Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-02-18

or,es 70 MS Almost usog exclusion Ons day
the child Gckens. grown violently u, disA
Her grief is silent, but intense. Shs wiz
neither eat nor s,sep; just sifs still - stons
in the little .'dugout,r and looks and ssares
at the wee waren thing which lies therein
So, when her husband rides into town to buy
the little coffin, be calls in to ses the doctor
and ask hin to come out and visit his vile
At sunset be digs the grave-such snail
grave, Al around is isolation, prairie, SKY.
The wo.nal, crouching On the ground near
the dwelling. is the only other rlourner.
The task done, be goes down into the dug
OUT and Comes up again with the little
nailed dowa box in his arms. Tenderly be
lowers il, softly be lets fall upon it each
sLorelfcl Of earth He is blind with tears
The fresh brown mound sraoothed over, be
goes up to lis vie. She does not seen to
see him. She Is boxing straight ahead.
Cory
"Doa'tl' 81, says savasely. I've lost him
and uoy il. visa was daadF
Hurt, ire>1 lute, he stands still moment
Then he goes within and sits down by the
bed \ acre the baby has lain She is GrievinS
still, then, for the man who failed to come to
her the day set for their weddingl Tilted.
deserted, yesl That was why in pique and
pride she married him, the ignorant gardener
Of her wealthy uncle, and had gone away
with him to Iowa They had not prospered
She held no communication with those at
home This year, after their baby came, they
decided to seek fortune farther west. And
now-now the baby was gone and her new
loss had brought back the old onA
Hark, voice speaks without.
'Is any one i'll herea There was . request
on my sate"-
A cryl Such queer, wild cry il is that
cuts across the strangers words The u.an
in the ''dugout" leaps to his feet, as does the
woman without Through the doorway,
against the patch of sunset sky he can see bar
standing with arms outnung.
'Willie!" she cries again: willie" d,
The doctor from town speaks hoarsely ono
word only-her name There is absolute
dlence for a little while. Then be bursts out
dercely, passionately:
"why couldn't you have waited-I did you
no wrongl When left you the week before
we we're to have been married, and went up
70 the city, got into trouble. l was no
saint. never pretended was. This was .
drunken quarrel shot a man l was un-
known, and gave false name l was held
10 await the result of his injuries-held two
months | couldn't write you the truth OF
the affair My part in it was too disgraceful
wouldn't lie So was silent till could tell
you all and ask you to forgive me. The man
to vanceton. heard you had married soms
clod hopping idiot and gone away with him.
He is good" she says slowly
The other laughs harshly. And you love
him, Of course!'
''GoI" she cries in weak, womanish fury.
Cor
'Do you love him, Coraf'
She is i'll, trembling. His brutal insistancs
forces reply. She slips down by the dug
out" and covers there with her face hidden.
"Oh, Willie! Oh, Willie" The tone say
all 1t is full of love, but love that is only
pathos, passion, despair. He turns, walks
slowly away across the prairie. He is me
chemically unhitching his horse when a heavy
tread comes toward him. In the clear silver
nes preceding twilight two men face each
other. One speaks calmly: Il heard what
you said Answer me this: II she were fires
tomorrow would you marry herr
Quick as a fash comes the reply: "By
heaven, yes."
Then DR.. Herbert, gentleman and student
drives back to town. and John Hilton goes t.
the ''dugout"-to his wife. She is still in the
same place, the same position. He gets her
hat and shawl and carefully puts them on her
Then he leaves her while and harnesses W
the horse.
Come, Cory; I'm agoin' to drive you
into town There's goin' to be a storm.
seen the clouds to the north tonight. An
this place leaks dreadful You must stay al
the hotel a while, ef we have to sell thu
team"
Without a word, stupidity it seems, SHE
obeys hin, Through the delicious June twi
light they drive the Eve miles into town
Once he speaks. Keep this" he says, and
gives her the canvas bag containing all their
worldly wealth. AT the Lotel he procures heI
q comfortable bed, soothing drink She fall.
asleep Once, twice, thrice, he kisses her
Then he goes out, climbs up on his huge
wagon, heads the horses southwark The
storm he prophesied is blowing up. Lances
of lightning stab the darkness. Now and then
sounds faint, distant rumble. A soft, strong
wind arises 1t flaps the loose canvas Of the
caravan. On the ribbed roof the first heavy
drops OF rain begin to patter. On Across
the state line, over the railroad track, up the
bluff, along the level-right along Isit here
the ''dugoutn standsl The lightning gives
him answer.
The night wears on. The storm increases
in volume. The prairies are rain washed
wind swept A terrific uproar lasts till dawn.
Then the tumult dies down. Peace comes
again upon the weary world. And the sun
rises Its radiance glitters across the wet,
green grass. Warm grows the air. The hum
Of insects becomes audible and sweet bird
songs are everywhere.
But what are bird songs to one who sleepsi
And surely he is not awake, he who stirless,
silent, drenched lies by the little grave upon
tho breast of the prairie Clutched in his
hand is something which shines in the SUM-
light. Come away Let thrush and lark and
linnet sing never SO lowly, sing till their
hearts are empty and their full threats voice
les, they cannot waken one quiet sleeper nor
change the peaceful current Of his dreamsl-
Kate III. Cleary in Chicago Tribune.
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yirginians with Remarkable Names.
The counties Of Wythe and Shenandoah