, 1888-12-02

Cal and Jerry, who had administered
some of the brandy that the latter had
brought from Prairie City, and had
made a doubtful quality Of beef tea
over n little fire down in tho hollow.
With awkward gentleness they had
pushed back tho gray hair and had
placed fragrant flowers all about her
head.
DO you think you will find my boy
soonf" her faint voice piped, as Long
Jess looked into the wagon.
"He'l DO yere right soon, gram
nav " no answered. II saw him jest
n little bit ago.
Her wrinkled face lit up with such
a look of gladness, that for IN instant
Jess heart smote him at the thought
of tho deception they were about TO
practice upon the sick woman.
But it's for tho best, he muttered,
ms no turned away, TITS a shame,
but It's the best we kin do.n
Every face in tho circle that gath
cred about tho outcast was hard and
stern. In a few pointed words Long
jess told tho story.
IF she don't find her boy right
soon, she never will. II she thinks
fora few weeks she's found him, we
reckon she may pull through to health
an be able TO 60 OIL with her search.
Sinks, you look nearest NV any NV us
like her sons picture, You look like
him, an II you don't net like him,
wou-wal, you understand
Only Long jess accompanied sknAos,
the outcast, TO the wagon.
Well, yer boys come, gran'maw,"
he said, and turned away.
10 n.aa a-.la.A A. a.
wns a success, for the committee heard
the faint glad cry of the old womnn
as the outcast bent over her.
PAUL My boyl my boym
Then tho committee turned their
backs and walked away out OF hear
ing. No one said anything for SOW
eral moments. Presently Cal spoke,
gravely;
II new lowed Sinks had no feel
ms but-did you see his facet"
Il saw It," answered Long Jess,
shortly.
After nearly a quarter of an hour
had passed, jess went to tho wagon.
he was gone a long time, but when
he reJoined the group Sinks remained
ut the wagon.
Boys" said Long jess, eth work.
You ort TO have seen the gladness in
her ole wrinkled facet 1 reckon she'll
live to find her boy yit. But l have
tho Idly of the time when we've got to
tell-wal, maybe We'll find him fore
that"
AN Slinksf" questioned Cal.
He's got feclin'si If l hadn't n
knowed, I'd allowed he found his ole
mother. Scar on his check must be
sorto / k the one on her boys, for she
was a-noticin' it, an a-sayin' sumthin'
bout Bessie's 'memberin' how Paul'd
saved her life at the risk of his OWE.
When she had said that, I'll swear
Sinks eyes were full NV tears! He's
got feelin's, Sinks has"
1t was nearly a week later, after the
sick woman had been provided with
comfortable quarters in Prairie City,
where she was rapidly improving
under the son like m~inistrations Of
Sinks, the outcast, that the emigra-
ton committee were holding n meet
ing in the shade of Marshall's general
store"
II believe Sinks is sick, Long jess
was saying. Not but that he works
works like q redhead to do every
thing in the world to make the sick
woman happy. But, someway, he acts
so blamed queerl Eyes red like he'd
ben cryin'. Don't pay no attention to
what n body says to him less it's the
ole lady. She don't hafto much more
than whisper before he hears her"
Sick, l reckon" agreed Cal. "But
if l could git hands on hat thar shore
enough o that stays away an leaves
his mother TO the Reer NV Sinks I'd
mako him sicker'n Sinks tsp
His tracks wouldn't stop this side
NV the state liner said Long jess.
Must a-thought a heap NV him.
Her longin' to see him was SO strong
that she sold out what little she had,
an, half sick, started west to hunt for
him. When she reached the end of
the railroad it took the best part NV her
little money TO buy the team an
wagon. No Idly whur to find him. No
word from him in many a long day;
but she started with the determine
ton, woman like, to look all over the
west to find her boy. Took sick an
kept a-gilttin' worse, but kept right on
in the hunt fer her boy. Then the
balance is a blank to her. Got out of
her head. Don't know whur nor how
long the team wandered ar'und. But
now she's happy, thinkin' at last she's
spA ~ IVY II ia kIL
of the feller-roamin' around in the
west at his ease, while his ole mothers
pore an needy, and breakin' her heart
fer him-Idn-
A figure came around the corner.
1t was Sinks.
Maybe he did not know how bad
her condition was" he said, abruptly.
Perhaps, when he left, misfortune
had not taken the most of her prop
erty. Perhaps, discouraged, heart
broken, he had gone west, where mis-
fortune met him at every turn, till
he sunk-sunk-well, perhaps the
thoughts of homo served still more TO
dishearten him, and"-
Wouldn't thoughts of his mother
IN of Bessie
Bessie died before he left home"
said Sinks, gravely. "She was his
sweetheart in those old, happy days
We'll, he was unlucky, heartsick, dis
couraged and sank"-
do you reckon he'd try to lift him
self up II he had a ole mother an u
gang NV friends, which gang KANT
precisely express all their feelin's,
butt
He would try" said Sinks ear-
nestly.
Tonu t., ..l -. Ill