The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-04-20

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, though not displeased,
to learn that Aaron wac TO share our Sleep
ing-room. They had kindled blaze for
him in the big fireplace, and had made him
generous couch of blankets clean and
white with astonishing sheets and pillow
slips, that were full of deep creases, and
must have been long time folded. That
bed looked more like home than anything
we had seen for months, albeit there was no
bedstead. He evidently felt out of place
and embarrassed in it; he would have rested
better, we fancied. had they given him less of
softness and daintiness. and brought him his
frontiersman's saddle, with the sheep
skin top for a pillow; a droll hint of the
kind came over his face, and gave it down.
cast expression. We aimed to avoid con-
versation 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 him.
self and his stfairs-not as one reaching out
for pity, but rather rs one offering an expla-
nation. We could not but listen.
a was fool" he said, frankly, "but
meant right, an what man means ort'o be
sot down for him. It wasn't my fault 'at
didn't git along down Their among the greas-
ers. Luck was ag'in' me from the very
jump. Sometimes aXed myself if may be
it wasn't Judgment onto me; an may be
it was-may be it was. / was crazy TO git
- L. \
indulge mocking smile.
L" But l meant all the time TO go back" he
continued, " only 1 wanted to get ahead
first 1t would "a groun' me in an inch o
my life to "a had 'em s-naggin' me all over
Boone's Lick about comm home dead broke
after all my fine talk about gittin' rich. So
jist hep on, an kep's sayin to myself, 'Ole
man, play your han out, trumps or no
trumps' Did think much about 'Cindy !?
Well. ] rather cal1ilate my head was full
of her. That was the pizenest part of it"
He hesitsted a moment, refectively, and
then, She don't know how much l hank
cred for her." he said under his breath.
"I'll never git done despisin' myself
though" he resumed, for not sendin' let
tiers to her. But wasn't a-doin' bit O.
good, an / thought what was the use O.
worryin' her? I'd orter a sent the letters
anyhow; it would "a been money in my
pocket. l was a-reckonin' / mought start
back any day Almost. An did go back
Jest as soons ever [ got heeled. 1t was
wood contract, out to the fort, at sot me up;
it fetched me round thousan' dollars.
didn't stop to send no letter nor nothin' to
'Cindy then. l jes naturally got up and got
A company o. cavalry was goin' across to
Fort Smith-on t'other trail, you under
stand-an' l went with 'em, an saved
week by it. An when struck Boone's Lick,
whar was ,Cindy2 Sot out for Kansas five
year ago that harvest, they told me, 'lowin'
to come back afore cold wea. her-sn' 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 in
quiry at every house he passed, Of every per-
son he met, without once reaching the faint
est clue to her whereabouts. 81 was clean
beat, he declared; 81 couldn't make it out.
1t was like IS if l was lost on the prairie, of
dark night, in the snow. She must be
dead, they said" This last sentence was
uttered in a solemn, tremulous tone, as if,
after all, he still half believed she was in
her grave.
1t did not take him long to tell the rest;
how he returned to New Mexico-"out o.
conceit with ev'rything," as he phrased it
and married second wife, and lost most of
his money in sheep, and had the baby born
to him, and tried farming a bit. and her1ed
cattle "long with the greasers," and fell into
lingering illness, and at last resolved to
gather his few remaining effects together,
and go back to Missouri again. "One or
t'other of 'em will go on with me in the
mornin'," he said, in an absent and weary
way. and then was silent
We remained sitting by his bedside fully
an hour; We feared he might awake and feel
hurt at not finding some one to talk to. But
he slept on so quietly and restfully that it
seemed useless to wait any longer, and We
retired. Our bunk was but across the room
from his, and we could easily hear if he
called, we said to ourselves, and we would
be up very early. 1t was then 10 o'clock.
The fire had dwindled to a handful of wan
ing Goals. We tucked our blankets closely
about us, and dreamed of home.
All at once-It might have been but a
minute sfterwsrd, for all we know; in reality
it was almost davlight-we were aroused
by shutting feet and an intense whispering.
We leaped out of bed, with revolvers
drawn and cooked A single glance
revealed the situation. There were the
two women bending over Aaron with
a bottle and spoons, and q cup of water, and
camphorized handkerchief; and he was
moaning and tossing with agony. He had
grown desperately worse during the night,
and his complaining had not disturbed US.
But Aunt 'Cinds had heard him, in the next
room; perhaps she was awake and listening.
She looked up, white and appealing, before
we could speak; we understood only too
we'll what she thought Adeline chaffed
the poor fellows chill hand vigorously end
did not heed us.
After time, with such scant relief us We
could give him, he became quiet Except for
his heavy and labored breathing), and we
watched him keenly, hoping he would sleep
again. But shortly he was cOnvulsed with
recurring pain, and called for water. Aunt
'Cinda put the cup to his mouth. His eyes
met hers; and he said to her, in strange,
relinquishing voice:
They told me you was dea !. 'Cindy"
Then his cramped limbs relaxed, and he
lay still, and We thought he breathed with
less difficulty. When he moved again.
presently, it was to put out his hand in
doubtful groping. "Poor Adelinel' he said.
We drew nearer, on our knees, like persons
at prayer. His quivering lips shaped few
words more:
"Be good, we heard him weakly mutter,
''be good-to the baby"
The room became momently lighter; the
last of the shadows that had lurked all night