The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-11-22

| turned away, they saw her falling ia
the earth unconscious. and kindly and
| lovingly they carried her in their arms
to the nearest house.
Before reaching there she had re-
yiscd. and insisted on beng carried
back TO the cottage whence her beloved
ones had been taken. and only the late
ness Of the hour. and the dangerous
condition of the roads after night-fall,
induced her to relinuuish her design.
Even this would not have deferred her
had they not made her feel that she
would risk other lives than her own.
| since they would not permit her to 60
alone if nothing could induce her to re.
main Thus urged, she consented TO
| remain until morning, but nothing that
could be said could induce her to stay
longer. No offer OF any one TO make
their house her home until she heard
| from Erastus and Lucy would she ac.
| cept
! ErastIs would come rs soon as they
] got her letter, she knew. and she would
wait for him at the old place on the
mountain side. So they took her there
and two Of the neighbors remained
through the first day and night. and
when they went away. they sent an
elderly woman Of the neighborhood.
noted for her kindness in sickness and
| in death. 10 remain with her until
| Erastus should come. This, she told
| them, was unnecessary: she did not fear
/ being alone, and was quite able to do
| what little there was to BIZ done in TAX
ing car. of the stock and poultry.
i Dat Il - Il
so the woman staid. and every day 9TH
ers came to see if there was anything
that the two needed, but there was sell
dom ANYTHING that they could do.
Mrs Parsons had learned from others
| the full extent of the misfortune regard.
ing the mortgage. and knew that the
place must 90, but this did not worry
| her. If she still possessed it. Erastus
and Lucy could have come and lived
| with her, but since she did not, she
would 90 to them, that was all the diff
ference. And if they were forced t
leave their own ranch, why, they wonlo
ind shelter somewhere else; il did no
greatly matter where. A part had gon,
on ahead TO the country beyond thu
grave, and the rest would follow befor,
very long AL! her thoughts were cen
tered there now. and it mattercd littl,
what became of earthly interests.
1t was a full week before Erastu
came. The letter had been delayed few
DAYS on account OF the mood, and thel
had remained another day uncalle'
for in the office, for while the dead wer
being laid away upon the mountain
sde, a new life was beng u,hercd in q
the Slough.
, The same day on which the lette
was received saw Erastus start; Luc
. and the baby. both Of whom We're dom
well, being left in the care of Mrs John
son and another neiahboring woman
He reached Phppsburg by the mornin
boat and had no difficulty in | nd n
, means OF getting out to the cottage, TO
the calamity which had befallen tn
Parsons family was in every mouth
and there were numbers who wer
ready TO offer assistance to one VIII
came 10 care for the lonely woman VII
had endured such suffering.
Mrs. Parsons saw him coming up tn
lane and met him in the yard in front @
the cottage. Up to this nj ment sh
had not sned tear, and not Il sob ha'
choked her utterance. but great blacl
rings about the sunken eyes, and
; STOPPING of the form as she went ibou
the hou e and yard. told palmer al
tears could do how heavy was the grie
at Ler heart. She had herself won
dered that she could not cry. but sh
could not: and when she woulI hav
done SO, ler eyes grew hot, but NJ
tears ever came to quench the flame
that seemed to consume them. Blu
when Erastus came. and, putting hi
. arms about her, kissed her cheek an
! brow, and smoothei her hair. in whc
the gray had grown suddenly promi
! nent, she put her head upon his shoul
der and wept as if she never woul
cease.
And So with his arm about her. an
his own tears falling fast, he led lie
/ gently into the cottage. and when sh
! grew calm. told her OF the birth of lac
!. grandchild. Then they talked of wha
!, it was best to do. and as Erastus wa
| determined not to yield up his place .
, the Slough without first exhaustin
/, every effort in defense of his rights,
, was decided TO leave everything whic
: Mrs. Parsons did not wish TO take wit
! her, in care Of ncighbor, to be solo
: while she returned with Erastus to th
Slough. and to Lucy and the baby.
n Accordingly, the wearing apparel an
: few household goods. including ii
! little wheeled cot in which johnny ha
/ lain SO long. and which Mrs. Parsor
!. could not bear to have go into 9th,
q hands, was packed and loaded, and Il
y next afternoon neighbor drove the
. to the Landing, and the cottage upe
a the III fountain side was left desolate.