The Red Cloud chief., 1885-05-22

JlJS VII ssN
John Parsons would have known his
girls had he met them unexpectedly.
They had grown wonderfully. he
thought: so much more than he had
imagined.
True, he had counted the years that
had flown. and had said: Jennie il al
most eleven now. and Lucy past nine."
but what did the passage OF years sig.
nify when memory had all the time
pictured them babies, just as he had
seen them before the wears had come
and gone.
Erastus. he thought. had not changed
20 much. He was quite a lad when he
saw him last. and he was not fully a
man now. lie had grown. Of course,
and had a manly air and look, but he
was no; yet sixteen. and then We always
EXPECT boys to grow. He had seen
bows on the streets Of Sacramento and
elsewhere Of all ages and sizes. and
their forms and faces had somehow
mingled with the form and fAc. Of
Erastus and had helped to obliterate the
picture Of the lad rs he saw him last
and form s new and much truer one
of the real Erastus whose hand he now
took and held with a grasp that warmed
the boys heart toward him e
Leave the horses stand . bit and
come into the house with mother and
the girls" he said; 1--WE will care for
them by and by"
But the boy replied that he would
rather care for them at once and could
easily do it without help, a he was &C,
custOmed to do. They were tired. he
said. with the long drive, as they had
all been determined to get through that
night. and had broken camp early and
driven hard.
'Yes. john" interrupted Mrs. Par
sons, lit has been . long drive and q
hard one; not to-day only, but 80 many
days; and I'm so glad to think that We
are not going to have to hitch up again
in the morning; but that our journey is
ended ut last. and that WI are all to-
gether again"
IL didn't expect so nice . home." she
added. coming close to him and look
ing up in his face while her eyes filled
with tears ..And oh! l am 50 glad We
have a home of our own once more. ]
AIN sure We shall be very. very happy
here And she felt hurt when her fus.
band roughly turned away and began
helping Erastus with the animals.
She supposed. however. that he was
ashamed to let her see how deeply h.
was affected at the thought Of their all
being together. and Of the happiness
which was sure to b. theirs. o that il
was so; and she felt very certain that
this was the case when a minute later he
came back. and putting his arms around
her shoulders. said:
'TOme Martina, come babies. let's 90
in and see the new home from the in.
side" and led her up the steps TO the
porch. and then into the main room oi
the cottage.
How'll she do?" he SAID. m~otiOnins
with his hand about the room.
His wife noticed that his voice was
broken "a he said il. but she did moi
wonder at il. for her W vO.ce was moi
to be found ut all Just then, and sinkin.
into = chair she put both hands To hel
face and gave way To tears that would
come in spite of her.
When she could control her voice she
said:
please don't think me foolish. John:
I'm so happy | just cant help crying
Indeed. | q dn't expect anything halt SC
comfortable and nice. and now that W =,
are all together again in 4 home of ouI
own. l can think Of nothing else worth
asking for"
Going behind her chair her husband
took her hands in his own. and. stoop
ing dowA. kissed her twice. and wa,
silent for a time. Then he sad, husk:ly
I'm glad we are together again,
Martha. aud l don't mean we shall cvcI
be parted n more. Now You res
while | 60 and help. Ras:us with tn,
borses.' and turning he left the house
When he cam. back i'm company will
the boy he found his wife busy prepar
ing their supper. the material for which
Jennie and Lucy We're bringing from
the wagon.
John brought out his own stores &c
add to those OF the travellers. and soor
the family were seated about the table
at the liIs, meal eaten together for :,
many years; indeed, the first meal tina
the girls could remember To have eycl
eatci i'm company with their father.
Then followed questions and answers
rrgar Ing the friends in the States. al,
the Journey which was just ended 81
happily. and at a late hour the fami!,
| retired to rest upon such beds Is coui,
be improvised from the stock IN thu
wagon added t. tina: which the husban,
and father had been able to provide il
view of their coming; and 500 al wer,
sleeping the blessed sleep that come,
from WEAKNESS and n feeling Of havn.
passed safely through much Of dang,I
all but John Parsons. who. despite
his last night of waking. SLEPT hut little
and arose in the morning with a lOoi
that showed his wife a; once that Their,
WAS something upon his mind. = knowl
edge of which he was striving to keeI
from the family. and instantly she re-
called what had been told her by SOM
friendly sJuatterS near whose cabin
they had camped the second night on
from Sacraniento: Of . umO that som,
settlers. somewhere further down tn,
valley. were likely to lose their claim
through some cause which those who
repeated the tale did nOt properl,
understand.
1t had MOI occurred to her ut the time
that II was possible it could b. John.
| claim that was in danger.
II seemed strange now that it die
not. i!ut so full was her mind o.
thoughts q! John himself. of their com
Ing reunion. and of the future whcr
they should all be together in the new
! home, that there was no room for any.
thing else: and 50 she had scarcely
heard the tale ut all. or hearing it hal
dismissed it at once with . sin gle ex'
preston Of pity for the poor families
who were to lose their al-even rs she
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