Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-06-13

come from those same town. He ha
meier been there. He hat been lifins
for three years In Minnesota
Chris was building within stone'
throw Of Pete's mansion, went o.
apace. Chris WAS to have q mule il
the spring, and was to ''break" part
of Pete's land, and in return Pete wa
to work part of the time for Chris
The dug-out was finished at last, ant
the two men lived together, first il
one residence" and then in the other
Chris, it appeared, had saved up some
money during his three years in Min
nesota-not great sum. but enough
to give him q good start In his new
home.
often rode by the two dug outs. and
saw Pete and Chris working together
in the field They were great friends,
and were no small help to one another.
| Chris provided all the food for both,
and beyond that neither of them had
to spend much money. Chris plan.
as learned from Pete one day, was
to get every thing In readiness for the
spring work-his own dug out finished,
q still ruder dug-out made for the
! mule. the necessary tools and instru-
ments laid in. He meant to buy a
mule then, cheap. aud keep him over
the winter. Very early in the spring
here Pete's voice failed him little
Chris was to be married.
II shall be ferry lonesome. to lif
alone some more" said poor Pete
IL shall hat those new neighbors. but
nobody in my own house"
Perhaps it will be pleasanter than
ever" said, ''who knows?"
'No."
you will have two neighbors in
stead of one"
Eyes, two neighbors instead of one
friend"
"You can go over to Chris house
and talk with him and his wife,
''But shall hat to begin to cook
again on my turf stole"
Perhaps not, perhaps she will be
very kind to you. She will cook
bread for you, and she will get you to
help her set out vines and flowers, and
fence in little front yard tor your two
houses, and plant trees"
Perhaps"
''And if you are sick, she and Chris
will take care of YOU"
Yes
''And Sundays, when they drive over
to Knudtsen's to meeting, they will
take you too. and then you can see
some of the people that came from
your town at home"
Perhaps" said the old man. 1--WE
shall see when she does come. Irather
hat Chris alone for my friend, and not
lif all alone in my house.
Chris made . fine bargain for a
mule. large. strong. gentle creature,
that belonged to q farmer few miles
west who was selling out" and pre-
pairing to get back to Ohio. And then
the winter set in-cold and clustering.
The road Chris travelled in going to
the post-ofice lay past my house. He
came by every Wednesday-that. I
Judged, was the day when his Mime
sofa mail came in. No rain, no snow,
no sleet, no cold, deferred him from
travelling three miles on Wednesdays
to get his letters. If Jack-that was
his mule-could make his way, Chris
drove. If not. Chris walked.
He was not particularly communica-
tive. like Pete, and although he often
stopped on his way to rest awhile at
my barn, he had never said any thing
to me of his plans. One day-a
Wednesday in April-the snow was
three feet deep. The white flakes we're
still falling slowly and steadily. Chris
had passed in the morning on his way
to the Office. and though it was now
past three o'clock and already begin
ming to grow dark, he had not been
seen returning.
Chris must have decided to stay
away tonight" said to my foreman.
as we stood in the barn door, watching
the falling snow. 'The wind is rising.
l dare say he was afraid to risk it.
It grew dark fast and the wind kept
rising The air was full of the flying
flakes. It was no longer showing, but
the wind drove the white drifts about
like clouds, and it grew colder and
colder.
We made every thing snug, and shut
ourselves up for the night.
1T is the last storm of the year." we
said. Spring is here, and when this
snow is gone the sod will turn green
and the trees put out their leaves, and
winter will be over"
The wind howled drearily all night.
But in the morning It had died away,
and the sun was shining warm and
friendly. and a few little birds were
hopping merrily about on the snow.
That was Thursday morning Friday
came and passed, and we heard moth
ing of Chris. But early on Saturday
there came q knock at my door, and
who should come in but Pete. The
old man was nearly exhausted. He
dropped into chair and said nothing
for q moment
$50 Chris went down Wednesday,
did hep" / said.
yes"
Ibid he get backP"
Yes"
THAT same day?"