, 1889-01-24
HER ONLY GRAVE.
Betts Was Buried In II. and She Wa.
Dstermined He should Rest There.

Betts Was Buried In II. and She Wa.
Determines He should Rest There.
She came into my office in Southern
Kansas town one day in the middle Of
summer. She was q thin-faced. faded
woman OF SO. with sunken eyes and look
Of frightened despair. She had seen sor-
row and suffering. Her dress was taste
less affair of dirty brown and green, with
red ribbons dragging at the aide.
Are you the city clerkp" she asked In
pitiful tone that showed hec unfamiliarity
with city ways. She was timid. hesitat.
ing and frightened.
"No. madam. am not replied.
"Where is be?"
Really, ! do not know. In his Office,
presume"
Where is bis Officer I'm 80 puzzled
with things here that can t lind nothing"
she pleaded.
Something about her made me leave INV
desk and go 10 the door of the citv clerk.
whose Office was on the same floor. He
was not in; the Office was closed. | re-
turned to my visitor.
I'll am sorry. madam, but he has gone
out and the office is closed"
"Oh, dear. | wish ] could find him."
Couldn't you leave word with me?"
~ don't know--you might help me some
You see walked in from my house six
miles out in the country. aud | didn't
want to come in for nothing"
"Of course not. shall be only too glad
to help you."
You see it's about my lot up in the
buryin' ground. Belts is buried there
My name is Belts. I'm his widder.''
There was little, choking sob in her
voice that made me turn my head and
look out OF the window, though without
apai NJ a mol thinn n mi aha a.t
on:
Belts died last spring an left me alone.
We put him up there, though wanted to
take him back east where the children is,
an where we grew mp. but couldn't. 1t
cost too much"
"Are none of the children herep" /
asked to divert her thoughts.
mot one. can 20 back TO them, and
suppose III have to. but want to stay
out on the prairie and sew. But, as was
q sayin', amt U0t much money, and ]
was told that IL didn't pay for Belts
lot the men would take him up and put
him in the poorhouse corner. An they
shan't do that. They mustn't stir him. ="
but haven't you paid for the lot yetP"
! asked.
mot quite. but pretty near. You see,
John CHATS our oldest boy) IL Qoin' to
don't Cd rn much, 30 it comes slow. But
we'll paw ii, and Belts won't DO moved TO
the potter's field, will hep
mo. madame, of course not. But who
told you he would be, anyhow?'
The undertaken"
The villain, he was trying to ruin his
rivals reputation.
"You see," she continued in the same
piping voice. 'it was awful hard for me
TO lose Beta. and I've struggled to pay
the doctors bill. The lot couldn't pay
for just nov, but when my son sends the
moaey will. Belts was tho frat one 10
90, and We ell feel 80 bad yet. won't
have him put Ia the potter's field, not II it
kills me-"
I assured her that | would see the city
clerk and bs certain that the form OF her
husband was not disturbed, and she went
slowly and mournfully out into the street
and started on the long walk homeward.
Her sole companion seemed that lonely
grave in an unpaid-for lot in the bleak
prairie cemetery. For that she lived. and
for taat she would sacrifice anything. It
gave me pleasure few weeks later TO
know that "John" had forwarded the
money for the lot. and Belts" would be
allowed to sleep unmolested in his original
last resting place.-Detroit Free Press