The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-09-13

1
the child, II hope mining will be better
every way before you come into It and
that the Miss Wrens will be as thick q
snow.flakes in your time."S
| "You never will forget Miss Wren, will
you, Carl ?" asked Minnie.
I'D 90 into mine full to the brim
with fire damp for her" said Carl, brush.
ing the baby's dress susp:ciously near to
his brimming eyes.
Let it be told briefly that Miss Wren
represented to the untaught mining lad
the utmost that mis- heart had conceived of
goodness, beauty and self-sacrifice. She
had saved him from death by her per-
sonal ministrati0ns in the cabin, through
days and nights of contagious illness.
She had beer the good angel of the cab
ins near the colliery for the past three
years.
At the instant Mrs. Jansen and Minnie
were leaving the room the cabin-door
opened and John himself appeared.
"Where did you get anything to eat! ~
he asked, shifting the air laden with the
pleasant odor Of something cooking for
supper.
"John, Miss Wren has been here, /" said
his wife. She sent US bread and meat
and potatoes for tonight, and that lovely
geranium for as long Is it will stay
with ~. Don't you remember, John, the
| first summer, when the cabin was new,
we had flowers all the time, out of doors
and INF"
"Don't l remember" growled John,
that you asked me to build the house
close upto the shaft, SO you could run and
look down into it, and listen for my voice
a dozen times in the day, and now you
never go near it."
"Oh, Johnr' exclaimed the little wo-
man, and she could say NO more. How
could she, when she remembered herself
as she stood that day, Annette Mayer, and
with John Jansen, her future husband,
selected the cabin site?
Mother" whispered Johns Minnie,
"don't come out now. Don't let father
see you come"
"Minnie" called John.
Yes, sirI' answered Minnie.
did you come right home from school
II didn't hurry any after met Miss
Wren, )" replied Minnie.
Did you see me anywhere on the way
homer" he questioned.
mo, father" replied Minnie, with a
little quaver in her voice. "Why?"
Nothing, child. Come here and kiss
me-"
Minnie clasped her arms about her
fathers neck, chung to him and kissed
him twice, then. fearing he would suspect
something, she said: "You love me better
when there's supper in the house, dom
you, now?'
"I'll fetch home the supper tomorrow
myself" said John Jansen.
Father" said Minnie, "don't be cross
to me any more if I ask you somethingr
"Ask on, Minnie"
Wont you leave the strikers, and have
nothing TO do with them?'
Cant do it. Minnie"
"Then," said the girl, I'm going to
have nothing to do with you. I'll 60 and
help mother" And Minnie suddenly left
the room, to find her mother in waiting to
hear what she had to tell.
"Come out somewhere, mother" said
Minnie, "and be quick. It's just awfull'
"Wait till fix the fire and put on more
coal"
"Get father off the minute supper's
DONE" said Minnie, the instant she had
space to speak aloud in. "There's some
thing dreadful to be done. I caught it as
came from school; the train tonight
the midnight train-is to be thrown off the
track. Fathers in it. We must save it!''
"Minnie Jansen!" cried the poor little
wife and mother.
tits true, mother, and zoe must save it
you and IT,
e We might as well turn the mine in
side out"
Mother, Miss Florence Wren will be
on the trainv'
"Oh!
"And be killed."
Another groan.
Wen save her, motherl''
And betray your own father, Minnie p
And save father, mother, from all the
wickedness he means to do, if you'll only
help me to DO it. thought it all over on
my way home from school. They mean
to 60 down by the bend in the river, and,
after the up-train is gone, tear up the
rails just there where the whole train will
60 down the bank. l heard it, and
know father was there, because it was his
voice. Oh, If father would give up 60
ing with the strikers and everything!''
Minnie" said Mrs. Jansen, "what
can you dor'
"Do! Make believe I'm in bed, and
all the time I'll be going up the track a.
fast as l can 60. and stop the train"
How will you go alone, . little girl,
in the night: No one will see YOU"
81 won't 60 little girl. I'll go . boy.
with Carl's clothes on. Mine will be lying
on the chair, just IS they are every night,
and you must wake me up and put me in
bed. and father will be sure to look in the
room, to see if I'm there, before he CUES
out Then I'll take . mine-lantern, and
save father from wickedness, and save the
train and Miss Florence, too"
"Annette! Annette!' called John, from
the cabin door.
Coming, john" was the answer, As
the trembling woman picked up the hod
she had been filing with coal to carry 1t
in.
Minnie grasped it from her, and sturdi-
~ bore it to the house.
After supper, which John Jansen ate
with his eyes on his plate, scarcely lifting
them to glance at wife or children, he
said: I'm going out tonight to meet
ing. II I'm late home, don't fret about
me. Boys" to Carl and Jansen, "be sure
you are In by nine o'clock" h4.
Minnie longed to jump up, asshe would
have done on any other night, to 60 around
the table, to throw her arms around the
miners neck, to beg him stay at home,
but she only said: /" Father, Miss Florence
Wren will be here tomorrow. She's COM
ing tonight in the midnight train. Miss
Wren told me when I met her, and she
walked back . little way with me.''
Minnie did mot see the expression of her
not the courage to look into il
The boys quickly followed his Example,
e~d az neR,sn zee sNafx - M- r..cn.