The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-11-24

mixing the mud myself? And cid any
man on the mountain ever cut more
fireplace wood in one day than that p
rising suddenly to her feet and fling
ing out one hand toward the days
work.
Hoke surveyed the wood critically
appreciatively.
"N-no. don't reckon ever did sec
so much cut in one day. Tirzy." he
acknowledged, Though | amt sayin
but lots of men could if they set out"
Yes, that's jest it," scornfully. III
they set out. But men folks round
here don't set out to do nothing bu,
hunt coons and drink still whisky and
smoke corncob pipes. It's the womer
who work truck patches and chor
wood and milk cows and do every.
thing else that's sure enough work
But what's the use talking" drop
ping her arms again listlessly. "There'.
no difference between you men folks
think heap of you. Hoke. like
said last week. You're big an goo(
natured and the handsomest mar
round, but all you've got in the worlt
is rifle and four dogs and a tumble
down cabin that's scarcely fit to live
in, and I've heard you say yourself
that you could drink more corn whisky
than any man on the mountain and
not show it.
And you go barefoot, too. Hoke.
Maybe I'll have to marry somebody
sometime. but used to say when a
girl that I'd never marry q man who
didn't wear Shoes"
Hoke looked down at his feet refiec.
lively.
Il don't reckon there's but one man
on the mountain who wears shoes
steady" he observed sarcastically.
Maybe he'd marry you If you asked
him."
You mean Ground Hog! flashed
back the girl instantly. "Well, he ask
ed me last Tuesday, and l told him,
like did you. I'd study it over a
SPELL"
HoIe looked at her incredulously for
a moment. then threw back his head
in roar of laughter that echoed
through the forest.
Told him you'd study it over"
he calculated between his bursts of
merriment-"told Ground Hog that!
Ho, no. I'll sure have to let all the
boys know" Then instantly he be-
came sober. "Why. Tirzy," he remon-
strated. cts scandalous! You're the
handsomest and peartest girl on the
mountain and the best worker. Any
mai would be glad to have you.
And he," contemporary, hes just
an outside onstepper, coming here and
fencing in land and digging in the dirt
the whole enduring day. and he totes
his truck stuff down into the valley on
his own back and peddles it round
Huh! He couldn't hit a bear ten foot
off with shotgun, and he don't chew
and don't know the taste of whisky.
Why, low one spoonful would set
him plumb crazy. But he does wear
shoes prolonging the word deri-
sively. "And you're going to study
'bout-him?'
"Yes. l am" quietly. "He knows
how to work and amt scared Of it.
And up where he comes from women
folks don't milk and cut fireplace wood
up there the men folks look out for
the women. If Ground Hog-l mean
Mr.. Allen-marries me, it won't be just
because he aims to be more comforta-
BILE. But h'sh. here he comes now"
A man had suddenly emerged from
the woods and was approaching them
rapidly. Hoke was still standing sew
eral yards away.
AS the stranger came to about the
same distance an idea seemed to strike
the girl. for she raised her hand warn
ingly.
"Don't come any closer, either of
you." she called. 81 was down to
Back creek yesterday"
Back creek" echoed Hoke. recoiling
few steps. why. that's where they
have the smallpox. and they do say
it's terrible this season everybody
catches it that goes near"
Eyes; I've heard So" calmly.
"Oh. Tirzy. how could you?" And
Hoke made few more involuntary
backward steps.
II was obliged to. Hoke. heard 9
girl used to know was down there
and wanted to find out for sure''
The stranger was now at her side
and Tirzy had noticed with an ode
look In her eyes that he had not shown
the least hesitation at her startling an
nouncement.
"Well. I'll see you again. Tirzy,'
Hoke called from a still greater dis
lance. II hope you won't catch it. blu
I'm mighty afraid for you"
Il don't reckon there's much danger
Hoke." the girl retorted. for didn'
go across the creek. just called. an,
woman answered that 'twa'n't til
girl knew at ALL
Hoke paused abruptly and was turn
ing to come back when something i,
the attitude of the two. who were nov
seated upon the log, made him grin,
out few words between his teeth an,
swing savagely into the woods.