The Osceola times., 1881-03-12

In vain we tried To chat OF pieasant
things, of other scenes. The solitude
would not be disturbed; and somehow
the smoke from our pipes, instead OF
floating upward, was waited back into
our faces, and confused our sight.
When we returned to the cabin, finally,
we were surprised, thong not dspleased,
to find that Aaron was going TO occupy
our sleeping-room. They had kindled a
blaze for him in the big fireplace, and
made him a generous couch of blankets,
clean and white with astonishing sheets
and pillow.slips, that were full of deep
creases, and must have been along while
folded. The bed looked more like home
than anything we had seen for months,
albeit, there was no bedstead. lie evil
IDENTIFY felt out of place and embarrassed
in it. He would have rested better we
fancied, had they given him less of soft
ness and daintiness, and brought HIM
frontiersman saddle, with sheepskin top
for pillow; droll hint of the kind
came over his face, and gave it down.
cast expression. We aimed TO avoid
conversation with him, knowing how
fatigued, unstrung, and in need OF sleep
he was; but he talked in spite Of us, and
regardless whether we responded or not.
Indeed, he seemed morbidly resolute to
tell us of himself and his ailairs-not as
one reaching out for pity, but rather as
one offering an explanation. We could
not but listen.
81 was fool" he said frankly, "but |
mean, right, an what man means ort
o be sot down for him. 1t wasn't my
fault at ] didn't git along down ther
among the greasers. Luck was agin' me
from the very jump. Sometimes axed
myself if may be it wasn't a Judgment
onto me; an may be it was-may be it
was. was crazy to get rich, you under
stand"
And he paused to indulge a mockin
smile.
"But meant all the time to 60 back" +"
he continued, "only | wanted to get
ahead first. 1t would "a groun' me in
an inch o my life to "a had 'em nag
gin me all over Boone's Lick about com
in home dead broke after all my fine
talk about gittin' rich. So jist hel' on,
an KEEP a sayin to myself, ole man,
play your han cut, trumps or no trumps.
Did think much about 'Ginda? Well !
rather calkilate my head was full of her.
That was the pizenest part of it, He
hesitated moment reflectively, and
then, "she don't know how much
hankered for her. he said under his
| breath.
am never git done despisin' myself,
though" he resumed, "for not sendin'
| letters to her. But | wasn't doin' a
| bit o good, an thought what was the
use o worrin' her? I'd orter "a sent her
the letters anyhow; it would "a been
money in my pocket. | was reckonin'
| might start back any day Almost An
| did 90 back jest as soon's ever &C I
| heeled. 1t was wood contract, out Ito
fort, at sot me up; it fetched me round
thousan' dollars. | didn't stop to send
no letter nor nothin' to 'Cinda then.
Jest nat'rally got up and got. A company
| o. cavalry was goin' acrost to Fort Smith
on tother trail, you understand-an' !
went with 'em, an saved week by it.
An when | struck Boone's Lick, whar'
was 'Cinda? Sot out for Kansas five
year ago that harvest, they told me-
'lowin' to come back afore cold weather
an she'd never been heern tell Of
sence"
He went on to relate, with moving art
lessness, how he searched for her, all
over the settled portions of Kansas and
through the border counties of Missouri
making inquiry at every house he passed
of every person he met, without once
reachin the iaintest clue to her where
abouts.
81 was clean beat" he declared, 81
couldn't make it out. 1t was like s if
was lost on the prairie, of dark night
in the snow. She must be dead they
said"
This last sentence was uttered in 8
solemn, tremulous tone, as it, after all
he still half believed she was in hel
grave.
1t did not take him long to tell tn,
rest; how he returned to New Mexico
"out O. conceit with everything" as HI
phrased it-and married a second wife
and lost most of his money in sheep
and had the baby born to him, anC
tried farming bit, and herded cattl'
"along with the greasers," and fell into ;
lingering illness, and at last resolved t.
gather his few remaining effects togethe
and go back to Missouri again.
"One or tother of 'em will go on will
me in the mornin,'" he said, in al
absent and weary way, and then wa
silent.
We remained sitting by his bedside
fully an hour; we feared he might awak
and feel hurt at not finding some one t
talk to. But he slept on so quiet an,
restfully that it seemed useless TO wal
any longer, and we retired. Our bunl
was but across the room from his, an,
we could easily hear if he called W
said to ourselves, and we would be ul
very early. 1t was then ten O'Clock
The fire had dwindeled to handful O
waning GOALS We tucked our blanket
closely about us, and dreamed of on
homes.
All at once-it might have been
minute afterward, for all we knew; il
reality it was almost daylight-we wer
aroused by shufiling feet and an intens
|, whispering. We leaned out of bed wit
! revolvers drawn and cooked. A singl
! glance revealed the situation. Their
were the two women bending owe
! Aaron with bottle and spoons, and
! cup of water, and camphorized hand
kerchief; and he was moaning and toss
ing with agony. He had grown desper
ately worse during the night, and hi
complaining had not disturbed us. Blu
Aunt 'Cinda had heard him in the mex
room: perhaps she was awake and listen
ing. She looked up, white and appeal
ing, before we could speak; we under
stood only too well what she though
} Adeline chafed the poor fellows chi
; hand vigorously, and did not in the leas
heed us.
After time, with such scant relief a
we could give him, he became quiet lex
cept for his heavy and labored breath
ing and we watched him keenly, hoT
} ing he would sleep again. But shortl