The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-12-27

ANN-A| M<SA> lIlCu W SpCaA Cll0CC-
sASS$ ~ waiiing undertone
AEa5sse4S-T1>s%A> desp AIR. in the tone
<Sa1sSI1 ::9N<\ Of hor voice.
I'm afeared can't,
Nell. Pears like I'm
almost gone,' and the answer came huski-
~ from the lips Of q sick man stretched u
the bottom of u long emigrant wagon,
drawn by pair Of patient mules, who were
driven over the trail by the woman. az
there was only parsou to say bit OF
prayer, Nell seems like could go more
comfortable fur Eve been g rough man,
not like the quiet hum body | was when
left you, wife. But you see ther's nobody
but men at Camp Nogood; halut seem a
petticut in nigh TWO year, jest tn nix O
that, Nell, and you'n never know how per-
Ycctly lovely you an the kids looked to
me when you stepped off tie train, an
now I've got ter go an leave ye," and
sharp spasul Of pain convulsed the white
face.
" oh father, don't talk of DYING and
the WIFE turned her head away as the hot
tears trichled down ner cheeks Wen
soon be at the camp and then, may De,
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 outline OF a rude shanty was visible
in the distance.
"That's Tim Con ways cabin, half mile
from the camp said the sick man, fee
bly,, "but shan't live 10 ct there, fur it's
five miles away an night a COMM ont
No, no, Brady, it's real light yet If
you can stand it to ride so far may De We
can make it. Don't give Up, father, don't,
now" and o 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.
"Dr,ve on, Nell, 1'li 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 hiIr. through and
through. He thought it was the wind which
blew down the trail with q shivering sug-
gestiou of winter. but it Was a stronger
breath than that of Boreas which was
freezing his life-blood and stopping its
Tree 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 a little girl Of five, and the baby,
Nell, aged three so wrapped in shawls
that she looked more like a mummy tn an a.
living child, and the mother tears chilled
on her cheeks as she drove the mules for
ward with the hope that succor might be
near. It was not an enviable situation.
The husband two years before had
started away from a comfortable home in
h,,oA y y :,-is Of
ure and with a longing for wealth VIII ich
the plolding farm life did not satisfy A
neighbor had come home from tue 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 pauned 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 ins.Iious dis.
case had been creeping upon MIN 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
TclS SLCuL tSA !AAliCS 1IOu tue CITY uc
had been taken with au acute attack of
his disease, and the affrightetl wife had
pursued the journey which had been COM
nlencet SO hopefully, for she was cheer
full little body, and had formed many
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 come au-
nouncing that the little woman and her
children were on the way.
eyer ter quit yer swearin', Bill Neyins,
when there's a wonint 'rouud,'' said Dick
Gowdy. ''Sakes, hain't seen womint in
so long most forgot how they look'
'Some O. you fcllers ID better shave upa
bit er she'll be skccred at the sight Of such
Ho:tentots.' 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 mac once ventured to carry a cane,
but his comrades peremptorly drew tae
line Of prohibition at canes, and nc was
forced TO discard the obnoxious article
A rough out kini-hearted set Of men,
they had made quite a hustle Of prepara-
ton through the day on which they had
calculated the travellers would return.
Dan Voorhees, had scru boed his sbanty,
and Sam Collins, who kept the long, board
house which answered for hotel, had
partitioned of gu apartment for the tired
mother and her children with a curtain of
sacking roughly sewn together, aud in an
unusual freak of taste had manufactured
an apology for window curtain from the
remains Of an old white shirt which had
long since been packed away in his trunk
as unnecessary rubbish.
'sWimmin like SIGH truck he explained
alphabetically as comrade stared in sur
prise at the unwonted luxury hanging over
the little window.
All this time the mules were toiling
wearily up the trail toward the.speck of a
cabin. They had almost reached it when
the little boy cried out: ooh, mamma!
Poppy looks so Queerl'' and the wife with
d fast-beating heart clim bed over the seat
TO the rear Of the wagon, where her nus
band lay.
The last great change for him was COM
ing fast and he whispered: "Pray, NeIr
as his beseeching eyes looked up into her
pale face and a cold sweat broke out on his
forehead.
The poor woman had prayed in her Ili-
nois home prayed for the husband leaving
her so utterly and unexpectedly alone, but
she could not pray now. Still, she tried
her best and her whole heart went cut in
her despairing inyocaton: ooh, Godi Oh,
God, draw rear!' and then words died
her tongue and great sobs choked her.
Goodbye, Nell, tell the boys to be kind
to You an and the huttering breath
ceased, and the wife was widow and his \
children fatherless.
Mamma, I'll run to the snanty an tell
the man how sick poppy is" said the little
boy, and climbing down over the wheel of
the wagon he sped away as fast as his lit
To ls0s would carry him.