The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-01-14

THE sparks were flying from the
ringing anvil with a spiteful hiss
as the steady whack of the heavy
hammer resounded through the old
blacksmith shop. The sound had
continued for an hour with such
steady regularity, that the very sound
Of the hammer seemed to denote a
desperate determination, and the reg
ular hiss Of the bits of heated steel
as they flew from the heavy anvil
and lighted up the face of the man at
work, only made the already deter
mined look appear the more resolute.
AS the man turned to the flaming
forge and the fire flashed on his
sweat-begrimed face, you could see
that something out of the ordinary
was passing through the mind of
James Stofer.
"They shall not keep me away
from her simply because l am poor
and a widower," repeated Jim, as he
wiped the sweat from his brow with
a red bandana handkerchief. He was
In the habit Of repeating the thoughts
that passed through his mind to him
self.
mo, sir, they shall not"
What wus you a sayin', Jim? l
didn't 'zactly understand"
It was his brother, John, who
spoke They worked side by side in
the old blacksmith shop, spending all
their earnings to keep their father
and mother and the large family Of
smaller children supplied with the
necessaries Of life. Besides, Jim said
that the children should have an ed
ucation, no difference how hard he
had to work to supply their needs.
Jim had been married when but a
boy to a girl that he had met at a
Social gathering In the rural districts
OF Indiana. He had married without
stopping to think whether he was in
love or not. He was but a boy, far
from home, with no one to guide him
or offer a word of advice. And when
he met this rustic beauty who SYM
pathized with him in his loneliness,
the result was a wedding, in a quiet
little country church in less than two
weeks after their first meeting. It
was the same old story of a hasty
wedding. There was nothing con-
genial between them and soon firing
OF her and not knowing what to do,
he took her to his parents In Illinois.
In 10 short months a baby was born,
but the mother never lived to look
into the bright eyes and fully realize
what the cooling and the soft touch OF
the first-born meant.
After the funeral Jim had gone into
the old blacksmith shop with the de-
termination to help his father and
mother supply the needs of his child
and never so much as think of an
other woman again, but after seven
long years OF toll now vas deeply in
love with the postmaster's daughter,
tetta Barnes.
"Oh nothing, | was just thinking"
replied Jim, "but, say, John, the old
lady Barnes told me last night to
never come inside her house again.
She said that I was not fit to asso-
ciate with her daughter, that I was
only a blacksmith and that her daugh-
ter was a lady"
We'll, l knowed that somethin'
wus wrong the way you wus poundin'
that iron"
John" and, whack went the ham,
mer down on a nearby table, Il can't
stand this suspense any longer. l am
going down to the postoffice and
have q talk with Mr.. Barnes"
Ten minutes later Jim entered the
Postoffice door dressed in a plain,
but neat-fitting suit of gray.
Mr.. Barnes, have come to see
II we a reach an understanding
about myself and Letta. Your wife
ordered me never to set foot in her
house again, and you know that |
love Letta better than my life, and
that l never will give her up. Just
think for a moment, and tell me what
you would have done when you were
young and in love with your wife,
had her mother forbidden you going
to see her. I know l I'm a poor man
and a widower, but why should that
debar me from seeing the one I
lover"
Well, as how" here Will Barnes
got down from a sugar barrel and
took a slow walk across the store
room (for the postoffice was in a
little dingy storeroom) then turning
and walking back to where Jim stood,
we'll, as how | know just how to
sympathize with ye, but / don't know
what I'd do. | have no objection to
yer coming to see my daughter, but
Mary don't like ye, for some cause.
A. &C.,. a, r. -