The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-08-12

Then a lean soTrel mare came Jos
ging into view, switching her fy-bitten
tail, and on the mares back, urginS
him with a long, leafy switch, sat q
woman. Behind her sagged the two
loaded eads Of a corn sack. She was
1.-the and slim, and her violet eyes
were profoundly serious, and her lips
we're as resoluteIy set as Joan Of Arcs
might have been, for Sally Miller he'd
come only ostensibly to have her corn
ground to meal. She had really come
to speak for the absent chief. and she
knew that she would be met with deri-
sion. The years had sobered the girl
but her beauty had increased, though
it was now a chastened type, which
gave her a strange and rssher exalted
refinement of expression.
Vile McCager came to the mill door
as she rode up and lifted the sack
| from her horse.
"Howdy, Sally?" he greeted.
"Tol'able, thank ye," said Sally. 'T'm
goin' ter get off.
AS she entered the great hah-lighted
room. where the mill stones creaked
on their cumbersome shafts, the hum
of discussion sank to silence. The
girl nodded to the pa0untaineers gath
cred in conclave, then, turning to the
| miller, she announced:
I'm going to send for Samson"
The statement was at first met with
dead silence, then came a rumble oil
indignant dissent, but for that the
girl was prepared. as she was prepared
for the contemptuous laughter which
followed.
Il reckon if Samson was here" she
said. dryly. you all wouldn't think il
was quite so funny"
Old Caleb Wiley spat through his
bristling beard. and his voice was q
Quaverfng rumble.
What we wants is man. We hain''
| got no use fer no traitors thets too al
mighty damn busy doin' fancy work
ter stand by their kith an kin"
That's iie!" said the girl, scorn
fully. There's just one man living
that's smart enough to match Jesse
Purvy-an' that one man is Sam
son. Samson's got the right to lead
the Souths. and he's going to do it-el
he wants to-"
Sally" Vile McCager spoke. sooth
ingly, don't go gittin' mad. Calet
talks hasty. We knows ye used tel
be Samson's gal, an we hain't amin
ter hurt yore feelin's. But Samson's
done left the mountings. l reckon
eff he wanted ter come back. he't
a-come afore now. Let him stay whal
he's at"
"Whar Is he att" demanded old Ca
leb Wiley, in q truculent voice.
That's his business" Sally flashed
back, but l know. All / want to tel
you Is this. Don't you make a move
till have time to get word to him.
tell you. he's got to have his say"
81 reckon we hain't a-goin' ter wait,
sneered Caleb, FER Teller tibet won
let htt be known whar he's a-sojournin
at Ef We air so shore of him, why
won't yet tell us whar he is now?"
That's my business, too" Sally
voice Was resolute. I've got a letter
here-it'll take two days to get t
Samson. It'll take him two or three
days more to get here. You've got t
wait week"
Sally" the temporary chieftaiI
spoke still in patient, humoring sor
of voice, as to a tempestuous child
thar hain't no place ter mail a lette
higher then Hixon. No South can
ride inter Hixon. an ride out again
The mail carrier won't be down THU
way fer two days yit."
I'm not askin' any South to rid
into Hixon. I recollect another tim,
| when Samson was the only one tina
would do that" she answered. still
scornfully. II didn't come here to asl
favors. I come to give orGers-fo
him. A train leaves soon in the morn
ing My letters goin' on that train.
who's goin' ter take hit ter towI
fer yer
"Tm goin' to take it for myself.
Her reply was, given as matter o
course.
"That wouldn't hardly be safe, Sal
ly," the miller demurred; this hahn
no time fer a gal ter be galayantin
around by herself in the night time
Hits a-comin up ter storm, an ye'v'
got thirty miles ter ride. an thirty-fivt
back ter yore house"
I'm not scared" she replied. 'I'n
goin' an I'm warnin' you now, il you
do anything that Samson don't like
you'll have to answer to him, when hi
comes" She turned, walking yer,
erect and dauntless to her sorrel mare
and disappeared at a gallop.
81 reckon" said Vile McCager
breaking silence at last, "hit dom
make no great dif'rence. He won
hardly come, nohow." Then. he added
"But tibet boy is smart"
Samson's return from Europe, after
a years study. was in the nature o.
moderate triumph. With the ar
sponsorship of George Lescott and the
social sponsorship OF Adrienne, he
found that orders for portraits, from
those who could pay munificently
seemed to seek him. He was tasting
the novelty Of being lionized.
| That summer Mrs. Lescott opened
her house on Long Island early, and
the life there was full Of the sort OF
gayety that comes to pleasant places
| when young men in flannels and girls