Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-07-07

and that he'd stand by her through
everything If she'd say the word. but
she answered quite proud, though she
was thankful, too, that she and Dan
understood each other perfectly, and
nobody could come between 'en: So
we went away heavy-hearted, and /
didn't see her again for good while.
When the trial came off low fellow
that had worked for the Cap'n stood
up and swore away her character, and
that was the grounds for divorce. /
don't s'pose she ever spoke five words
to the cur in her life, but they said
afterward that the Cap'n hired him for
suit of clothes, and.I think it's likely
he did.
When Cynthy heard it she went into
commissions, and as soon as she could
be moved Dan took her to a little
house in the village, and 1 went right
down to see her. She looked so sad l
couldn't keep the tears back, but be.
fore 1 could ask her how she was she
begun to defend Dan. He didn't
know a thing about it. The Cap'n
managed it, and Dan was almost killed.
and so on. 1 didn't believe a word of
it, but couldn't tell her so when she
was sick, but did ask where Dan was
stOppin'. "Why, here" she says
"where would he beP" 1 tried to
make her see that she wasn't married
to him, and ought to go away to her
fathers or somewhere till he was ready
to marry her again. She fired up in a
minute at that. She was Dams wife
just as much as ever. Dan knew
there wasn't word of truth in what
she said at the trial, and he'd never
give her up. and they'd be married as
soon as he got time to tend to il"
When she talked that way I made up
nv mind that I'd never worry the poor
thing again, for saw twas no use.
Things ran along, always gettin' a
little worse, for a year or two. The
Cap'n wouldn't give Dan the Fort
Hill place, for all his sellin' his soul
for it, but put him off with lot of
new land, full of stnmps, down in
Jefferson county. He used to make an
excuse to be off great deal. and he
never found time to marry Cynthy,
though when he was to home I think
he was always kind to her.
Next thing she lost her boy. He
had scarlet fever, and didn't get up
strong. and from that he dwindIed
right away. 1 was KEEP at home by
sickness, bat Mother Pierce said she
never heard any one take on as she did
when she found she'd got to lose him.
Perfectly reconciled. They all thought
Cynthy cared more about the child
than she'd ever showed, but 1 told
Mother Pierce thought it was more'n
half because Dan set great store by the
boy. Not but what Cynthy was a
good, careful mother; but it amt in
any woman to set her heart on two
things the way she did ON Dan. l
could see, though 1 didn't say it, that
she begun to feel that her hold on d AN
was CROWN weak and she knew the
boys death would help set 'em apart.
She faded fast after that, and things
went worse and worse, till one day I
went down to spend the afternoon with
her. Dan had been off for weeks. I
knew, but 1 didn't speak of him. I
was tellin' about our church festival.
jest to take up her mind, and she was
tryln' to seem interested, but all the
time she acted as if she was listenin'
listenin' for something. At last she
smiled and said. "Someway keep ex-
pectin' Dan to-day" Then I noticed
she had on the same white lawn first
saw her in. Oh, how changed she was
Like the ghost of herself, with great
hollows in her cheeks, and a kind of
tired, patient look round her mouth.
But when she smiled 1 thought she
was still pretty. There's Dan" she
says, all at once, and 1 thought then
she had never been so beautiful.
There was such light on her face it
seemed as if she didn't want anything
but wings and a harp to walk right
into heaven. She ran to the win
dow and stood there. I was
castin' about for an excuse to get away
before he came in, when heard the
wheels go straight by, and when ]
turned round to look at Cynthy there
she lay in a dead faint. 1 got her on
to the bed, and tried everything could
think OF, but it seemed as if she never
would come to. Finally, when 1 was
clear discouraged, she gave a long
shudderin' sigh and opened her eyes.
In minute she raised up and looked
around as if she didn't really know
where she was. Then all at once ]
could see by her face that she remem
bered, whatever it was, and she drop.
ped back and turned her face away
and lay so still that I'd have thought
shed tainted again if her heart hadn'i
beat so; could see it stir her dress
from where sat.
Just then heard a noise in the othe,
room and went OHt. John was there
He'd been up to his fathers of an er.
rand, and while he was there Dan came
in and says, as bold as brass, "Well
mother l brought a wife home with
me-" Before the Cap'n could git in q
word Mother Pierce said, "You car
/ IL