Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-12-02

iNNNnu AitlIu~hO my NuNNl anu
shook the child above him laughingly.
Then they turned and won't up among
the apple-trccs, shc with her slender
hand upon his arm. telling some
humorous happening that fell between
the child and Ahsalom, to which he
laughed assentingly, but M il his
thoughts were little apart Coming
10 her scat, the wife resumed her
ncedle-work, while the husband
threw himself along the thick
sward, and with the babe
growing and tousling his curly yellow
beard, said, without turning his smil-
ing eyes from the child'si "I have a
bit o. news for thee. lass; Ivyl Suacr
wants to buy the place What tnink
We o. thetp" "No; does he. trU W"
said the wife, with surprise and doubt
In tono and look. Then. after little
pause, she added; "Why, you don't
wish to part with the farm. do you,
John?"
"Only II Il would please thee, lass"
he said. Then without waiting for her
reply, went on: "Tve been often
thinking since the little chap came,
that may be It was ma well to rear him
in the country here. Tho air is good
and wholesome. but the lad will be
needin' schooling by and by. an l
couldna bear to sec the town chaps
go above him. Besides. | hayna lived
these years beside the river here and
not learned that it is lonesome for
thee, lass"
"Oh, indeed, John, ] have been hap
pier than [ can ever tell" sad the
wife, looking fondly at the two upon
the grass. And since baby came |
have never known n lonely hour.n
"Wcll, sometimes | think It were
better for tn both / the end to live by
some greater town." said he when
| brought thee here, lass, tn cheeks
were redder and tn fingers not so slim.
More stir is what tn needs and folk tn
more like thee"
"Oh, think it is not that, John; l
will get strou = again she answered,
NAY. lass, some minds need moro
than thct they love for food, said
Earling. 9Th wilma be strong al
ways on love. New faces and new
words are good medicine. ha' seen
it, lass. tn mothers cares mind me o.
gnats thet always keep singin' about
th' heart. and never give o'er plagu-
ing it little. Tn wouldna let q great
strong loon like me live long. | know,
then why should tn not make thee
slender, lass?n
That's the lot of motherhood, you
know. dear" said the wife. 1t is
sweet trouble, and one grows better
bearing it.
II know" said Earring. 'ft is
Natures way, and there's no better
way than Natures, l suppose. But
tn man Gamma see well who Gamma see
its hard way. It's well thet Coda
mighty put love in it. Many's tn
man rs goes lightly about his business
which is full o changin' talk and
faces, as leaves tn lass at home year
by year wi tn gnats about her Mart
an IN BARNS a tuggin' nc her, and
thinks her days all simmer an sun
shine, when he were run daft rs
hare wi half her cares"
My life has never been like that.
John, said she. ''lou have been so
good | could not be unhappy. Before
baby came. when you were away. it
sometimes seemed little lonely, but
not now"
Then Hettie calling down from the
porch, that tea was waiting, they went
in; the wife leaning on her husband
arm and laughing up ut the babe, rid
ing the fathers shoulder with chubby
fists clingingin in his hair. After they
were seated, the wife, pouring the tea,
said: "What can Ivyl want with our
place, John?'
"Ivyl is a -, rreedy." said Earling,
his face da' k.uug little. "He can
stand more .IaH one cage Il he hasna
bird to feed. He matched my price,
but ] wouldna close with him, lass,
without tn will"
They considered the proposition from
many points that night, and on the
morrow John Earring rode away to-
ward the town resolved to take Iyyl at
his worl. In the afternoon he came
home, bringing the instrument OF writ
ing, which. upon the payment Of n GER
tain sum, should transfer his estate b
lvyl Snaer. Il bore John Earling'.
signature, and when tho wife had
tremblingly appended hers, the deed
was perfect.
That evening after they had
'upped, the husband put on his great
coat, for all day long dull scud had
been drifting and banking about the
SKY, and, saying that he had agreed to
deliver the deed at Ivyi's house and re-
ceiye the money that evening, went out
10 get his horse in readiness. When he
came back the child was sleeping. and
he mother, throwing wrap about her
,hapely shoulders, went slowly down
ward with her husband to the gate.
Very fair looked the great valley spread
)ut before them, with lis long shadows
md sheets Of light from the sunset.
I'D Jade and Ansalom were driving /
he cattle barnward from the lowland I
the cow-bclls beating softly, I
md the Whole landscape seeming man I
led with p sort Of rosy film, divided by I
he white and silent river They paused /
It the gate moment, looking out over .
he quiet scene. Very still was the I
wife, and TIC strong man looking down .
where her pale check rested against /.
rs arm, saw that her eyes were filled
With tears.
"Why, lass" he said, 81 didla think
hee loved the old place SOL"
But the wife only closed her eyes for
nswer. the bright tears falling down
Ipon his arm.
"Dunnot care. lass! dunnot care"
aid he. with misty eyes. I'VE are 20.
1g to some finer spot whore thee shall
90 fair faces, an hear music, an get
h roses back again
Then he kissed her. and tho Gife.
utting her arms about his neck. held
i'm q little with her heart against his
rcast. Then she kissed him and lei
i'm 20 with fearful smile, saving:
DO not stay late, John" 'Aud stand
~ at the gate she watched him ride
Witty up the shadowy lane, and when
C swept around the bend above the
leadows, she saw him turn and wave
is hand and still qho watched hin, I