The Red Cloud chief., 1880-05-06

oaeSh tHc shoW vi. hs ~ wei aaa
nasty. / do wish, Solomon. that your
father would come in; it's early yet to
pillow. and 1t SHOWS like winter"
''It's too cold to work GU, to-day"
says the young man. decidedly, from
his big armchair by the fire.
Solomon, does your stor.ach feel
better?" suddenly asks the old lady.
Gould you eat a bit o. chicken il liked
il for you?"
Lack Of exercise and over-eating
cause this rather fat, healthy-looking
boy occasional fits Of dyspepsia Hay-
ing eaten the chicken, he leans musing-
ly against the window.
Wish l had the paper from the post
| Office"
Cant you step over and get it9"
asks his mother, kindly.
Don't wan to be on the track when
the Express is 50 near DUE" is the very
lame excuse he offers for not going. as
he lounges into n chair again. The
railroad ran across the corner OF the
Boyd Farm. between the house and the
village, just on the other side.
1t may be tina. John Boyd and his
wife made a mistake in allowing Solo
mon SO much leisure for books. and Jim
so much money for trading. However.
we leave that for those parents TO de-
eide whose boys have all turned out
precisely as they once planned. One
idea was uppermost ia their minds, and
that was, TO spare their children. if pos
sible, the priyations and hardships they
themselves had undergone. John Boyd
himself once had a ..turn for books
and a "turn" for trade, too. Yet books
were denied him; and many times had
he seer some duller man pocket the
big profits resulting from a specula-
ton, into which he had not ventured
from wan of capital.
Time passed. The father and mother
died, leaving the farm to Solomon, and
its equivalent in money TO Jim. who
proceedeth, forthwith, TO a Southern
city.
Solomon did not have the usual
an xieties Of courtship. He just married
Mandy. He needed some one TO keep
house for him, and Mandy could "cook
just like mothcr''-a qualification few
wives possess.
The neighbors often wondered how
Solomon Boyd, who never worked, and
who dragged around slower every year.
found money to pay his taxes and store
bills.
Sometimes Mandy wondered, too, and
fretted some over the leaky house and
broken well. Nevertheless, she trustee
all to Solomon's superior judgment; for
you remember that he said little and
was reckoned wise.
One evening, when their little Mamie
was six years old, Squire Skinner came
over. Mandy was in the kitchen, get
ting supper. Hearing loud, angry
words from the sitting-room, she hastily
entered to close the door to the bedroom
beyond, where Mamie lay sick. when
the words "mortgage.' "sell the
farm" with oaths from Skinner, seemed
TO freeze the blood in her veins, and she
stood riveted to the floor.
1--WE been put off as long as I'm
goin' to-" said the Squire. "Iworked
hard for that money. and now I'm goin'
to have il. And johnson and Burbank
wants their'n, too. Nice state of affairs
for a man that's had the chance you've
had-best farm in the State, and three
mortgages hangin' over it."
Cant make any money on a farm"
muttered Solomon.
Not loafin' round and lettin' things
90 to pieces, and borrowin' money from
everybody" rctorted Skinner. Yes,
and | wrote To Jim about that three
for" At this Solomon looked up with
a jerk. Intend havin' a grand final
settlement with you fellers," growled
Skinner, n he strobe away.
Mandy sunk down on the floor where
she stood, her head dropping lower I'M
til it rested On her knees, around which
her arms were tightly locked. She I'M
derstood it all now. They had been
living on other peoples money, and
now the farm must 90 to pay their
debts.
A choking cough from the bedroom
reused her. She arose, gave Mamie a
drink, then finished up the evening
work with such an aching heart. Solo
mon dozed a while owe an old diction-
airy, and finally shambled off up stairs
to bed, while Mandy remained with the
sick child.
Midnight came. and Mamie was
more restless and feverish. Two
three o'clock. Mandy could wait no
longer.
"Solomon, get up. Mamie is worse"
Cant you do something for her?"
asked he, turning heavily. making the
cord bedstead creak like an old door.
II have done all can. We must have
the Doctor"
"Is it daylight"
"No, nor won't be for two hours;
but it's starlight. Here. I'll leave the
lamp on the stairs. Now, do hurry, for
once" said Mandy, almost bitterly, as
she descended to the kitchen. where she
grabbed a shawl and ran to a near
neighbor.
"Yes, Mandy, I'll come as quick as
I cam" was Mrs. Burk's answer to her
tap on the window. She flew back
home, found the lamp on the stairs
where she had left it, and the house all
quiet.
Where's Solomon" asked Mrs.
Burk, soo after her arrival.
"Gone after the Doctor"
"And none too soon," said the elder
lady, looking critically at the sick child.
There, don't cry. Mandy-hOpef for the
best"
Then she busted herself with the
countless deeds the sick-room suggests
to the experienced nurse. Yet, after
all was done. they still waited long and
a~nxiously for Solomon and the doctor.
Morning came, and the lamp was
blown out. Mandy heard shufiling feet
in the kitchen. In an instant she was
there, and saw her husband, his hat
down over his eyes, standing before the
fire.
Where's the doctor?"
Hell be here directly" was the
evasive answer
directly! Why didn't you bring
him with you? Did you tell him the
child was dying?" asked Mandy,
wildly.
I'm 60 right away" said he; 'guess
it's daylight" And he shambled of
more rapidly than usual, while it
dawned on Mandy's mind that he was
Just starting. He had gone to sleep
again, and did n wake until morning.
One moment Mandy stood irresolute.