The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-02-26
CHAPTER Vl-contlnued.

"Thar's a-goin' ter be a dancin'
party oye ter VILE McCager's mill
come Saturday" he insinuatingly sug-
gested. Il reckon yen go over thar
with me, won't ye, Sally"
He waited for her usual delighted
assent, but Sally only told him absent
ly and without enthusiasm that she
would Study about IT," Al last. how.
ever, her restraint broke, and, looking
up. she abruptly demanded:
Air ye a-goin' away, Samsonf"
Who's been a-talkin' ter yer" de-
handed the boy, angrily.
For a moment. the girl sat silent.
Finally, she spoke in a grave voice:
Hit hain't nothin' ter git mad about,
Samson. The artist man loved as how
ye had a right ter 90 down thar, an
git an ~eddlcatton." She made a weary
gesture toward the great beyons.
He hadn't ought to of told We.
Sally. II I'd been plumb sartin in my
mind. I'd a-told ye myself-not but
what I knows" he hastily amended,
tibet he meant hit friendly"
Air ye a-goin'?"
I'm studyin' about hit"
He awaited objection, but none
came. Then, with a piquing OF his
masculine vanity, he demanded:
"Hain't ye a-keerin', Sally, whether
/ goes. or not?"
The girl grew rigid. Her fingers on
the crumbling plank Of the stiles top
frightened and gripped hard. Her face
did not betray her, nor her voice,
though she had to gulp down a rising
lump in her throat before she could
answer calmly.
Il think ye had ought TO go. Sam.
SON"
The boy was astonished. He had
avoided the subject for fear Of her op-
~position-and tears.
Then. slowly. she went on:
There hRin't nothin' in these here
hills fer We, Samson. Down thar, yen
see lots Of things thet's new-an' civil
lied an beautiful! Yen see lots Of
gals tibet kin read an write, gals
dressed up in all kinds Of fancy az
ms" Her glib words ran out and
ended in a sort OF inward gasp.
Compliment came hardly and awk-
wardly to Samson's lips. He reached
fog the girls hand, and whispered:
Il reckon l won't see no gals thet's
as purity as you be. Sally. ] reckon ye
knows, whether | goes or stays, we're
A-goin' ter GIT married"
She drew her hand away, and
laughed, a little bitterly. In the laat
day. she had ceased TO be a child, and
E...-m- 4. 1870 wrFNh al 81. .-.f -
ing possibilities Of a woman's intui-
lions.
Samson" she said, IL hain't askin'
20 ter make me no promises. When
ye sees them other galB-gals tibet kin
read an write-l reckon mebby yen
think din'rent. / can't hardly spell
out printin' in the fust reader
Her lovers voice was scornful OF the
imagined dangers. as a recruit may be
Of the battle terrors-before he has
been under IRE. He slipped his aFeh
about her and drew her over to him.
Honey" he said, "ye needn't fret
about tibet. Readin' an writin' can't
make no difference fer a woman.
HITS mighty important fer a man. but
you're a gal"
You're a-gOin' ter think din'rent at.
ter awhile" she insisted. When ye
EoeH, ! hain't a-goin' ter be expectin'
ye ter come back But"-tha
resolution In her voice for a moment
quavered as she addsd-"but God
knows I'm a-gOin' ter be hopin'l"
"Sallyl" The boy rose, and paced
up and down In the road. Air ye
goin' ter be aginst me, too2 Don't ye
see that ! wants ter have a ohanst2
Can't ~ trust me? I'm Jest a-tryin'
to amount 20 something. I'm plumb
tired Of bein' ornery an no count"
She nodded.
I've done told ye," she said, YEARLY,
tibet | thinks ye ought ter do hit"
Lescott and Samson discussed the
matter frequently. Al times the BOY
was obstinate In his determination 10
remain; at other times he gave way
20 the warnings for change and oppor.
tunity.
The dance on Saturday was to be
something more Eortentous than q
mere frolic. Il would be a clan gath
ARMY to which the South adhorents
would come riding up and down Mis-
aRv nhd is tributaries from "ni6h