The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1873-11-06

best man in the world. He wanted to say
something pleasant to break the awkward
silence, but he did not know how to begin.
He had an uncomfortable feeling that he
ought to beg her pardon; but being a
man, of course he did not condescend to
that. At length he began, by saying:
"You was right peert about your break
fast this morning, Nancy"
"Oh, | allowed most likely you'd want
to get off soon!" she answered.
"Yes. Jones wants us there ag'in' SUM-
up. It's only f1fty-log raft; reckon we
can get it down to 1eavenworth i'm the
nighttrain starts, and I'll get right or, and
be back to Atchison af0re day. Don't
catch me foolin' away another day round
that old fort"
"Oh, John! I'm so proud"-she paused
abruptly, for his eyes dropped with look
of conscious shame. What mood was he
in? Would it do to speak then? He
had showed back from the table, and there
was serious, far-away look in his eyes,
but nothing sullen or forbidding. She
went around, and dropping on her knees
beside him, slipped her arms about his
neck, saying: ''Oh, John, l wish you'd
promise me you'd never drink no more
whisky"
"That's most too hard on a fellow; but
I'll promise not to--not drink too much
sg'in'," he answered.
"But am afeared that wouldn't do no
good"
"You talk like you thought I hadn't
sense enough to stop when Five gotenough,
if try" he exclaimed.
"Oh, John, don't talk so! You know
you promised me that nigh onto year
ago; but you think you'll just take one
dram, and then just one more, and afore
you know, it's. too much. If you'd only
promise now that yod'd never taste nary
drop ag'in."
Still he kept his eyes steadily turned
away from hers.
s'Don't You mind now," she went on,
chow your mother said one time, I reck-
on, Nancy, you count John mighty
rough chap, but he's all right at the core;'
and don't you mind how she used to pray
for you in them old times: Don't you
mind the evenin' we heard her prayin'
down by the old spring? If she's watch
ing you among the stars, how proud she'd
be to hear YOU PROMISE! And, john" she
continued. dropping her voice to a whis-
per, II pray. toJ, sometimes. / haven't
never told you, but I've been feeling right
serious here of late. I've taken to readih'
my Bible, and I've just made up my mind
to live better'n I used to; and pray for
you, too, and it seems like God hears
me-" And she laid her head on his
shoulder to hide her tears.
His arms slipped around her, but hestill
kept his eyes turned stubbornly away
from hers At last laying his face against
hers, he spoke earnestly, eyes, Nancy, I
promise"
Presently, starting up, he exclaimed,
"If haven't stayed till plum daylightw
ooh, John! come and kiss baby afore
YOU go-he looks so sweet. Sammy!
Sammy! wake up, honey, and kiss pap
py."
man! I'll bring him some candy when I
come home ag'in'."
All day Nancy went about with such
light, CHEEKY heart as she had not carried
in her bosom for many day; singing
snatches of old hymns, and thinking
happy, hopeful thoughts of him who,
all those long hours, was working his rud-
der against the strong current Of the Mis-
souri,.
That evening the stats shone brightly
down upon her, when she kneit by the
little window, and asked Gods bless
ings on her husband and his good reso-
lutions.
But she was awakened, few hours
afterward, by q rush and confusion, a
shower of glass and hail. across her bed:
and, catching her baby in her arms, she
sprang up, frightened and bewildered. 1t
was q terrible storm-one long to be
by all who felt its terrors
The deafening roar of the wind and hail
almost drowned the loud thunder-claps.
A binding flash of lightning showed
the trees almost bent to the ground,
and the house rocked to and fro like
a cradle. She suddenly felt a new.
strange feeling, as If she was flying, float
ing through the air. She thought that she
was dizzy, and caught hold Of the bed. A
terrible crash-she never knew how it
happened! Her baby's cries aroused her.
The wind and rain chilled her through.
She started to spring up, but something
held her down. A shock of pain darted
over her, and putting out her hand, she felt
a great beam lying heavily across her
limbs. 1t seemed as though it was crush
ing her Something struck her, then an
other, and another. How they stung!
Obi was her child unsheltered from that
pitiless storm? His screams grew louder
Oh! she must reach HIM! She could see
nothing through the thick darkness, hut
she knew that he was not far off. What
if he, too, was fastened, crippled? She
her arms every movement made
her pain more excruciating. She. strained
every nerve; she could almost reach him.
ooh! Sammy! Sammy ~ she called,
"come to nanny" The child ceased
crying. She heard him move. His warm
body touched her hands that were cropping
in the darkness. She caught him in her
arms and Rugged him to her breast. She
felt of his head, his arms, his feet; sound
and whole. How thankful she was for
that. But how those cruel hailstoncs
must have bruised him. She rested him
on the ground and crouched over him; she
could move just enough for that. The
frightened child ceased crying, and put
his arms about her neck. If she could
only find something to cover them from
the storm. She reached around, but could
touch only cold mud. -.-,----,- g. 90.
Oh! that terrible pain! She had almost
forgotten it in her anxiety for her child.
1t grew more and more intolerable. 1t
as though the hailstopes struck
through into her brain. What il they
killed her! Was she afraid to die? Wis
ions of eternity, Of the heaven of her
faith, rose before her. Should she dwell
with God and the angels forever? Was it
possible that there would never be an end
No, she was not afraid of death. But her
child, her husband, how could she leave
thems Not YETI No no. when life omen.