The Springdale news., 1888-12-21

dandy or the camp, and rude as tho 1e- longings of the miners were, they would have been more so had it not been for lis refining taste.
 He had once ventured to carry cane but his comrades peremptorily drew the line of prohibition at canes, and he was forced to discard the obnoxious article.
 rougl but kin t-hearted set of mon, they had made quite a hustle of prepara- tion 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 1 unusual freak of taste had manufactured an apology for window curtain from the remains of old white shirt which had long since been packed away i'll his trunk as unnecessary rubbish.
 ''Wimmin like sich truck" he explained apologetically as a 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 spcck of a cabin They had almost reached it when the little boy cried out; "Oh, mamma! Poppy looks so queer!e and the wife with a fast beating heart climbed over the seat to the rear of the wagon where her hus- band lay
 The last great change for h m was com ing fast an he whispered: Pray, Nellw as his beseeching eyes looked up into her pale face and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
 The poor woman had prayed in her Hi nois home, prayed for the husband leaving her so utterly and unexpectedly alone but she could not pray now. Still, she tried Ter best and her whole heart went out in her despairing invocation: "Oh, God Oh, God, draw near!' and then words died on her tongue and great sobs choked her.
 "Good-bye, Nell, tell the boys to be kind to you an'-" and the. fluttering breath ceased, and the wife was widow and his children fatherleSs.
 Mamma, Fll run to the shanty an tell the man how sick poppy is,n said the little boy, and climbing down over the wheel of the wagon he sled away as fast as his lit tie legs would carry him.
 He had never seen death. and the mother was too absorbed in her grief to explain to him that papa would never be sick any more.
 He came back soon with wide open eyes and a Quivering lip. There ain't any one there, mamma. peeked in the window an hollered all around -
 Tim Conway had gone up to the camp and tine " dow's heart sank lower still at the thought of the long, lonely ride with that still motioness form behind her He had seemed q protection even in his weak ness while the breath of life lasted, but now she was desolate indeed, and she took m in n rpi0S with q son Sp af hor,,i hIa lopa liness, which she had never before ex- perienced
 Wash Jackson, the black cook at the Collins house, was preparing to fry grid dle cakes, a favorite dish with the men, when the rumble of wheels was heard
 "That's Brad, I'll bet ye,a cried Dick Gowdy, throwing down the cards with which he was playing, and rising hastily
 Hello, pard, ye're jest in time for flap jacks' and Sam Collins threw open the door and strode out with a welcome
 stifed sob was the only reply, and he stepped back. Beg parding, who ever 'tis.o It was quite dark and the mules and the long white covered wagon were alone visible. Were expect n Brad Newell, an I'll be dratted ef this ere don't match his team to dot"
 "Poppy's sick, n said the little boys small voee; the widows sobs still choked her
 And who's pop!" asked the miner, kindly
 Pm Willie Newell, and mammals here.n
 fls Brad's team arter all I thought l couldn't be mistook He To, old feller Cheer up, man, we'll soon have you well again and the miner walked around to the rear of the wagon.
 He'll never be well any more He's dead, friends" said the widow in d cholled voice.
 Dead. We'll, now, that's rough, ma'am Blest ef 'taint, '" and one of the tystanders went into the house to carry the news.
 "Sho, now yer don't say" and Wash Jackson turned q griddle cake oyer onto