The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1873-12-04
about your breakfast this morning,

about your breakfast this morning,
Nancy"
"Oh,l allowed most likely you'd
want 10 get off soon!" she answer
ed.
"ies, Jones wants ms there
ag'in' sun-up. It's only a fiily log
raft: reckon We can get it down 10
Leavenw"rih ag'in' the night train
starts, and I'll get light on, and
he hack to Atchison afore day.
Don't catch me foolin' away an
other day round that old fort"
"Oh, Johni I'm SO pr"ud"-
she paused abruptly, for his eyes
dropped with a look Of conscious
shame. What mood was he IN!
Would il do TO speak thcn2 lie
had showed lack from the table,
and there was a serious, far away
look in his cyes, Int nothing sul-
len or forLid6,ng. She went
round, and dropped on her kaees
besii,s him, slipped her arms
about his neck, saying: h,John
Iwish you'I promise me yon'd
never drink no moro whisky!
"Thai's niost too hard OH a fell
low; but Ill promise not to-not
drink too much ag'in," he answer.
ed.
"Dnt I am arearcd that wouldn't
10 no good"
"You talk like you thought ]
hadn't sense enough to stop when
I've got enough ii | try" he ex-
claimed.
"Oh, John, don't talk 50! You
know YOU Promised inc that nigh
onto a year ago, bu; you think
you'll just take one dram, and
ihen Just o. G moro, AMI aforc
you know, it's too much. If you'd
only promise now that you'd
nevc, iastc rary drop ag''n."
S i'll he kept his eyes steadily
turned away from hers.
"Don't you mind now," she
went Oh, chow your mother said
one time. Il rcckoncd, Nancy, you
count John a mighty rough CHAP,
but he's all right at the core and
don't YOU mind how she used 20
pray for you in them old times?
Don't ycu n,ind the evenin' we,
heard her praying down Ivy the
old spiing9 Ii she's watching you
among the stars, how proud she'd
be to hear you promise! And
john" she continued, dronpirg
her voice 10 q whisper; Il pray,
too, aomeiimes. haven't never
told you, but I've been feeling
right serious here OF lac I've ta-
ken 10 rcadin' my Biole, and I've
jnst made up my mind 10 I've bet.
tef'n ] used to; and pray for you
too, and it seems like God hears
me-" And s.,c laid lter Head on
his shoulder to hide her tears.
His arms slipped around her,
but he still kept hia eyes turned
stub5orn'y away from here. AT
last laying his face against hers,
he spoke earnestly.
"Yes, Nancy, 1 promise"
Presently, starting mp, hc ex-
ella med, "lf l haven't stayed till
plum day ght - WEE3
"Oh, John! como and kiss baby
afore yon go-hc looks 50 sweet
Samm.! Sammy! wake ", honey,
and kiss pappy."
"Bless bis sleepy eyes! Pap
py's little man! I'll bring him
some candy wlfen 1 come hume
ae'in."
hll day Nancy went about with
such light, CHEEKY heart Us she
had not carried in her bosom for
many a day. singing snatches OF
old hymns, and thinking happy,
hopeful thoughts of him who, all
those long hours, WAS working
his rudJer against the strong cur.
rent of the Missouri.
That evcTing the stars shone
brightly down upon her, when she
knelt by the-litllo window, and
asked God blessing on her hus-
banI and his good resolutions.
But she was awakened, a few
hours afierwarJ, Ivy a rush and
confusion, a shower of glass and
hail across her bed; and, catching
hor baby in her arms, sire spranS
up, frightened and bewiluered.
II was a terrible storm -one long
to be remem bered Ivy all who felt
lis terrors. The deafening roar
OF the wind aud hail almost
drowned tho loud thunder claps.
A binding faslr OF lightning
showed the trees almost bent to