Elder Conklin | Page 7

exclaimed, suddenly remembering the
time. "But there!"--and again she threw her arms round his neck and
kissed him. "You've made me very happy. I've got to go right off, and
you've all the chores to do, so I mustn't keep you any longer."
She hurried to the road along which Jake would have to come with the
news of the fight. When she reached the top of the bluff whence the
road fell rapidly to the creek, no one was in sight. She sat down and

gave herself up to joyous anticipations.
"What would George say to her news? Where should they be
married?"--a myriad questions agitated her. But a glance down the
slope from time to time checked her pleasure. At last she saw her
brother running towards her. He had taken off his boots and stockings;
they were slung round his neck, and his bare feet pattered along in the
thick, white dust of the prairie track. His haste made his sister's heart
beat in gasps of fear. Down the hill she sped, and met him on the
bridge.
"Wall?" she asked quietly, but the colour had left her cheeks, and Jake
was not to be deceived so easily.
"Wall what?" he answered defiantly, trying to get breath. "I hain't said
nothin."
"Oh, you mean boy!" she cried indignantly. "I'll never help you again
when father wants to whip you--never! Tell me this minute what
happened. Is he hurt?"
"Is who hurt?" asked her brother, glorying in superiority of knowledge,
and the power to tease with impunity.
"Tell me right off," she said, taking him by the collar in her
exasperation, "or--"
"I'll tell you nothin' till you leave go of me," was the sullen reply. But
then the overmastering impulse ran away with him, and he broke out:
"Oh, Loo! I jest seed everythin'. 'Twar a high old fight! They wuz all
there, Seth Stevens, Richards, Monkey Bill--all of 'em, when
schoolmaster rode up. He was still--looked like he wanted to hear a
class recite. He hitched up Jack and come to 'em, liftin' his hat. Oh,
'twas O.K., you bet! Then they took off their clo's. Seth Stevens jerked
hisn loose on the ground, but schoolmaster stood by himself, and
folded hisn up like ma makes me fold mine at night. Then they comed
together and Seth Stevens he jest drew off and tried to land him one,

but schoolmaster sorter moved aside and took him on the nose, an' Seth
he sot down, with the blood runnin' all over him. An'--an'--that's all.
Every time Seth Stevens hauled off to hit, schoolmaster was thar first.
It war bully!--That's all. An' I seed everythin'. You kin bet your life on
that! An' then Richards and the rest come to him an' said as how Seth
Stevens was faintin', an' schoolmaster he ran to the crick an' brought
water and put over him. An' then I runned to tell you--schoolmaster's
strong, I guess, stronger nor pappa. I seed him put on his vest, an' Seth
Stevens he was settin' up, all blood and water on his face, streaky like;
he did look bad. But, Loo--say, Loo! Why didn't schoolmaster when he
got him down the first time, jest stomp on his face with his heels?--he
had his boots on--an' that's how Seth Stevens broke Tom Cooper's jaw
when they fit."
The girl was white, and trembling from head to foot as the boy ended
his narrative, and looked inquiringly into her face. She could not
answer. Indeed, she had hardly heard the question. The thought of what
might have happened to her lover appalled her, and terror and remorse
held her heart as in a vice. But oh!--and the hot tears came into her
eyes--she'd tell him when they met how sorry she was for it all, and
how bad she had been, and how she hated herself. She had acted foolish,
very; but she hadn't meant it She'd be more careful in future, much
more careful. How brave he was and kind! How like him it was to get
the water! Oh! if he'd only come.
All this while Jake looked at her curiously; at length he said, "Say, Loo,
s'pose he'd had his eye plugged out."
"Go away--do!" she exclaimed angrily. "I believe you boys jest love
fightin' like dogs."
Jake disappeared to tell and retell the tale to any one who cared to
listen.
Half an hour later Loo, who had climbed the bluff to command the
view, heard the sound of Jack's feet on the wooden bridge. A moment
or two more and the buggy drew up beside her; the schoolmaster bent
forward and spoke, without a trace of emotion in his voice:

"Won't you get in and let me drive you home, Miss Loo?" His victory