The Osceola times., 1888-12-22

almost gone" and the answer came nuSkl-
ly from the lips Of a sick man stretched in
the bottom Of long emigraut wagon
drawn by pair Of patient mules, who were
driven over the trail by the woman, "lf
there was only parson to say bit OF a
prayer, Neil, 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 TIERS body
but men at Camp Nogood; haint seen
petticut in nigh two year, jest tn nix O.
that, Nell, and you'll never know how per
fcctly 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
sharp spasm Of pain conYulsed the whlte
face.
"Oh father, don't talk OF dying" and
the 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 a house away
of yender" and little boy Of eight eager
ly strained his eyes over the long stretch
Of road before them TO the spot where the
faint outline Of a rude shanty was visible
In the distance.
That's Tim Conway's cabin, half mile
from the camp" said the sick man, fee
bly,, "but shan't live TO git there, fur it's
FIVE miles away an night comm on"
"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 habtation 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 II;
he only knew that a cold hand was touch
ing a. his heart, chilling him through and
through He thought ii was the wind which
blew down the trail with shivering sug
gestion Of winter, but it was a stronger
breath than that OF Boreas which was
freezing his life-blood and stopping its
free current through his veins.
The mules plo1ded along thor way and
the children watched the little speck in tho
distance as 1t came steadily nearer with
childish interest. Besides the boy Of eight,
there was a little girl OF five, and the baby,
Neil, aged three, so wrapped in shawls
that she looked more like mummy than a
living child and the mothers tears chilled
on her checks as she dr. We 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 a comfortable home in
Illinois, imbued with the spirit of advent
ure and with a longing for wealth which
the ploidng 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 tho proceeds with
his wife for her support while he was
gone. he had taken sshare and gone back
with his comrade.
HIS claim had not pannel 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
10 meet them at Denver.
Quite 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
were about ten miles from the city he
had been taken with an acute attack of
his dis sease, and the affrghted wife had
pursued the journey which had been com
menced so hopefully, for she was a cheer
wifely 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 como an
nouncing that the little woman and her
children were on the way
"Yer ter quit yer swearn', Bill Novins,
when there's womint round" said Dick
Gowdy. "Sakes, haiu't seen womint in
SO long most forgot how they look"
"Some o. you fellers d better shave upa
bit er she'll be skeered at the 81 yht Of such
Hottentotsn Burt Macomber was the
dandy OF the camp, AMI 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 cane,
but his comrades peremptorly drew the
line of prohibition at canes, and he was
forced TO discard the obnoxious article.
rough but kin i-hearted set Of men,
they had mado quite a hustle OF prepara-
ton through the day on which they had
calculated the travellers would return.
Dan Voorhees, had scrubbed his shanty,
and Sam Collins. who kept the long, board
house which answered for hotel, had
| partitioned off an apartment for the tired
mother and her children with curtain OF
sacking roughly sewn together, and in an
unusual freak of taste had manufactured
an apology for window curtain from the
remains of an old white shirt which mad
loag since been packed away in MS trunk
as unnecessary rubbish.
"Wimmin like sich truck" he explained
.n,looetically as a comrade stared in sur
prise at the unwonted luxury hanging over
the little window
An this time the mules were toiling
YEARLY up tho trail toward the speok oil a
cabin. They had almost reached 1t when
the little boy cried out; 'oh, mamma
Poppy looks so queer" and the vile win
a fast heating heart climbed over the seat
10 the rear Of the wagon, where her nus
The last great change for him was com
irg fast an he whispered Pray Nelll
Is bis beseeching eyea looked up INTO pss