The Red Cloud chief., 1879-09-11

open, the first bit Of news Meg heard
was that Matt Erickson had gone 10
America.
II struck her like = blow. Nov, in
deed, he had dropped out II her life as
utterly a., months since. she had drop
ped out Of his. For she, too, had had
time TO repent. Almos; before the blue
hills Of Scotland had dawned upon her
sight she had repented In dust and ashes
How foolish she had been, ike a child
who throws away its bread and In q pc,
and goes 10 bed hungry. Why h.d she
not worn the blue ribbon TO please her
lover, even IL she did not like it? As
for Jenny-sut what nonsense was that,
She would have been ashamed Of Matt
il be had not been kind 20 her.
To be sure. be hsd been cross and
had thrown away her ribbon. But then
he was a man, and men were strong
and masterful and could not bear con-
tradiction, and she hsd angered him or
her foolish persistence.
All! II she could but undo Il all, and
have her tall, brave, handsome lover
back again!
Once in q while, as the years went on,
at rare intervals news Of him came back
10 Rysdyk. He Wa well; he had fair
wages, though gold wss o To be had
for the gathering in America any more
than in England be had been promot-
ed and had charge Of a gang Of e
At length there wss 2 long interval Of
silence. Then came floating rumors Of
i'll and then after awhile a letter in a
strange handwriting. n letter To his un-
Gle, who had died three weeks before it
came. There had been a bad accident
in the mines An explosion; and in the
effort to ave others, Matthew Erickson
had himself received dangerous injuries.
No one thought he could live. But
now, sitter months, he was slowly re.
covering, if recovery il could be called.
For he was blind. The poisonous vapors
had destroyed his sight.
Ii was five years since he went swav
five years that had brought many
changes 10 Meg. IL was a sobered,
thoughtful woman, not a hot-tempered
girl, who knelt by the Widow Neale's
side a week after the letter rame, aid
said
cit was | who drove him away-Matt
Erickson" she said. "We had a little
quarrel, Just a few idle words about a
ribbon, and told hin in my silly anger
| would have no more ~ say 10 him
while the stars sbone. And now they
do not shine for him, for he is blind
blind. o, mother, | ear not live, ] can
not bear it."
"ies, you will live, child" the wild
ow answered quickly. ave can bear
any thing, we women. Your father
was brought in To me dead-killed i'm
these mines when you were scarce three
years old, my Meg, aud | am alive yet
"But this IL worse than DEATH" she
cried pa~ssionately. "Mother, DO you
hear? He who was my pllghted hus-
band is blind, in a far, strange country.
| must 90 and bring him home, home TO
Rysdyk."
She had risen from her mothers arms
and stood before her in the moonlight,
pale, resOlute, with her hands clasped
rigidly. "Giye me my dOwry, mother,
and let me CO." she said. Do not de.
ny ME this thing. | am well and strong,
and, if do say it, l am quick-witted; 1
can make my way. l shall come back
safely. Let me go, mother"
Their talk lasted far into the night.
But with it we have no more to do, nor
the details by which a little money was
made to go a great way. For, after
many tears, the widow consented that
Meg should take her dowry and spend
it rs she chose Ii they had been more
worldly-wise they would have known
how to accomplish their purpose through
the agency Of others. As it was, they
saw 10 other way than for Meg To do
herself the thing she wanted done.
Oh, that weary, weary journey! WHY
was the world so wide, the way so long?
Meg kept up Il brave heart until the
boisterous ocean was crossed, and she
had made her way as far rs Buffalo,
where she had been told to take the
steamer for Marquette. II seemed To
her that she had Travelled the width of
the whole wide earth salready, since her
foot first fell upon the soil of the strange
new world.
Where vas she going? Would she
ever find Matt? Sailing on and on
penetrating natures secret places,
where the foot of man had never trod-
den. So it seemed to her. Could human
kind live in these vast, wild wilder
nesses?
1t was like a new birth when, after
many days, the steamer entered the
beautiful bay of Marquette, and the
fair young city rose before her astOnish-
ed eyes, its white cliffs cleaning in the
sun, its green shores sweeping down.
ward 10 the waters edge. She was near
her goal at last.
For Ishpeming was about fifteen miles
away up the railroad, and thither she
went by the first train. How rough
and wild it all wasi And how the
charred and blackened pine trees tower
ed a!oft like grim giants, and pointed
their CHASTITY fingers at her as she swept
through their solitude!
"Can you tell me where to tind a man
called Matthew EricksonP" she asked
of the depot MASTER, trembling from
head TO foot.
"Erickson? EricksonP Blown up
in the mines a year or so ago, wasn't
he? He stays ~ Sam Ayres'S, the En-
g~lishman's, l believe. Just yer 20 round
that corner, ma'am, then turn to the
right and go up the hill-or stay! Let
me lock up and III 90 with you. Ever
been in ishpeming befcrcP No? l
thought you looked like a stranger in
these parts"
He left her at Sam Ayres's gate, hav-
ing opened it gallantly wnen he saw that
her cold fingers were unfit TO do her
bidding. A kindly faced woman came
to the door and babe her welcome.
Meg's story was soon told.
sand you have come all this long
way to take Erickson home sgain?"
her eyes filling. "God bless you, dear,
for I'm sure He sent you. We've done
the best we could for him, but You are
his sister,"
"No, I'm afriend-a neighbor. There
vas no n else" she said, simply.
whats your name? I'll tell him."
"No matter about my name; say 4
friend from the old country"
The woman came back presently.
"Be careful" she said, shes weak
vet. But I want 70 tell you something,
i,c< - Baa, rn,r hoort -. Co. h. Lob.