Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-02-05
SAN OpDYKE's LAST SACRIFICE.
a story Of the western vvilds.

=
lands and money enough to call myself q
rich man, before asked the woman loved
TO DO roy wife, bat | can't do IL. Will you
have me now, Nancy, aud help me eight the
SIGHT? III do my best to make it light for
you, my darling"
I'd been waiting for him to say some
thing OF the sort for many q day nov
doubling IL, and hating and shaming myself
for liking him so we'll. vas glad, so glad,
oh, so glad l dont mind any ono know !
ing it, either.
10, him draw me close to him, as he
tried, and said:
"Tom, my heGrt IL strong for the hight,
I'm sure, and . woman can help man in
many . way
Aud | think that II he had been as poor
a. the poorest lAborer on the road that we
could Just see from the pine groves, that
should have spoken the same, for il was
Tom wanted for my own aud not any
thing he could give me Of the worlds gold /
or gear. So, two weeks after the scene in |
the pine grove, under the sunset tinted shy, |
we we're married, aud | vent with him to
his home in the far west, the happies. bride
in Christsndom.
We hal a log cabin and little farm, one
COW and host Of chickens, and had some
wedding gifts that we're worth = good deal
IA watch and chain, twelve silver spoons,
and bright silver teapot. And | had
house linen anG bedding for year or two,
aud felt rich myself, whatever other folks
thought Of me And happy life We led
finding the little company we had in the
settlement good enough for Us, since we
vers so much for each other, as married
people always should be, though 10 be sure,
90 many years ago, settlers in the far West
found few play days, and the winters we're
hard aud the roads bad; and somssimes,
when sat ia ny log cabin and heard the
rising wind rattle the boughs overhead,
thought Of the snug Yankee village where
was born, and Of the pleasant evenings
when neighbors dropped in, and we had
such cheerful times together. But then, at
ter minute or two, I'd look at Tom my
Tom-snd draw my chair close to his and
put my head down on his shoulder, aud bis
arm would steal about me, and we would
both forget the stormy weather aud the
lonely prairie.
Aud 30 We went for months, and weeks,
and years, until two little faces, so like
Toms shOue 10 the winter 6relighI, and he
had fallen into the habit Of calling me
mother" Just as they did.
Well, don't know how it was. I.was
not very strong and ! had great deal to do,
and no help generally, and never could lie
down, and be cuddled and petted rs some
women can. Aud think my health had =
great deal 10 do with IT, but began TO find
myself speaking short and snGpping al
Tom, and slapping the poor babies, and
kicking the great dog. Aud I'd say to
myself many time. as this you, Susan
Lee, that used 10 be so swee, tempered that
no one ever saw you angry ? AN ashamed
of yOu.
But next day I'd DO the same thing over
again. All the oomfor. | had was my tea
pot kept that on the stove night aud
day, and drank j, between meals, as well as
With sll three. Aud little noise would
make me jump, aud wasn't myself a. oil,
somehow. II had been, I'd never have
spoken TO Tom a. did tia! day when he
brough, Sam Opdyke home.
NANCY said he, 'here's Sam, poor Eel.
low more his own enemy than anybody
else's. But he was good friend TO ms
when we were together in California, and
fell sick with the fever, and hadn't penny
70 bless myself with, nor strength TO ge
myself cup Of walsr. I'll never forget how
he uursed me. And think we can give
him bed 10 the lott aud q seat St the tAbl'
and chance 20 try again, without hurting
ourselves
II Was hard trial. own that even now
for there was nobody de,ssted as die
Sam Opdke. To give him money woulc
have been nothing bat to make him one o
US was q thing ! couldu's endure.
You've chosen fine company Tom,
must say | cred 'if that's the kind o
man you like, wonder at myself for likins
you
"susy r. he said, "Susy, you'll be sorrJ
for speaking 80. I've had strength of minC
enough to keep from drinking myself INFO ,
wreck, but he was rs good man ~ Z
start with. Perhaps IT you had Tilted me a
Kate Reese did poor sam, / might hav,
been as bad as he
"You wouldn't have had q cross wife Il
scold, said /, aud put a plate on for San
Opdyke when | sat the dinner table.
SO there he was With US, sleeping o
night in the loIt--he had q tidy bed ther,
though-end sleeping by day on the gras
plat, and always smelling OF bad whisky
how he got II Heaven knows and talking
OF getting work, and never trying for it
Indeed Who would have had him to vori
for thsm2 He'd been handsome mai
once, but he was red aad bloated now, sn'
shabby object 10 see prowling about al
DAY He'd do anything; drag the bab,
wagon, OF hang up the clothes TO dry o,
wash day, aud he made curious little toy
for the children, aud little reels aud woodel
knitting needles for me. But | was YER
cross with him-snnb bed and huifed him
aud would have no talk with him. w,
women are bard 70 the fallen very, very
hard. And 80 said 10 Tom:
"l'lI bear IL no more Thsi tipsy loafer
must leave mY decent house Tell him %
tonight Tom"
III will not, Susan" he answered %,
cannot lie did not turn ms from his tent
when brought coutagion into it. lie wa
my brother, then, and I'll DO ais brothe
now. God helping me-"
"BuI I'll not claim kin with such
brute / said. Think Of your children
Ton, A nice example be is
"He never utters an improper word il
their presence or IN yours, said Tom. "Hs'
humble and broken, God knows aud lonl
before the babies understand what drinI
eau do he'll be under the sod. Have pa
tieuce with poor sam, Susy."
"Just so much, Tom" said l.. "If yor
tell him to 70 tonight, I'll stay il not, ~
20. Choose between your wife and you
friend. That's what | mean, Tom Lee"
Then marched away from him, for L,
had the talk in the fields, aud sat dow
add drank a great slop bowl Of tea, su'
and thought myself an injured angel
"Have you spoken TO Sam?' | asked
that night
No. he said, "and never will, Will
psor Sam harms no ONE
"You remember what said?' asked
~ try to forget any foolish speeches yo
may make, said my husband.
And ground my teeth together, was s.
angry.
The mex. morning arose in boilinl
rage. ] nsver meant to leave my husband
but meant TO have my own way. kne'
he needed me and musI have me back, San
or no Sam 40 just wrote little note
telling him that he had che.an betvean M