The Springdale news., 1915-06-18
COURSE OF TRUE LOVE
By JENNIE H. OLIVER.
tCopyrtrllt.)


 tory It came cut of a blur of angry. evening red with wild sheets of screaming, white rain from the nurky, boiling river Under 1t the little cabin covered like a beaten hound-even the three shadows within looming gro tesquely backward from the fireplace, shrinking and fiaring fitfully as the eddying flame sprang upward and strung itself like rubies on threads of cobweb swaying from the blackened rafters
 Between crashes of deafening thun- der two of the shadows talked dogged- ly and consistently.
 Yes, Steve" said one, lifting his shrewd, calculating features in a vain endeavor to suck into life his neg leeted pipe, "yuh ricollict whut l told yuh last time yuh ast fer Retta-May Conditions is jist tn same now, and allus will be.
 Gurus, Steve, yuh kain't remember that old Ike Pedigrew don't say things fer tn fun of hit. Twenty year l ben wantin' that north forty. Yer daddy and I fit hand tuh hand over hit; but he died a year too soon. Lived, an I'd had him. Reckon I've got yuh, Steve, instid-fer hits that north forty, CT no Retta-May."
 They ain't no jestice in hit, Ike, cried the young man hotly. Hit s plum robbery. How'm I goin to take keer O Retta ef give up the only part O my land that's wuth workin'2 2''
 T hain't astin' yuh to take keer on her; jest tuh fgger on that land with me. Elf thar's iny other way tuh do hit, SO much the better, fer I've got other plans for Retta-May. Not that hit haint fitten fer her tuh bring me somethin' fer her raisin', as her sisters never done.
 They was saller and skinny; but land. look at Retta-May; Blue and peenk and gold-slim and straight; strong as young banter. Elf she hain't wuth more tuh yuh than the north forty, why, yuh don't hev tuh take her-that's all"
 There was a sudden, fierce outburst of the storm, as if the very prince of demons had broken loose; and under it's elutching hand the stanch little structure shuddered and ratt1ed fear somely. Dark streams of rain crawled in from the sillless door, and the girl rose silently to sweep back the flood and block it's further entrance with an old ragged coat
 "'Tain't jest, Ike" fumed the young man when at last he could make him. self heard. .sYuh know there's coal and that I'm raisin' money tub work hit. Yuh think I didn't see yuh with that passel O prospectors from Little Rock, but did And hits mine, Ike Pedigrew and I don't low tuh give hit up. low tuh dress Retta like a queen when I builds her a new house up under that bunch O pine''
 Well, Steve" answered the old man provokingly, slowly sucking at his re- lighted pipe. "I reckon hitll turn out by y'ur buildfn' one on stflts for her over on the south forty under them elms. Reckon yuhn hey tuh raise rice tub keep her. fer I'm goin' tuh hey that north forty-that. CT she marries Jake Dempsey.
 Don't make much difference tuh me. Jake offered me mighty nigh as good a forty, and fine Jersey COW | throwed in Reckon I'd ruther hev Jake fer relation-he haiDt sD blamed | obstinate"
 Pedigrew laughed dfsagreeabfy, and bent to throw on another log
 Reckon yuh see how hit is, Steve he went on, after he had gone to stun up a broken shutter and stop the swirl of red embers that enve!oped them fol a breathless moment. Y'ur north forty and mine bumps heads at l mighty convenient bend In the river 1 Now whin I git busy with them com modities that natur' has packed IT thar, I kin mighty easy make use 0 natures waterway tuh pack 'eIn on tuh companies that needs 'em. Reck on old man Pedigrew won't fe racf man then-no, I reckon not"
 'Whut ef Retta and I takes things in our own hands. Ikeo Whut eff
 "I'n tell yuh, Steve, whut eff Retta 1 MayIl marry Jake Dempsey in tht l mawnin, iist as soon's hit Is good ant | light. Ast him and Jestice Potter ove' to witness the windin' up-be handy 1 tuh hev lem inyway the cat jumps Mother thing Retta-May haint hel own boss by two year and then some Retta-May hain't ben outen this yart sense yuh an I tangled up in thi! deal. Guess hold the whup-hand Steve"
 The young man dropped his face II his hands and sat for soma time II deep thought The roaring hgh sprang rudely over his dark head over the old mans hard. shrewd eyes and the girls beauty. Around then