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

her how despised all the religion
I'd seen. the bigots it made. an the
towards. I'd rather burn with the
goats than bleat among the sheep
even now.
"Oh. that's all right. then" she said
as though she answered me, and frank
as man she gave her hand to shake
Good stunt OF mine. chr" Although
I own I'd like to have that cross stage
managed"
She passed the weather. admired tt
ger. talked Browns and Jones with
Bull. turning her back on ne. asked
him to supper. walked off with MIN
an that's all. Egg-shells throwd in
the ash-heap may feel like I did then
Nobody loved me. cept our pony
herd, inqulrin' piteous for food an
water. Our boys, OF course. was drunk
bv then, just sleepiD whar they'd fell
so ! was desolate as a moonlit dog
howl. ridin' herd with my night horse
whar Polly's little home glowed lights
across the prairie. seen Bull and the
walkin sort OF extravagaht into town.
The lights went out. Their times I'd
take some sleep or times ride herd
guarding her little house. till the cold
came, till the dawn broke, till the sun
came up.
1t was half past breakfast when ]
seen Bull again. on his kn6os like yes.
terday. aputtin' up loud prayers
which made me SICK "RetHarsin'.'
says he, cause Polly's strdak. and
I'm to be chief mourner."
He was my only chance of ngetin'
Miss Polly. when a guy comes brttinr
into our conversation. He'd rdifed
sleeves to his pants. and was all
dressed saucy, standing straddle. aim
ing to impress. oh, whar's my guA"
says Bull.
This person owned to being a ger
tleman. with a strong English accent
He'd 'undreds OF 'orses at one in
'Ammersmith, but wanted to own an
'ack ere. don'tcherknow.
So Bull lifts up his eyes to Heaven,
praying. "Oh, don't deliver US from
temptation yeti" Whereas | condded
with this person about Bull being far
gone in religious mania. owned Bull
right though, about my bein' sailor
timid with 'orses and he seen for his.
self the way l was riding my Sam
'orse sons thin dreadful Told me I'd
ought to cid my ed Ugh instead of
'amping. It's in toes, down eels,
young Teller. an don't be ard on the
bally hanimal. He'd gimme lessons
only | was frightened. but out Always
from town the ground was softer for
falling. an | gained courage. Happens
Miss Polly's house was opposite
scrambled down ungainly. showed a
pebble in along Sans withe-s, and let
this gent explain just how to set an
'ard-mouthed 'unter. You Odds is ed
placin' the and on the orr Of the
saddle, so. Then hup! That pebble
done the rest
Now. It's partly due to this ere en-
tertainment, and the diamond ring
gave her, that Miss Polly began to
perceive me with the naked eye. and
said l might come to supper.
And that evening was most surely
wonderful. In a parlor all antimacas-
sars and rocker chairs with pink bows.
There was champagne wine. the little
cigarettes with dreams inside. and a
bottle no bigger'n my thumb smellin'
so fierce it weil-n!gh blew my head off.
Oh, It was all so elegant and high
toned that | got proud of being al.
lowed indoors
Her people was real society. her
poppa an army general. ruined by the
war. her mother prime virginian But
then she'd gone on the stage. 50 there
was mean suspicious.
hold suspicion to be a form OF
meanness when it touches women My
mother would have SHE'D at naked la
dies. and dad was powerful again ciga
rettes. AS for the smell. so fierce il
had 10 be bottled. III own up | was
| shocked But then you see mother
and dad an me being working people
| was not supposed to feel the high
| toned senses which belongs with
wealth It's not for grade stock like
me to set up as judge on thorough
| breds. or call lady immoral for using
srooa whar | should need a shovel
/ So 1t happened that in them days
while | rode guard upon Miss Polly
no man in Abilene could speak to her
or mention her name to me until
! give him leave. She got to be known
as Sailor Jesse's kill. and any person
touching on my kill was apt to requir,
funeral.
1t was the seventh day she married
me l know. because Bull. acting a,
best man, claimed a kiss. which sh,
gave him. Bull" says she. "didn'
bet you I'd marry Sailor Jesse with