Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1909-12-31

rising suddenly to her feet and fling,
ing out one hand toward the days
work.
Hokc surveyed the wood critically.
approximately.
emo. l don't reckon ! ever did see
so much cut in one day, TirZy." lie
acknowledged. Though | amt sayin'
but lots of men could ii they set OUT
"Yes. that's jest it," scornfully. IF
they set out But men folks round
here don't set out to do nothing but
hunt coons and drink Still whisky and
smoke corncob pipes. It's the women
who work truck patches and chop
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's
no difference between you men folks
think Il heap of you. lloke. like
said last week. You're big an good
natured and the handsomcSt man
round. but all you've got in the world
Is rifle and four dogs and Il tumble
down cabin that's scarcely lit to live
in. and I've heard you say yourself
that you could drink more corn whisky
than amy man OH 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 Il
girl that Id never marry Il man who
didn't Wear shoes"
1.>I,~
lively.
II don't reckon there's but one man
on the mountain who wears shoes
steady" he observed sarcastically.
"Maybe he'd marry you it 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. Id study it over a
SPELL"
Hoke looked ut her incredulously for
a moment. then threw back his head
in IL 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," lie remon-
stratcd. Its scandalous! You're the
handsomest and peartest girl on the
mountain and the best worker. Any
man would be glad to have you.
"And he," contemptuously. "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 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?'
Eyes. 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-I mean
Mr.. Allen-marries me. it won't be just
because he aims to be more comforta.
BILE. But hsh. 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.
Az IN c<ro ~ nh Z ~
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. II 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 q
girl used to know was down there
and I wanted to find out for sure"
The stranger was now at her side
and Tirzy had noticed with an odd
look in her eyes that he had not shown
the least hesitation at her startling an.
nouncement.
swell. Ill see you again. Tirzy.'
Hoke called from a still greater dis.
lance. II hope you won't catch 1t, but
I'm mighty afraid for you"
II don't reckon there's much danger
Hoke." the girl retorted. "for l didn',
go across the creek. Just called, and
woman answered that 'twa'n't the
girl l knew at ALL"
Hoke paused abruptly and was turn.
ing to come back when something in
the attitude of the two. who were now
seated upon the log. made him grind
out few words between his teeth and
swing savagely into the woods.
Had Learned to Obey.
1t Is told of General Havelock that
one 60v whQn n hOv hio fothor ho ~-fo n