyes around
helplessly. The 10-year-cld girl under
stood, and came forward.
"Tll 60" she said, ito Long Jake's
fust, cause it's the closest. Then him
an me can ride. I'm not 'feerd."
She slipped out into the night
Long Jake listened TO the story,
jerked out in gasps, for the child had
run most of the way He thought fey
few minutes, then went ana saddled
his horse, took the child up behind him
and rode off. Half way IN the Skid
mores he stopped, dismounted, spoke
briefly TO his companion, then sat down
on the roots of a tree to wait. with
his head in his hands. The elfin fig
ure astride the big horse sped on alone.
Wild Bill bIinked and stared at the
tale he heard.
Hes waitin' fur We at the ben IN
Postum Holler," the girl concluded, AN
he amt got nary weapon. N it's a
boy"
Two men rode down a rocky gorge
one summer night. stirrup TO stfrrup.
There were no signs of weapons upon,
either, and they said never a word.
A child rode behind one, holding with
both hands to his coarse shirt. After
a while the borsemen debouched into
a small open, then trailed diaeonaliy
up the side of the neutral spur. Before
the lonely cabin upon its top they drew
rein, swung themselves to earth, and
hitched to different limbs of the same
tree. Long Jake reached the -foOT FIRST
it was his daughter. Wild Bill, and
the little messenger followed closely
behind, and they all went in. Tie tai
low candle on the shelf above the cot
guttered and shed a yellow, unnatural
light around. No one had thought Il
snuff it. Wild Bill walked over and
with his horny finger an I thumb pinch
ed off the charTed wick. The candle
blazed up afresh. With the heavy tread
of boots on the oaken floor the young
mother opened her eyes YEARLY. She
saw her father standing at her feet
wordless; a little distance away was
the ancient enemy OF her house.
Dad she said, in a faint voice
come ere"
She raised her right hand and beck
Oned feebly. The gaUnt figure Obeyed
but still stood, awed, and not knowing
what to do.
"Pete's dad I want Pete's dad, too
moaned Rosie, with the querulous wall
of child.
Wild Bill moved to her other side.
I'm here. gall" he said, but through
the gruffness in his voice ran strain
of pity.
The sufferer looked up, and a smile
came to her face.