Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-12-02

conscious OF his own awkwardnesS.
The embarrassment, however, was but
for the instant, for the preacher had
been waiting his entrance, eager to
begin the ceremony.
What occurred during the next few
moments was never wholly clear In
Shelby's mind. He did mechanically
whatever he was told, but without
comprehension. He remembered walk
ing between rows of curious faces, oc-
casionally recognizing a familiar
countenance, clear across that crowded
parlor to the further wall, which
seemed to be decorated profusely with
sprays of evergreen. He seemed to
recall that the girl joined him, stand
ing at his left, and that she had adj
vanced to his side guided by Dan NC
Carthy. It was all vague, misty, I'M
certain, and the next moment all he
saw was the fleshy figure of the Buff
falo Gap preacher standing there I'M
medlately before him, his hands up
lifted and his sonOrOuS voice uttering
words that sounded like a prayer.
Then Dan came, forward again and
he felt her hand resting in his, real
izing how soft and small it was. He
remembered question was asked him
and he answered Eyes" and then he
seemed to hear her whisper similar
response. The preacher said some
thing, using some strange words, and
turning once to face the silent crowd
pressing close In upon them; then he
lifted his hands solemnly and Shelby
caught the sentence, II pronounce you
husband and wife and whom God
hath Joined together, let no man put
asunder."
There was an explosion of breath,
a faint clapping of hands, an instant
buzz of tongues. He felt that he must
have shaken hands with a thousand
people; was pushed here and there
by the efforts made to reach him and
finally, bewildered, his mind In a
whirl, found himself once more out
in the hall, obsessed with a desire to
escape. He possessed no idea as to
what had become or the girl; no doubt
she was somewhere back there in the
crush, but he, at least, was free, and
would wait for her to join him out
side.
He stood there alone, staring down
at the team of broncOs and the heavily
laden blackboard uncomprehendingly
Yet slowly it all came back and his
mind began to arouse from blank
stupOr. His attention was attracted
by the approach of horseman trot-
ing steadily up the deserted street to-
ward the hotel. The rider was cav
airy soldier in uniform, powdered
with dust, his horse showing evidences
of hard travel.
Shelby watched his coming curious
ly, his memory still lingering upon the
scene within. The man drew up at
the hotel, dropped his rein over the
horses head, swung stiffly to the
ground and advanced up the steps.
He glanced aside at Shelby's motion
less figure, took a step toward the
door and then wheeled suddenly.
"Say, amt your name ShelbyT
The dazed bridegroom turned and
looked into the face confronting him,
his mind swapping back into quick
recognition.
"Sure. Well, thunder, you're Shau-
messy of the Sixth. What're you do
ing here"
The two clasped hands firmly.
Thought / knew you, Tom, when
/ first came up the steps, but wasn't
quite sure till I got side view. Must
be six years since you left us, amt 1t?
What am l doing? Oh. they've showed
us up here from Arizona and I've been
up at the Reservation watchin' 'em
ghost-dance an am headin' now for
Collins to tell the old man the news.
Some fun goin' to be pulled Off pres
emily"
"You mean the Sioux are goin' on
rampage ag'in?"
"Sure thing, unless miss my guess,
an l reckon / ought to know Injuns
by this time. It'll either come this
fall or next spring. figure they'll
never hold In over winter. or Sittin'
Bull has got the game in his hands
an you know that OIL devil, reckon"
81 have reason to. Any troops up
theref'
mo; the Injun agent don't believe
there's goin' to be any trouble; says
It's Just a few young bucks who are
raisln' hi. He don't know what Is
goin' on. But / been among 'em an
the whole outfit is blood-mad. seen
two of their ghost-dances myself back
in the hills an / tell you they mean
business. You llvin' here now?"
mo, out on the Cottonwood"
"What-northY Say, old man, that
amt goin' to be no healthy place fer
q white, IL those devils break loose;
they'll make that country sure. Got
much of an outfitT
"a bunch of cattle an two herders."
mot enough to put up fght. Well,
IL was you, Tom, I'D run those cows
over Into the Bad Lands an lie out
there awhile. Wen get the InJuns, Of
course: but there Is bound to be some