The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-01-16

i
Il don't feel right; I'm all of a shake
and a culver. Why don't YOU do some
thing."
THE kettles boiling. father, and have
sent for a loaf and some tea. You'll feel
better when YOU have had your tea"
/ lie did feel better; wen enough 10 lay
aside what was LETT of the loaf for his
/ breakfast. aud scatter the lire. 80 that il
would not burn the rest of the wood.
That'll be- wood enough To get my
breakfast. You're SO eNtrayagant, Polly
Go 10 bed
He went TO bed. but Polly sat on in the
cold and darkness. thinking. long after
her father had drilled into the shadowy
land of dreams.
When she had made the room neat next
morning and prepared his breakfast, she
went 10 call her father. lie lay with one
hand under his cheek and the bed-clothes
huddled about his head staring with wide
open eyes at the ceiling. stone-dead. Cold
and dead. Ii was great shock TO Polly
He had never loved her. but she had given
up much for him. and all through the
dreary day. while the ncighbors came and
went IN the next room she sat by the little
table alone and still. II had been like
death almost this life since Dennis left,
but she was thankful now. that she had
not left her father. Poor father, to save a
part of his supper for another time, and
80 near death and heaven. TO be so poor !.
And Polly plying him. i'm his loneliness and
poverty almost come TO love him. although
he had been so cruel 10 her.
But he did not know" she said. sti-
fling the reproachful thought. mo man
could know"
so they buried her dead out of her sight.
an heiress. Houses and lands were hers,
but she was just as far from happiness as
when Dennis turned his stalwart back
upon her and said goodbye.
Men are curious animals" said the &C.
centric old lady aforementioned. land
there's no understanding them: but my
dear. If | were in your place. all the
money in the world wouldn't hire me TO
take particle of interest in one OF them.
That's my notion. But you're one of the
forgiving kind (which must confess I'm
Hot). and dare say you want TO be sery-
ing somebody. Do as you please. Hunt
up this high-tempered laborcr. and endow
him with your riches. You've had no adj
vantages, poor child. and know no better.
Lord 10 think ofthe years that have been
wasted. and that money piling up all the
time -
were put in the papers, with no result but
disappointment.
He is dead" said Polly. and sighed.
. He is married, said the old lady, land
you are my daughter
So the two established themselves to-
gether. and lived another year. Then the
old lady. looking at Polly's sad little face
one day. said she must travel. Her rheu-
matism troubled her, and her physician
recommended California. SO they started.
When we are mOmentarily expecting a
great sorrow or a great shock. it passes IT,
by. but at some future time. when we sit
thinking of the most trivial of common
place things. it comes. and taking Us un-
awares, il prostrates us.
so with Polly. Sitting in the cars, won
dering idly whether the wind is east or
west. the engine shrieks and stops. and
there is great commotion.
What j. the matter!" the old lady asks.
while Polly looks up idly, scarcely inter
ested.
A gentleman coming from the door an
swers-
= A hand-car on the track-a man killed,
think they say. One of the hands.
4 little paler. Polly looked out of the
window. They were carrying man past,
and
The old lady was Mortified. an instant
later. for Polly flew from her seat. and fol-
lowed the slow procession.
20. Dennis, Dennis -
Then a faint voice came from the strick-
en- form
= Put me down."
They laid him tenderly down on the
prairie grass. and Polly knelt by his side.
her white, slender fingers elasping his
grimy hand.
. I've longed so for you. Dennis. and
you-you have not forgotten
= Forgotteng Hardly. thought of YOU
more than of the saints in heaven. MAY
be forgiven where am going,"
You're not going to die now. Dennis
now when we can be so happy. God is
kinder than that.
"God is kind. with the best Kindness"
he said lowly and brokenly. I'm going
soon.'
Some one said something about .doc-
tors and breaking it to his wife,"
His wife
Then they said " It's his sister. lost for
many years. Come away and they left
them alone.
With the sound of spike and hammer
near them. as the workmen mended the
broken track. with the kindly sunshine
all about them. with the sound of the dear
old lady's sobs breaking i'm upon their
talk. these two said their last words.
I'D like you to have the boy. Polly ; |
Jenny will 90 home to her mother. and |
its not just the place for my boy. And |
he'll be comfort TO you perhaps-he's |
like me-"
but will-will she give him to me? | |
have plenty of money, Dennis"
- give him 10 Won 7" he answered. with |
a touch of his old vehemencc. and Polly's
heart was full of pity for the woman who |
had filled her place, borne all the sorrow
and pain. and been cheated of the only |
recompense-her husbands love.
If don't live to get home. tell this. |
Give her money-if she wants il. but save /
IL. l... IL d III. III