Year: 1871

house to sleep.


You'd think that when we got


there we should be likely to talk


over the whole wonderful event,


but we didn't; not a word was spo-


ken concerning IL. But 1 reckon


there was considerable thinking


done that night.


BY light we were all up and pac-


ing in front of the cabin. The team


ster had given notice of the charge


he had left with us, and all the 9th


er boys were over there TO learn


how things were. There wasn't


stroke of work done in the camp


that day, and not much for 4 week


Then the Judge called us togeth-


eF, and told US il wouldn't do; we


were getting demoraliZed; that Miss


Browning was unhappy because she


felt she had interrupted our ar


rangements, and we must come right


down to steady days work after


that. Well, we tried to, but we


never could get back to old times.
There was n good deal of rivalry a.


mong US, and some cutting things


were said. The Judge sent letters


in all directions for VIII but three


weeks had passed without a word


in reply. We had all in turn offer


ed to accompany Miss Browning to


San Francisco, but she said she


knew no one there; VIII would be


sure to come before long, and would


be disappointed If she should leave;
besides hadn't she eight of the very


best brothers in the world? She


would stay while longer, and she


would help cook and mend for US,


so as not to burden US too much
She had few new books which she
had bought for viii, and she would
read to us evenings. We came up
an hour earlier than usual, and our
table was always ready for us, and
it had many an extra touch that
none but woman would think of.


We were a silent set of men during
the day, but each did his best when
he got home. Stories were told,
songs were sung, and with her
reading we were all entranced. She
always called us by the names which
were first given her, and ever so
many times she went through the
Introduction, acting out all the
parts. 1t seemed fuunier to her
than to us. She talked to South
Carolina about the beauties of the
Southern sky, and of the flowers
and trees, which eclipsed anything ]
at the North. To Nutmeg she prais-
ed New England, and she had some
favorite topic to discuss with each
one Of us.


OF course we were all in love with
her but none dared to boast of hav-
ing received any sign of preference
from the lady. We had all propos-
ed to her once, and some of us half
a dozen times. She just made light
of it; said we were crazy and didn't
know what we were about but she
came to know after while we did.
There was open war. We all acted
like madmen, except the Judge, he
would not answer any of our taunts,
but was most pleasant to all. Yet
he grow to look real care-worn and
every time he met any of us alone he
would say he hoped Will would
come soon He talked to us about
keeping the-peace, and appealed to
our honor as men and our love for an
old comrade. Kate herself had quite
a little talk with each one. don't |
know how. she manged it, but she |
left the impression upon us all that |
we were most likely to be accepted |
if we behaved ourselves and kept |
quiet but twas no go-we could |
not.


One evening she refused to sit
down with us 10 the table, and so,
little was eaten. She walked up
and down the room, and then said |
emphatically, Il am going off, |
don't know where; but must go |
away this is getting unbearable. l
cannot meet one of you, but am |
importuned to marry you. Don't |
you know gentlemen, cannot mar |
ry you all, and if 1 choose to show !
one bit of pleasure in the society of |
any one, the rest are all angry. Now |
l ask you what shall l do? Will
doesn't come, and L am alone. L
wish you would drop all this non
sense and behave yourselves. Why !
won't you 2"


She looked from one to another,
and finally asked Jack, "Come, you |
own TO being wicked and you have /
been an awful tease; won't you re- |
form, and then all the rest will ?o


Aunt Betty said eff you care for
any of us, make it known, and then |
the rest shall behave, or-there will !
be row." 4


"That's just it-yOu will fight any /
way; you are getting too savage. In /
being lovers / am afraid you have /
forgotten to be gentlemen"


Wasn't that stinger for us? But
we did not feel it then as we have /
since. We all promised not to say
a word after her decision was made |
known to us. Each one may have /
been elated thinking he was likely |
to be chosen.


She sat down and put her face on !
her arm, but it was only for a mo-
ment. Then she said, 81 shall ask I
for two days to think of it. Next |
Sunday there will be a wedding !
here, and a supper afterward, which |
will help to prepare. If any one |
speaks to me on the subject between |
this time and that, his doom is seal
ed"


There was an oldish man over at I
the next cabin, who seemed, to have |
a fatherly care over Kate. And ] 4
might as well say here, that all OF 4
the thirty who were unmarried, had 4
offered themselves 70 her and had |
been refused.


Well, Kate and old man Howe had /
a long talk together, and then he /
went of and did not get back until |
Sunday, and he brought a minister
with him. There was some kind of /
service in the afternoon out under 1
the trees, but none of us paid much 1
attention. Our eyes were all for /
Kate, and she was crying softly all 4
the time. When it was over, she |
took the preachers arm and talked (
with him some time. Then she went !
into our cabin and we followed. /
Mean, wasn't it? But we did not /
see it in that light then.


The man took a Bible from his 4
pocket, and said: 'sThis lady in /
forms me that you have promised to /
abide quietly by her decision, and |
dwell IN peace and harmony togeth- 1
er. For her sake you-will not OBJ
ject to come here one by one, and /
take an oath which | shall dictate. |
1t is that you reiterate youripromise,
with your hand on this sacred |
book"


We advanced and received it as
solemnly as though it was TO be the /
last of our lives. Then htstold us that |
Miss Browning was very much at |
tached' to us but of course could not /
marry but one, and we must bear |
our disappointment like men.


She went and stood beside him. l |
thought She would faint but she did 4
not We ali arose when the minis
ter said s'Let us pray" When he \
was part through. the Judge sat I
down, completely overcome by his /
feelings Tam free to say that this |
was the longest prayer i ever heard. |


If the minister had been suspend |
ed between heaven and the other |
place. as we were, he would have |
made fewer words / am sure.