Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-10-22

stood in the sunlight Behind the
nearest tree a man was speaking
refined my horse Now you. Jones.
he was saying to the injured beast.
you take yo'self TOO serious. You
amt goin' to Heaven? Mo- Then
why pack 20 bag? Why fuss?"
had some silly idea that the man.
il he discovered me, would know what
business brought me to this headland.
held my breath
His slow. delicious. Texan dravI
made me smile. l did not want to
smile. The mare. a very picture OF
misery, lifted her bandaged. frightfully
swollen leg. and hobbled into the
shade. did not want to laugh, but
why was she called Jones? She
looked Just like Jones.
THE inquirin' mind" said the man
behind the tree. has GAVIN surely
astray from business. or you'd have
know'd that rattlers smells OF snake.
Then asks--why paw"
The mare, with her legs all
astraddle, snorted In his face.
Sugar is it? why didn't yOi say
so befo'?"
Jones turned her good eye on the
mar as though she had just discovered
his existence. hobbied briskly after
him while he dug ia his kitchen boxes.
made first grab at the sugar bag, and
got her face slapped. The man. always
with his eye upon the mare, returned
to his place. and sat on his heel as be-
sore Three Jumps" he said, hold
ing them one by one TO be snatched.
You're acting SORT OF conyalescent.
Jones No more sugar, And don't
be a hawgl"
The mare was kissing his face
Back of all! Back water! Thar
now, thank the lady behind me"
And had imagined my presence
still unknown.
How on EARTH" / gasped. did you
Know | was here?"
The mans eyes were still intent
upon the wounded mare. wall, Mrs.
Trevor" he drawled
you know my name? Your back
has been turned the whole time!
You've never seen me in your life
at least I've never seen you'll"
That's So" he answered thought
fully, II don't need tellin the sound
OF that colt yo' husband bought from
me AS 20 the squeak OF lady's pig
skin saddle. thar ai,'t no other lady
rider short OF hundred aud eighty
three and half miles"
What manner OF man could this be?
My colt was drawing toward him all
the time as though magnet pulled
He stood facing me. the bag still in
his hand. and my colt asking pointed
~ for sugar. Very tall. gaunt. deeply
tanned, perhaps twenty-five years Of
age. he seemed TO me immeasurably
old, 50 deeply lined was his face And
set Il was the face of one at peace
had been away since daybreak. and
now the sun was entering the west
As to my purpose. that ] felt could
wait
SO sat under the pines. pretending
TO nurse Jones while the shadows
heightened over the tawny grass. and
orange needles ileeked fields of rock.
cut To the edge OF the hcadland
The man unsaddled my horse, an.
loaded his ponies, fetched water from
the spring OF natural Apolinaris. but
when. coming back. he found me light.
ing a fire. he begged me &c desist, to
rest while he made dinner And
was glad TO rest, thinking about the
peace beyond the edge of the head.
land Yet It was interse to see
hcw man keeps house in The wilder
ness, and how different aTe his ways
from those of woman No housewife
could have been more daintily clean.
or shown a swifter skin. or half the
silent ease with which, this woodsman
made the tableware for one, enough
TO serve two people. But a woman
would not clean frying-pan by burn.
ing II and throwing on cold water He
sprinkled -four on ground sheet,
and made dough without wetting the
canvas. Would like bread. or slap
jacks. or pie? lie made loaf OF
bread, In frying pan set on edge
among glowing Goals. and. wondering
how a pie could possibly happen with.
out the assistance of an oven. | forget
all about that cliN
The thing had intended was a
crime. and conseience-stricken.
dreaded lest he should speak. could
not bear that. Already his camp was
cleaned and in order. his pipe filed
and alight, at any moment he might
break the restful silence. That's why
] spoke, and at random, asking II he
were not from the United States.
/ His eyes said plainly. so that's the
game. eh?" His broad smile said.
We'll. Well play" He sat down.
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