News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-07-16

SuOCheu. buC Lueu you see InOtnel
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
spoon whar l should need a shovel
So it happened that in them days,
while I rode guard upon Miss Polly,
no man in Abilene could speak to her,
or meutiou her mama to me until I
give him leave. She gb& b. be kaewn
as safsar yeases kfh, ana any person
h0uching CA my ham wac aa# 10 rsauive
a fnBsral.
n YVES the seventh Day sha married
me. know. because Bun, acting as
best man, claimed a kiss, which she
gave him. Bull" says she, didn't
[ bet you I'd marry Sailor Jesse with
in a week You owe me twenty dol
ars." l saw the joke was on me.
| l came to marriage pure as any
pear, or wolf, or fox, expecting to find
ny mate the same as me, getter and
siver of life, true to the earth, and
fearless in dom 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 NIL
wide enough for laughin', face which
made folks smile when l was sad, eyes
to see fun, the heart to take a joke
If any offered, and when things hurt
wasn't first to squeal. No: as longas
the joke was on me done my bestto
take it like a man.
But suppose-Well, I'd best explain
that the English tenderfoot was at cur
wedding breakfast, and gettin' encolr-
aged, he 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 Hafer-
ing, the Bar T foreman, told the log
to shut up, while others moved to get
clear. l was sort of stupid, wanting
the point explained, couldn't believe
it possible the joke was on my wife,
although I'd rose by then, with gun
hand free. Then 1 saw, but the room
seemed dark, and the tenderfoot all
indistinct, backing away. and reaching
slovenly for weapons, while my bull
let smashed in his shoulder. 1t slned
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 up 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 wagged his finger
at Polly, faint long since you come
among us. "Taint more'n a 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 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 / took a bottle OF :
champagne wine, filed a big goblet, |
and drank 1t of. II made me laugh to |
think she'd taught me drinking, so J.
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
l could see my ponies at grass, and
snuff the air clear Of that sinking
town.
But from the time moved into The !
house, thar was something disturbing