Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-10-25
DO0t blame ner. mamma /
sobbek "Ivs broken poor John Rogers

sobb0& I've broken poor John RugeYs
heart
Thefs WAS = good deal Of rain about
that tame, and chills and fever prevailed
to an alarming extent John Rogers
took them--I suppose lying on the
ground was not good for him--and had
them very badly. He enjoyed it, think
nov, but he was . terrible, haunting
ghost b me rs he grew thinner and
thinnsr, and yellower and yeliower, and
haHnksd my path with rrproachfui
gngPle eyes and Tennyson sticking out
of his pocket. think my remorss
might eventually havs broken down my
constitution fpapa had not decided thas
W. should all spend year in Europe.
married abroad, and on our return
We aly settled in New York, and felt
GLAD npt to return and face the tomb
stontgM poor John Rogera
''Im afraid" ! often said to my Aua
band. With tears in my eyes--"l'm
afralls love, that have broken one
hsas0s heart that loved me we'll, and
that may even be responsible fdf
life"
Aud I never dared to sleep alons in
the dark, tor fear Of seeing the ghost
Of poor John Rogers pointing to vol
nme of Tennyson.
"How the years hyi" But mino ne~
happily. | was 30 years old, and the
mother Of thr-e little children, when We
on. day letl,onght lie to go upon All ex.
cursiou up the river. The day WAS fine;
the air delicious the boat .. little too
crowded. On our way we stopped at
the landing nearest our old home, and
though fourteen wears had flown, I
thought OF John Rogers and grew mel.
aucholy.
"T!,at ghost" said to myself, "will
never b- laid. Yet certainly did moth.
lug wrong. never encouraged him,
and could not marry him. That would
have been impossible"
Meanwhile the gang-plank, 40 ! he.
lievr they call il, WAS thrown out, aud
some people came on board. Among
them WAS an exceedingly fat. ,~miorta-
bic man Of 35 or more his wife. dry,
skinny person. in bright blue bonnss
and . purple grenndins dress, and .
small tribe of children. l should not
have noticed them any more than any Of
the rest but for the mans amazing
promptitude in gathering up camp-stcpls
and the fact that he seated the family
very near our party. Once established,
however, it WAS impossible to forget
them. for he talked necessarily.
Martha Jane. got the haskell Wal,
I am relieved /; Thought you'd left it, and
we'd he obliged to buy our victuals at
the tavern, charging as they do. Sally.
stop sciatcilin' yonr shoe toes. DO you
think I'm made of money! Ma, hist
Peter onto your lap, won't youP Next
thing he'll be overheard. Uont scratch
your head SO, David. Ma, your vaii'n
gil bowed off next. and you'll be both
erin abunt new one"
"When bother, I'll get ONT, replied
a sharp female voice. E | wac YOU
wouldn't publish my meanness to the
hail boat. John Rogers"
John Rogers! At the name turned,
&ud looked tnii into the fat maiis face.
II was very red and round now. M
hollow III the checks no sharpness In
the temp az, lnt there were the Ing gog
Gfeess-S, fvnitd and blue ss ever. The
uur, with the funny hicks in tie nos.
lr'ls. and the curious, pale reddish eye
nrows. aud a good deal OF the pale red
i,sli hair
- 1t Is John Rogers calculated,
involnntarny. Ii was his turn ~ he
startled.
''Who on earth !" he eaonlsted.
Then IA sudden light OF recognition
appeared on hts face
Not Miss Celina Tompkins y he
cried, and We shook hands. "This
here's my partner" he said, indicating
h,s wife with wav. OF bis umbrella
'aud See you've got one, too, and both
rur qnivers is purity full. We've got
Older amt we, ali of us, since YOU lived
TO planksil,e? Grand'ther was fortynate
enough To die next spring, and me and
5amanthy stepped OIL in August
weigh more'n used to done turn the
miiier's sca.es at 200 Mrs. Rogers, this
here is"
| gave him my married name ae he
paused, and received a very unfavorabie
glance from Mrs. joan Rogers.
Atterward heard her spouse explain
ing:
"She sot considerably by me- when
she was gal, but she took too many
airs. She WAS one of them kind that
was all outside aud nothin solid, 80 let
tier know | wasn't to he caught. They
did say she most broke her heart !
dunno"
II she knowed whatI've had to stand
she'd Rejoice" r. .torted the still unmoili-
aed Mr.. John RYerA "i'm sure I
~ish You'd had her.
A lltl- later saw them with their
nlne Il had ALI impression that they had
nine) small children, and one in the
arms, huatine Tor place "a lunch com
iortsi,y. AID | turned to my husband
With soit oi gasp.
MY dear" ! sad. "thats nv ghost
--th.,s the ,~rsou I've always believed
| n, trd,r.al
iii- one who died Of love for your
-aie asked my spn,-e
answ,n d; The very ssr- Johr
Rogers. He is had ii, las.
Swimming.
Every boy and plrl should be Taught