Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-10-15

in a week You owe me twenty dol
lars" | saw the joke was OK me-
/ came to marriage pure as any
bear, or wolf, or fox, expecting to find
my mate the same as me, getter and
giyer of life, true to the earth. and
fearless in doin' right.
Folks said I was young to marry at
nineteen. but full nine years I'd
earned my living. fought my way, and
done my share of making happiness.
I'd been served with a mouth full
wide enough for laughin'. face which
2'ade folks smile when l was sad. eyes
to SEE fIn, the heart to take a joke
If any offered, ard when things hurt.
wasn't first to squeal No: as long as
the joke was on me | done my best to
take It like a man
But suppose-Well I'd best explain
that tho English tenderfoot was at our
wedding breakfast. and gettin' encour-
aged. ne put up his best prize Joke.
He was all hoo, hoo, hoo at first. so
funny he couldn't speak, the fellows
waitin each with his grin .gettin stale
and Polly laughing just to encourage
him on. Then words got out which
made the boys uneasy Jake Halfer-
ing. tho Bar T foreman, told the hog
to shut up. while others moved TO get
clear. I was sort Of stupid. wanting
the point explained. couldn't believe
ii possible the joke was on my wife
although I'd rose by then. with gun
hand free. Then saw. but the room
seemed dark. and the tenderfoot all
indistinct. backing away, and reaching
slovenly for weapons. while my hui
let smashed in his shoulder 1t slued
him around as he dropped
1t was old Jake Of the Bar T who
spoke out then, and spoke straight
MY boy" says he, put uD your
gun. That's right. This here tender
foot is bleedin' by spurts, arterial
Bull, see If Doc Stuart is sober" Bull
ran for the doctor "Only a tender
foot" says Jake, insults a cowboys
wife--which Is death from natural
causes. Ma'am." he waggsd his finger
at Polly. faint long since you come
among us. 'Tain't more'n day since
you told me and others present that
you was marryin' for fun. You laughed
at warnings, and this here Jesse would
have shot the man who warned him
You are a lady. and this boy you mar
ried for fun. is goin' to see you treated
as lady. | own he got ratified first
shot. missing this tenderfoot's heart
which amt up to average practice;
but it's time you began to see the
point Of the joke"
They took the tenderfoot away. and
we were alone, me watching the pool
of red blood turning brown Polly
sat drumming tunes on the table. her
face turned white, staring out through
the window at the noon heat Of the
plains. | remember I took a bottle OF
champagne wine, filled big goblet,
and drank 1t of. 1t made me laugh to
think she'd taught me drinking so
had another. Il see," says Polly, Il
understand now" At that she began
to scream.
should have told you. that after
our boys of the Flying Zee quit Abb
lene, | pitched little A tent on the
prairie back of Polly's house Thar
| could see my ponies at grass, and
snuff the air clear of that sinking
town.
But from the time I moved iaso the
house. thar was something disturbing
my nOse--something uneasy-oa,
don't know what it was. back OF all
gah
of evil, so | could hardly bear to stay
indoors.
Comm from town one night-she'd
sent me there seen mans shadow
cross the parlor blind. l fired, missing
| FOOLS act. for il warned him. and
gave him time. The lamp was out be-
fore l reached the house, and Polly
with some Mysteries getting in my
way.
1t wouldn't be sense to show a
match guiding the strangers ainl. or
| 10 stand against a window, or make
! sounds, Rather stood right still, and
after while Polly surprised herself
| into a dead silence. couldn't hear
that man. or feel. or see hin /
Z NSA"NN hAth. NAu tNEtdtH tudt- no.
You just feel If a man stares hard. /
/ fred at that. Then Polly. of course.
! went off into all sorts of fits.
Next morning I tracked blood sign
TO the hospital Seems a young per.
son from the bank had took to coniur-
ing and swallowed lead
Ii was still before breakfast that |
told Polly to pack her dunnage. cause
we was moving out from Abilene |
/ claimed | could earn enough to keep
my wife without her needing to go
out into society.
On cowboy pay?" she said laugh