The Evansville journal., 1870-09-12

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trouble, an she'd take care on her.
So after awhile they let her do as she'd
a mind to, an she brought her, She
took herin her own wagon, an wait
ed on her ike she'd been child.
The women wasn't a mite alike.
Hannah'd bin raised in the West, an
she was tall an strong, an her black
eyes flashed when she was mad, l kin
tell We; but the other woman was a
little white thing, an her eyes was
soft an tender-just like young Iab-
bits under the sage. She looked as
eff a wind would blow her over; an
Hannah took to her right away.
Hannah tried e cheer her up, an was
alters bright an cheerful: an they'd
talk about Californy till you'd think
there wasn't no other place In the
world. Hannah had been there an
t'other woman hadn't, an one was
alters asking questions of tOther;
though / noticed they never said
nothin' bout the folks she was goin
to see, only bout the country an what
was doin' there.
well, one night-jest such a night
as this-the women had got inter their
wagon, an We was all asleep, 'cept
Ben. Jones aud me. who was keepin'
watch. | set right by the Woman's
wagon, SOS that ef anything happened
l could take keer o. them first; an
pretty soon / seen Ben dozen on
t other side of the FIRE, an everything
was still. Before long l heard the
women's voices in the wagon, an 1
moved off closter to the FIRE, cause L
didn't 'spose they wanted me to near
what they was sayin': but they talked
Ioud anS couldn't help hearin'.
ANYWAY. I sez to myself, it's only old
Bill. an he never tells no tales. 1t
was t'other woman who was talkin
an her voice was clear an soft like a
bell heard onst when | was a boy;
an she was excited, an spoke so loud
an clear like l couldn't help hearin'.
"'Oh, Hannah, was so happy /
she said; was only little home, but
it was pretty an neat, an was so
proud of IL, and | loved my husband
more nor | can tell. He was steady
an good in those days, an he went to
work every mornin an 1 did my part
at home. The house was alters clean,
an his supper ready when he came
home at night an eff was tired, so
was he an never made no complaints;
for thought there wasn't happier
home 10 the world. But after baby
came | was ailin,' an worn out with
havin' my rest broke, an i forgot to
have a smile for him when he came
home, an / was cross an' fretful. So
pretty soon be took to goin' out even
ings when he'd had his supper, cause
he couldn't have no peace at home;
and then he got unsteady, an didn't
go to his work regular. Things went
on from bad 10 Worse-an'-theu he
went away
Here she broke down cryin'; but
after awhile Hannah says, In a queer
tone, jest as eff it had been pinched out
o. her.
But where did your-where did
your Jim 60 TOP
He went to CaIiforny, she ses, be-
tween her sobs, an I've never seen
him sence.'
They was quiet for while, an l |
thought they had gone to sleep; but |
the woman spoke agin:
When he was gone, the babv took |
sick; she was sick q long while. an
then she died. | hadn't nothin' to |
live for, an thought 1 should die
too. But pined for Jim; | thought |
eff | could see him onst more [ could |
die happy. After along while l got |
better, an then sold every |
thing / had an started to find |
he was in Californy somewhere, an I'll |
ind him eft L live. never was no good |
to him. the poor thing went on, an
may be he's forgot me by this time;
but would be good wife t him now,
an try to make him happy.
What did you say his name was?
Jim what2 asked Hannah.
Jim Myers
my Godl' was all heard.
jumped. I'd heerd sich a moan onst
in an IDjun fight, when man drop
ped beside me. was all of tremble.
an then | heard t'other woman crying
out:
"'Do you know him, Hannah? Oh,
have you seen him2 Tell me, Han
nah, have you seen my Jim?'
An then Hannah said: I've |
heard a wounded deer moan, but moth
in like that, Yes. oh, yes.'
"Then the woman begged her to tell |
where an eff he was alive an Hannah |
said she'd seen him an he was well.
"'Can you tell me where he is2 Oh,
Hannah, can you take me to my Jim?'
An Hannah comforted her, an said |
she could; and then the poor thing
went to sleep In Hannah's arms.
= couldn't stand it. | couldn't |
set still; for | knew suthin' what that |
poor girl was sufferin' while t'other
one was sleepin' in her arms. Itfash
ed on me all at onst, an l knew they |
was both goin' to the same man. |
knew t'other one had the right ont;
but l felt for Hannah, an'-well, it |
isn't much to say, I'd have died for
her.
by an by 1 heard Hannah come out
of the wagon, an | lay down. that she
mightn't see me. But she lay down
by the wagon an sobbed, an couldn't |
stand it. L went up an touched her.
Hannah, said. Don't she cried;
don't speak to me-let me die But |
after sV hile she set up, an l told her
l knew, an would help her ef / could. |
But she said No. that she should
send Annie Myers to her husband, an
knew that people couldn't alters die
when they wanted to, an | thought
may be 'twould ease her bit to tell
old Bill.
After while she told me how it
was, an that Jim had married her.
He'd had streak o. ba1luck, an she'd
come from Californy last year in rich
train, cookin' an waitin' on some la
dies, an she'd saved the money, an
got it all for Jim. They was goin' on
a ranch when she got back with the
money. She'd worked for him a good
spell now, an they want go;u' to &c
parted no more. An sittin' there in
the freight, see her face an how
she loved him, an what faithful crit.