Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-09-17

"Ncveri o, deari' and Jane began
20 cry. After awhile she said, softly:
''Of course. shall bring the ChildP'"
20, yes" said Tom. 'and all your
clothes"
Then they decided how they were to
escape. where they were to meet. how
Jane was to make bold to ask for an
extra piece" that day, pretending the
dog had stolen hers. and how Tom was
to hide half his dinner in his cap
Then, as some summoning bell rang,
they parted-Tom. bright and brisk
with his new ambition; poor little Jane,
limp with fear and remorse, but de-
dermined to follow Tom. whatever his
fortunes might be.
At ten that night Jane. with tear
swollen face, a little bundle OF calico
frock and red flannel petticoat under
her arm, and 1.-THE Child" clasped to
her heart, met Tom at the big tree out
side the poor-house fence. There was
nothing to steal in the establishment;
so, as no one ever wanted TO get in, It
was not very hard TO get out
Besides "ihe Child and the frock.
Jane had her bread in bit OF newspa-
per, and Tom had made quite bundle
OF possessions He had his little bag of
corn and beans, n fire-shovel, n shirt.
his old shoes and long stick with
hook at the end, once the handle OF an
umbrella On this he slung all their
Joint property, except the doll, and ad-
dressed Jane as follows:
Remember now, you are my wife.
and must do exactly as | say-that's
the law; and must be good 20 you and
4
cook aud mend for me. and 1 think
you'd better begin to call me Husband
right away"
Yes" sobbed Jane. 30, isn't il
darkP"
mo" said Tom; "besides. il 1t Is,
all the better. We'd get into the woods
before they catch us. We shall be out
OF the town by daylight"
Then they walked on-poor Jane
stumbling often. but Tom held her hand
ard did not let her fall. At length the
last little white house was passed; then
came the church with lis tail spire, and
then long paling fences about bits of
meadow-land They werc in the coun-
try, bat not yet in the woods, and both
children were growing very sleepy and
very tired-so very tired that finally
there was nothing for il but to sit down
on the grass under a haystack, with
Toms head on James knee. and 20 fast
asleep.
Sunrise awakened them. They ate
their bread and butter. started on
again. and in few hours the woods
were all around them.
Were safe at last" cried Tom.
'Nobody can ever find us here. I'll
build a house and plant my corn right
away. DO you know how longit takes
corn to grow? And beans?"
enc" ventured Jane, doubtingly-
mot long, Igucss"
81 guess not" echoed Tom, ''but |
wish we had some more bread and
butter"
BY aud by the two explorers came
to nice little spot in the woods c'ose
10 pretty brook. II was very damp.
but there was n clearing which il was
easy TO plant Tom dug it over with
his fire-shovel. and put In his beans and
corn in straight rows Then. with an
old knife thatwas his greatest treasure,
no cut underbrush and low branches
enough 10 make queer kind OF leafy
hut big enough for both to creep into.
I've can eat outdoors. We shall
only want home at night and when il
rains, said Tom.
But Jane felt doubtful. Her little
flesh was black and blue already. and
yet the grass was long in the hayield;
here il was sparse and dry. Besides,
she wanted her warm milk and water aud |
her slice of bread and butter. Tom
found some huckleherr.es harl by, bnt |
they did not help the empty stomachs !
much. and even at sunset the corn had |
not begun 70 grow. neither did the |
beans show their heads above the earth! |
SHddenly an awful thought struck |
Jane.
when 1t grows. Tom" she said, |
I'VE haven't any sauce pan to cook it
"More we haven't" sad Tom. Then
hope dawned upon him. 1--WE could /
roast the corn. said he. ''and | bet |
the.e's an apple.iree somewhere
They wandered about looking for the |
tree or more berries OF some sort The |
tree did not appear, but at last they \
found some berries-just one or two et |
time and the poor children had |
nothing else 10 eat. Hungry Tom could
have deyoured his own shoes. Meek |
Jane, before she lay down on the hard |
yet damp ground, asked just one ques-
ton:
''Do you think the beans will grow
TO night, Tom?"
IL told you TO say Husband, said |
Tom then al tel. graciolsly: "Yes,
Ma. 1 suppose they will" "
Then Jane put the "Child" close 10 |
her cheek, and slept the sleep Of the
weary.
Good Farmer Morton and his plump
wife, coming homeward from visit 10 /
their married daughter about dark next |
day. let the o'd mare walk as slowly as
she pleased through the wOod-path. |
They had had tea and were in no hurry.
Suddenly, amidst the sobbing OF the
little brook the old lady heard louder
sobbing still.
Peter she said, there's . child
crying"
"'1isn't nothing but the water" said
the old man, whose hearing was less
sharp than his wife'A
sits child" persisted the old lady.
II VOW. think see one sitting on the
fence. Stop The mare, Peterl Who is
thereP'
''Aie. ma'am-Jane. said little
voice. II heard a carriage and /
thought il might be a doctor. o, please.
he's so sickf"
"Who is sick, deaT?" asked Mrs.
Morton.
my husband"
'iusbandP Peter. isn't that n
childP"
''Yes. ma am" said Jane; but he's
sick. ! don't know what ais him. He
shiYered, and then he was hot and he
seems so strange. And our farm didn't
come up-l mean the corn and the
beans and II rained yesterday. and
came through the house aud wcltel us
all over. q, please come and see what
is the matter with my husband!'