Year: 1871




fork by running them into the ground
several times. Oh, there was lively times
you had better believe. Only the Judge
he never moved, but looked at her
She did not seem to notice him, b,st
watched our operations with great in.
terest


/ While she ate-and the quaintness OF
our surroundings did not effect her appe-
| tite--we all stood around and waited upon
her. guess there was never day while
she lived with us but what she laughed
about her first meal there.


We partitioned her off bed room in
one corner by putting up some blankets,
and all but the Judge and Aunt Betty
went into the same house to sleep.
You'd think that when we got there
we would be likely to talk over the won
| derful event, but we didn't; not word
was spoken concerning it. But reckon
there was considerable thinking.


By daylight we were all up and pacing
in front of the cabin. The teamster had
given care of the charge he had left with
us, and all the other boys were over to
learn how the things were There wasn't
stroke of work done in that camp that
day, and not much for week


Then the Judge called us together and
told us it wouldn't do; we were getting
demoralized; that 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 good deal
OF rivalry among US, and some cutting
things were said.


The Judge sent letters in all directions
to viii, but three weeks had passed
without a word of reply We had in turn
offered 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 said she would stay awhile
longer, and she would help cook and
mend for Us, 50 as not to burden us too
much. She had a few new books she had
brought to viii, and she would read to us
evenings. We came up an hour earlier
than usual, and our table was always
ready for lis, and it had many an extra
touch that none but a woman would
think of We were 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
were all entranccd. She always called us
by the names which were first given her.
and ever 50 many times she went through
the introduction. acting out all the parts
1t seemed funnier to her than it did 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 praised
e7vw EIIgtuTr5t, anu sire Hau some Tavoritc
topic to discuss with each of us


Of course we were all in love with her,
but none dared to boast of having re-
ceiyed any sign of preference from the la
dy. We had proposed to her once, and
some of us half 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 awhile that we
did.


There was oren war. We all acted
like madmen, except the Judge. He
would not answer any of our taunts, bnt
was most pleasant to all Yet he grew to
look real care-worn, and every time he
met any of us alone he would say he
wished VIII would come soon. He
talked 20 us about keeping the peace, and
appealed TO our honor as men, and our
love for our old comrade Kate, herself.
had quite little talk with each one. I
don't know how she managed it, but she
left the impression upon us all that we
were most likely to be accepted if we be-
haved ourselves and kept quiet; but twas
no go, we could not


She locked from one to another and
finally asked Jack, Come, Jack, YOU
to being wicked, and you have been
an awful tease; won't you reform-then
all the rest will?


Aunt Betty said If you care for any
of us, make it known, and then the rest
shall behave, or there will be row.


That's just it, you will fight anyway,
you are getting so savage. In being low
ers, ] am afraid you have forgotten to be
gentlemen


Wasn't that stinger for us? But we
didn't feel it then as we have since. We
all promised not to say 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 moment. Then
she said I shall ask for two davs to
think of it. Next Sunday there will be a
wedding here, and supper afterward,
which we win help to prepare. If any
one speaks to me on the subject between
this time and then, his doom is sealed


There was an oldish man over TO the
other cabin, who seemed to have father
ly care over Kate. And l might as well
say here that all of us who were unmar-
ried had offered ourselves to her and been
refused.


Well, Kate and old man Howe had a
long talk together, and then he went off
and did not get back till Sunday, and he
brought minister with him. There was
some KIND OF services in the afternoon,
out under the trees, but none of us paid
much attention. Our eyes were all for
Kate, and she was crying softly all the
time. When, it was over, she took the
preachers arm and talked with him fol-
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 the Bible from his pock-
Lot RI II :. IL. ss4sAt e.