The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1888-12-20

.[15FtE 7H>\ OF her voice.
'Pm afeared can't
Nell. Pears like I'm
almost gone" and the answer came huski
ly from the lips Of sick man stretched In
the bottom of long emigrant wagon,
drawnby a pair of patient mules, who were
driven over the trail by the woman. III
there was only parson to say DIT oil q
prayer, Nell, seems like / could go more
comfortable, fur I've been rough man,
not like the quiet hum body was when
left you. wife. But you see theirs nobody
but men at Camp Nogood; haint seen a
petticut in nigh Two year, jest tn NIX o.
that, Nell, and you'll never know how per-
fectly lovely you an the kids looked to
me when you stepped off the train, an
now I've got ter go an leave ye," and q
sharp spasm of pain convulsed the white
face.
Obi father, don't talk of dying" and
he wife turned her head away as the hot
tears trickled down her cheeks Wen
soon be at the camp. and then, may be,
something can be done for you"
Say, poppy, poppy, see house away
of yender," and a little boy Of eight eager
ly strained his eyes over the long stretch
Of road before them to the spot where the
faint utline of rude shanty was visible
in the distance.
That's Tim Conway's cabin, half mile
from the camp" said the sick man, fee
bly,, shut shan't live to git there, fur it's
five miles away an night comm on" s.
No, no. Brady, it's real light yet II
you can stand it to ride so far may be we
can make it. Don't give up, father, DON'T
now" and CLEAN of hope mingled with
her tears at the welcome thought that a
human habitation was in sight, and better
still, that the camp, the objective point
of their journey, was almost in sight also.
"Drive on, Nell, I'll try an bear it" A
gray shadow was stealing over the sick
mans face already, but he did not know it;
he only knew that cold hand was touch
ing at his heart, chilling him through and
through He thought it was the wind which
blew down the trail with shivering sug-
gestion of winter, but 1t was q stronger
breath than that of Boreas which was
freezing his life-blood and stopping its
free current through his veins.
The mules plodded along their way and
the children watched the little speck in the
distance as it came steadily nearer with
childish interest. Besides the boy of eight,
there was little girl of five, and the baby,
Nell, aged three, so wrapped in shawls
that she looked more like mummy than a
living child, and the mothers tears chilled
on her cheeks as she drove the mules for
ward with the hope that succor might be
near. 1t was not an enviable situation
The husband two years before had
started away from comfortable home in
Illinois, imbued with the spirit of advent
ure and with a longing for wealth which
the plodding farm life did not satisfy. A
neighbor had come home from the mount
aims with marvellous tales OF wealth to be
acquired in the mines, and after selling
the farm and dividing the proceeds with
his wife for her support while he was
gone, he had taken his share and gone back
with his comrade.
HIS claim had not PANIED out as he had
hoped. but not feeling willing to abandon
his enterprise, he had sent for his wife
and children to come out TO him, promising
TO meet them at Denver.
Quito unknown to him an insidious dis
ease had been creeping upon him for the
past year. weakening him slowly but
surely, and his wife was shocked when
she saw his drawn and altered face when
he met her at the train, and when they
We're about ten miles from the city he
ha6 been taken with an acute attack of
his disease, and the affrighted wife had
pursued the journey which had been COM
menced SO hopefully, for she was cheer
full little body, and had formed many
wifeiy plans for the new mountain home,
which was ending with heart-sickness and
dread
There had been quite an excitement in
the camp when the letter had come an
nouncing that the little woman and her
children were on tho way.
Yer ter quit yer swearin', Bill Nevins,
when there's a womint round, - said Dick
Gowdy. "Sakes, haint seen womint in |
SO long most forgot how they look
''Some o. you fellers d better shave upa
bit CIR she'll be skeered at the sight Of such
Hottentots." Burt Macomber was the
dandy OF the camp, and rude as the be-
longings of the miners were, they would
have been more SO had it not been for his
refining taste.
He had once ventured TO carry a cane,
but his comrades peremptorily drew the
line of prohibition at canes and he was
forced TO discard the obnoxious article.
A rough but kini-hearted set of men,
they had made quite hustle of prepare
ton through the day on which they had
calculated the travellers would return.
Dan voorhees, hHu hcfuuDeu MS Suanty,
and Sam Collins, who kept the long, board |
house which answered for hotel, had |
partitioned of an apartment for tine tired |
mother and her children with curtain of
sacking roughly sewn together, and in an
unusual freak Of taste had manufactured
m apology for window curtain from the |
remains of an old white shirt which had
ong since been packed away in his trunk |
rs unnecessary rubbish.
''Wimmin like sich trucls,n he explained |
as comrade stared in sur
rise at the unwonted luxury hanging over
he little window.
All this time the mules were toiling |
Yearly up the trail toward the speck of a
abin. They had almost reached 1t when
he little boy cried out: "Oh, mammal
'oppy looks so queerl" and the wife with
fast beating heart climbed over the seat
0 the rear Of the wagon, whore her hus-
and lay.
The last great change for him was COM
X fast ana he whispered: "Pray, Nellw
) his beseeching eyes looked up into her !