News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-10-08
Jopyrlght, l9l2, The B0bhs- Merrill Company

She had dreaded the lonely summer
when she was left with only squirrels
tor company. Now Pete would be
"settin'" around, ruined, and out of
work, the man who had been used and
thrown aside, the laughing-stock Of
the teamsters who saw his pride
brought low.
The frontier breeds fierce women,
with narrow venomous enmities to-
ward the foes of the house. Even il
Pete suffered, Brooke should not pros
per, or the boss who had failed her
man. Mother dragged two five-gallon
cans of petroleum from the lean-to,
and staggering under their weight,
poured the oil over all Brooke's har-
ness. Breathing heavily with her Ia
Dor, she carried loads of swampy hay,
and cord-wood, until the aparejos
were but part of bonfire. Then with
a brand from the stove she set
the hay alight. There should be no
public shame to break Petes heart,
there should be no pack-train unless
he were cargador.
Pete stood beside the ashes, search
ing mothers face with his slow brood
ing eyes. Her burning rage was gone,
and she was afraid, for now she
thought too late of all his loving pride
in the work, the greatness of the
thing which his knowledge and skill
had made. That she had burned.
Understanding how love had made
this blunder, Pete said no word. He
only knew that Bolt had paid him
seven hundred dollars cash and kind,
which must be returned. In silence
he turned away, and once more faced
the terrible hill which led to the Hun
dred Mile House
- y y 4 y Il
The spring was in my blood, and 7
could not sleep. Can any creature
sleep when the springs sweet restless
air calls to all nature? Even the lit
tie birds were coming back to the
north, for now and again as I strolled
along the road l would hear a sleepy
twitter. isn't it dawn YETI" Not
yet, have another nap" So l came to
the brow of the great hill whence I
should see the dawn.
was turning back refreshed toward
my duty, when I heard something
moan. The sound came from under
meath pine tree the one at the very
top OF the long climb which Pete had
?blazed with his inscription, Got |
thar" With my heart in my mouth |
went to find out what was the matter,
and so discovered the old cargador |
crouched down against the trunk.
Pete" I asked in a very shaky
voice, what on earths the matter?"
Dying, num-"
but it's too damp here. Why, |
you'll catch your death of cold"
'That would never do. Say, mum,
how's Bolt?"
"Oh, ever SO much BETTER
Cant do it, said Pete, 'if died
first he'd have the joke on me-
- Wouldn't you like hot rum?"
Pete staggered to his feet. ''Pd go
Cor that" he sighed, "just like one
man"
So he took my arm, and helped
min along the road.
"She burned them riggins," he
said.
"Mother?"
Eyes. Brooke came inspecting them
figgings, so mother burned EN-"
Wont that be rather AWKWARD"
"Some. You see, mum, Bolt paid
me four hundred and five dollars cash,
so I come to return him the money"
I didn't quite understand. "You see,
Pete" I suggested, you and Brooke
are the owners. Don't you owe half
to yourself and half to Brooke?"
well, if that's so, I'll pay myself
and owe the rest to Brooke. But then
ne claims the whole Star atajo."
'In that case you owe the whole of
the money to Brooke"
ct don't mind owing Brooke" Pete
felt so much better that he was able !,
TO walk without help. "Brooke's gone
on to inspect mules. / wonder how
he'll get on with them mules?"
AS it happened, Jesse was an actual
witness to Mr.. Brooke's inspection
of the Star mules at their pasture be-
low his ranch. Here is his narratives:
1.-THE trouble for these poor mules
was that they followed false god
tiess. Their bell mare Prue ought to
have been old enough to know better.
but at the age of twenty-three, with
gray hair and bald withers, she was
etill female.
"She and her mules had been graz
ing maybe half a mile when my new
stallion, young Jehoshaphat, happened
along with his harem of twenty-five
mares, smelling down wind for a
drink. The mares looked so snug and
grass-fat they could scarcely waddle
but Jehoshaphat was full of sinful
pride, Waiting high step at the sight
of Prue.
"You should have seen Prue play.
sng up innocent modesty in front OF
Jehoshaphat, pretending she wasn't
there, making believe she was too sud
den. didn't approve of the gentleman
fattering his vanity with all sorts of
airs and graces. Prue paraded her
self along in front of the harem to
spite the married mares, and all her ]