Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1885-08-15


thought that my happiness was COM
plete. This happiness, though, could
not last. The legislature adjourned
and my uncle returned home. Par
liamentary rulings had not improved
his disposition. Just so soon as he
set his foot in the house, a gloom set
tied over everything.
With pain l noticed that aunt was
daily growing weaker. THAT is the
way my mother began" Halle one
with regard to my aunt's condition.
"Oh, John, would it not be terrible il
she were to dieP"
''He would almost kill u.s." repli-
ed "Hallie, when we grow up, lei Nc
run away from here and be married."
II have often thought of that,
John"
After this, though we knew very
little OF marriage contracts, we con-
sidered ourselves engaged. One day
we told aunt. She kissed both of us,
and going to little pearl-covered box
she took out ring, put it on Hallie's
finger and said:
"There now, little lady, this is your
engagement ring. You must not take
it off until the day you are married,
and then yCu must remove it and
make wish. "
'And will the wish come true?"
she eagerly asked,
ooh, yes"
She clapped her hands and laughed.
Just then uncle entered the room.
"What means all this foolishnessP
he demanded.
1.-The children are merely playing,
Jasper
Playing the devil. Get out of here
now and find something to do"
My aunt grew weaker and weaker,
and when the spring time came-when
the trees began to grow green-she
was confined to her bed. l wanted to
sit by her bedside, but uncle drove me
out into the field. Every morning,
before going to work, would slip in
and kiss her, and one morning, seeing
that she had sunk so much during the
night, begged my uncle to let me
stay by her, but he drove me into the
field. had not been at work many
hours when / saw Halle running to-
ward me.
"Oh, john she almost breathlessly
exclaimed when she had come within
speaking distance, ''Aunt Emily IS
deadr' Sorrowfully, with tears and
sobs, we went to the house, Several
of the near neighbors who had come
in we're doing the work which none
but tenderest hands should do. Uncle
Jasper strolled aimlessly about the
ward. Occasionally some one would
approach him and ask for instructions.
Once he said:
"White dress. You will find it IN
the bottom drawer of the bureau.
The noble woman was buried in q
graveyard near our farm. Uncle JAS
per did not shed a tear. When we re-
turned from the burial, he busted HIM
self with greasing harness.
Oh, how drearily the time passed. 1t
seemed that he delighted in putting
extra work on me, and Halle. poor
child. was compelled to do all the
housework. When the time came
strange to relate, he was reelected tC
the legislature wondered why peO
pie could be so blind, and took the
liberty of asking one of the neghbor, S
prominent voter.
Jasper Prior amt much of a family
man." said he. "but he knows how tt
make laws. Nobody can shuttle rounI
him and get him to vote their way
Look what he done about the Infa
nous dog tax. Why, he went dowl
there and knocked the thing highe
than kite, Folks don't forgit sucl
services"
Halle and l, with the exception o
an old negro woman, lived alon
in the old house during uncle's ab
sence, but so contented were we with