Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-10-14
THECAPrAIN WIDOW.

Hes deadr' Sally Norton made this
dread announcement to the two old PEG
pie who were sitting opposite each Other
by the Preside. twas Sally's way to be
plain of speech, and it did not strike hei
that she might soften this cruel blow by
choice of words or the meditation of her
voice. Her father raised his eyes to her
nomely face, so pale that every freckle
stood ont in bold relief, and then, as II
he had convinced himself that great scr-
row had fallen upon him. he broke silence
DO you hear. Cimanthy! Jacob, our
son, is dead Sally your mother don't
seem TO heed"
The old man rose from his seat, his stall
wart frame trembling and tears rolling
down his checks on to the griz2led beard
"Wife, wife, he repeated, "our son Jacob
is dead But she remained mOtionless'
her fearless eyes had hard glitter IN
their depths. The wrinkled hands, knot
ted with great blue veins were clasped on
her lap and the lips were drawn tightly to-
gether as though some strong will power
had sealed them fast least they should ut
ter words which had better not be said.
The old man same TO her and laid his hand
upon her shoulder. "Cimanthy,' he said,
in a broken voice. you've been God
fearing woman masterful you always
was and ALWAYS will be. and it's that
sperrit that's a keeping of you now from
giving in to Gods will. You always
loved Jacob better than Sally or me. I've
knowed it all along. When he was boy
you set him up before everybody else,
and rs you lot him have MS way, you had
no right TO moan and bewail when he
went of. l always told yon that there
was good in the boy once't he WAS let
alone to fight his own away, aud, sure
enough, my words came true. You re-
member the frat letter with the money
in it, and then the others that kop' a.
coming, till we got enough TO pay of
Jquire Meigs. Sence Jacob cnme back
with his wife and child I've seen that you
was bordering over something, Gilman
thy, but you was always smarter than me-
and | reckon what you're keeping to
yourself is safer with you. You know
amt much of church-goer, and ! can
never light on the right chapter and
verse, like Brother Stebbins, or fall on
my knees and tell the Lord what I'd like
him 20 do but know this much We've
got TO abide by His judgments, and thu
best way is TO believe that he knows when
60 take DO you hear me, Cimanthy?
I've talked 20 you She best way | know
how. You amt turned to stone, woman,
that you can't thank God for what You
have left
Sally put a light wood knot on the fire,
which blazed up, throwing ruddy glow
ON the homely furnishing of the room,
and the woman sat down, rocking herself
TO and fro as she looked at the old people
bearing so differently this cruel visitation.
They had hardly recognized Jacob whom
he came back, aud were not yet quite able
to associate this middle-aged man with
the youth MOO had left them so many
years ago. Now that he was lying up-
stairs dead, they realized the appalling
truth that Jacob had gone ON an
other Journey from which he would never
return. Neither message nor letter would
come TO tei! the old couple that although
he had been undutiful, yet he had kept
Tor them in has inmOst heart great love
and reverence, and that he had held in
his mind the hard toll which it required
to make u crop on the piny woods farm
ana therefore, saved and denied himself
IN order 10 send them from tme 10 time
% loving remembrance; and just before
Christmas there had come letter say
ing that he was bringing home his wife
and child,
"Cimauthy." cried the old man, now a
little ,teruly, "tue ueighbors are com
NJ ana il amt no use to get talked
about"
Al this She raised her eyes quickly to
his.
They'll do it anyhow, Steven. Neither
you nor me can prevent II now"
Tie gave her searching look, but for
some reason rofraiued from asking her
what dreadful meaning was conveyed in
this speech, the first that she had uttered
since she was told that her son could NOT
live. After the fashion of country peo-
pie, friends and ueighbors were coming
i'm, aud the old man wont out TO greet
them Inviting them into the best room
whore the chairs had been placed against
the walls, leaving space in the middle,
ii,re tae leaves of folding mahogany
table had been lifted and % sheet spread
over them Outside, tho wind whisued
through the bare branches of the china
tree and th" people in the room had
drawn close around the fire, for il was cold
night Ana old daddy sitting next to Sally
whispered. Its lucky that it's turned So
cold. Hen keep until they can get the
preacher from Upton. How sno bear
ug mp / should say she's NOT likely toro
To bed q, some of 'em DO"
"She,' answered Sally. 81 never see ~
woman hike her in all my born days, To
look at her you'd think she was only fit to
h.. ...I