Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-12-28
and improved head 10 Sinks acquis.

The sick woman did not look so
CHASTITY, thanks TO the kind offices Of
Cal and Jerry, who had administered
some of the brandy that the latter had
brought from Prairie City, and had
made a doubtful quality Of beef tea
over a little fire down in the hollow.
With awkward gentleness they had
pushed back the gray hair and had
placed fragrant flowers all about her
head.
DO you think you will find my boy
soonf' her faint voice piped, as Long
jess looked into the wagon.
Hell be ycre right soon, gram
maw," he answered. Il saw him jest
a little bit ago"
Her wrinkled face lit up with such
a look of gladness, that for an instant
Jess heart smote him at the thought
Of the deception they were about TO
practice upon the sick woman.
But it's for the best" he muttered,
as he turned away. Its a shame,
but it's the best we kin do"
Every face in the circle that gath.
cred about the outcast was hard and
stern. In a few pointed words Long
jess told the story.
IF she don't find her boy right
soon, she never will. IL she thinks
for few weeks she's found him, we
reckon she may pull through to health
an be able TO go on with her search.
Sinks, you look nearest NV any Nv us
like her sons picture. You look like
him, an if you don't act like him,
well-wal, you understand
Only Long jess accompanied Sinks,
the outcast, TO the wagon.
well, yer boys come, gran'maw.'
he said, and turned away.
1t was evident that the deception
was a success, for the committee heard
the faint, glad cry Of the old woman
US the outcast bent over her.
PAUL My boy my boyI"
Then the committee turned their
backs and walked away out of hear.
inc. No one said anything for sew
erai moments. Presently Cal spoke,
gravely:
Il never lowed Sinks had 10 feel.
ms, but-did you see his facef'
Il saw it, answered Long Jess,
shortly.
After nearly a quarter Of an hour
had passed, jess went To the wagon.
He was gone a long time, but when
he rcioined the group Sinks remained
at the wagon.
Boys said Long jess. it'll work !!
You ort to have e the gladncsS ia
her ole wrinklcd face. reckon she'll
live 10 find her boy yit. But | have
the idly of the time when we've got to
tcll-wal, maybe well find him fore
that"
An Sinks" questioned Cal.
He's got feelin's. If | hadn't n
knowed, I'd allowed hc found his ole
mother. Scar on his check must be
sorto like the one on her boys, for she
was a-noticin' il, an a-Sayin' sumthin'
bout Bessie's 'memberin' how Paul'd
saved her life at the risk Of his own.
When she had said that, I'll swear
Sinks eyes were full NV tears! He's
got feelin's, Sinks has"
II was nearly a week later, after the
sick woman had been provided with
comfortable quarters in Prairie City,
where she was rapidly improving
under the son like m~inistrations OF
Sinks, the outcast, that the emigra.
ton committee were holding a meet.
ing in the shade Of Marshall's general
store
II believe Sinks is sick" Long jess
was saying. Not hut hat he works
works like a redhead 10 do every
thing in the world 10 make the sick
woman happy. But. somcway. he acts
50 blamed queer! Eyes rcd like he'd
ben erwin. Don't pay mo attention to
what "A body says 10 him less its the
ole Lady, she don't haftu much more
than whisper before lac hears her"
Sick, | reckon, - agreed Cal. But
il | could cit hands ON that thar shore
enough son that stays away an leaves
his mother 10 the EeCr ny Sinks Id
make him sickcr'n Sinks is
Ills track, wouldn't stop this side
nv the state linc.' said Long jess.
Must although a heap nv him.
Her longin' To see him was 50 strong
that she sold out what little She had.
am, half sick, started west Ia hunt for
him. When she reached the end of
the railroad it took the best part NV her
little money TO buy the team an
wagon. No Idly whur 10 find him. No
word from him in many "A long day;
but she started with the determine
ton, woman like, TO look all over the
west to find her boy. Took sick am
kept a~gittin' worse, but kept right on
in the hunt fer her boy. Then the
balance is a blank TO her. Got out of
her head. Don't know whur nor how
long the team wandered ar'und. But
now she's happy, thinkin' at last she's
found her boy. II l could git a-holt
of the feller-roamin' around in tho
west at his ease, while his ole mothers
pore an needy, and breakin' her heart
fer him-Td"-
A figure came around the corner.
II was Sinks.
"Maybe he did not know how bad
her condition was" lie said, abruptly.
Perhaps, when he left, misfortune
had not taken the most of her prop.
erty. Perhaps, discouraged, heart
broken, he had gone west, where mis-
fortune met him at every turn, till
he sunk-sunk-well, perhaps the
thoughts If home served still more 10
dishcarten him, and'-
Wouldn't thoughts Of his mother
an Of Bessien-
Bessie died before he left home"
said Sinks, gravely, "She was his