The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-10

You'll have to look after him alright smart,
JAMIE
"Are you goin' to be gone FIR long time,
mother2' jamie asked, as it began to dawn
on her mind that this was to be no ordinary
absence.
"F'r long time, jamie, 'cordin' to what
the doctor says"
'Where d. you have to go to- mother?
The girl dropped at her mothers knee as
she asked the question. The mother reached
down. and with both arms drew her daugh-
ter to her bosom.
"Janie! janet jamie! Don't you under
standl Them that takes the journey never
comes back agin.'
The daughter flung her arms around her
mothers neck and sobbed in utter abandon
ment of grief The mothers heart was too
sad for tears.
At length jamie grew calmer. For many
minutes mother and daughter sat in silence,
while the teakettle in the fireplace sang a
mournful plaiut, and the clock, the mantel's
only ornament beat time to the sad tones
A step was heard at the door leading from
the living room, and the next moment the
father entered. jamie rose and glided up
stairs to her cot III the loft
Joe Lankfort looked inquiringly at his
wife
"rve told her" she said
He bent over his wife and kissed her on the
forehead without a word. Then he hastily
went out at the door through which he had
entered.
Left alone, a far away look came into the
woman's eyes, and an expression Of resigna-
ton took the place of the sadness. Her house
was in order now. She had only to wait in
patience.
And she had not long to wait. Within a
fortnight there was a fresh mound in the
Eeighborhood graveyard. A rough slab of
sandstone stood at the head Of the mound, to
be replaced by q gravestoue when the mort
gage IS paid off, =" the bereayed husband said.
The burdens Of the LaEkfort household
henceforth bore heavily on Jintsey's shout
ders, but she went braveLy to and fro, and if
she ever faltered no one knew it but herself
Sycamore creek was "up big, an still
a-raisin', when old Hudnut the gray haired,
i'll tempered and close listed holder of the
everlastin' mortgage" crossed it on his way
to Joe Lankfort's for his annual ''intrust."
As the old man did bis own collecting, he
took his own time for it, and that is how it
came about that in the evening he sat down
to the supper table where Joe Lankfort's
Jintsey, now budding into womauhood, pre-
sided as hostess. This duty she performed
with SO much dignity that the old mans at
tention was attracted, as, after the fashion
Of early days, he helped himself to the eat
ables set before him.
In the course of the meal the guest had oc-
casion to comment on the delicate favor of
some apple butter.
at is just like M mother used to make"
said he. SIS it some OF your manufacturer
he asked, turning to jamie.
at is some that mother made; some that
we've kept ever since she died, said jamie,
with little embarrassment.
It was a trifing incident, but, curiously
enough, the old fashioned flavor of the apple
butter reminded the old man of his Doyhood's
days, the days Of a sweeter and more gen
erous life. For the moment his heart was
tender, and ne fully appreciated the sacrifice
made by his young hostess i'll setting before
an unwelcome guest the treasured work of
loved hands.
He ate on in silence, and, lost in the depths
Of his reminiscent mood, forgot for while
the avarice and seIdshGeo5 Of his later life.
But Jim, simple minded fellow, grew more
y
dainty disappear before the old mans appe-
tite
Don't let ole Hudnut have bit O that"
he had said to jamie while she was setting
the table. It's too good fr him. y
But jamie considered her duty to her
guest, even though he held the 'everlastin'
mortgage"
''Go and fetch Mr. Hudnut's horse, Jim"
said the father TO his son, as soon as supper
was ended.
There was a dangerous CLEAN of mischief
in Jim's eyes as he went out. jamie saw
something was wrong, and followed her
brother to the stable.
''W What's the matter, Jim9' she asked.
He did not answer, and she repeated the
question sharply.
'Nothin much, he said.
"What are you goin' to dol Out with it,
Jim!"
She spoke in a tone Of authority
Coin to put a couple o cuckls burrs IN
der old Hudnut's saddle, that's all, said the
boy, as he opened the stable door.
None o your nonsense, Jim. You know
what mother'd say If she was Twin Now
Jest saddle that horse right an don't you go
to playin' any o your tricks on MIR. Hud-
nut"
Then she dropped her voice to kindly
tone, and added:
DO Jest what's right, jim. The man that
eats at our table must be treated jest like he
was our friend, Jin-rccOllecU that
She returned 10 the house, and Jim obeyed
the order, as jamie well knew he would,
though why be did not carry out his original
plan he could not have explained. Perhaps
he began TO look upon the guest as 4 friend
of the family, as JAMES last remark seemed
to make hun.
Ii was growing dark when Eudnut mount
ed his horse TO start home. Lankfort eau
toned him about the ford:
"Itll be purity nigh miisides TO your horse,
an you'll have to draw your feet up or you'll
Git EN- wet. Don't steer. straight across FIR
t'other side-jeSt turn right smart up
stream. If you don't youth git into ten foot
water at tho fur end O the foot log. Be
mighty lleerfui, now"
"Oh, I'll have no trouble in crossing" said
the old man, as ne started or.
Hudnut gave his horse the rein, and, yield
ing to his mood, began talking 20 himself 1t
was a habit he had.
THAT Landort girl is . real little lady,
amt she, HuinutT' he was saying as his
horse stepped into the swollen stream. What
pity they're 50 poor-Waoa, Hold on,
here, How was Il, Huinut! Steer a little
up stream, or straight acroSsE'
He heSiUated moment, and then started
straight for the landing opposite
In quarter OF a minute rider and horse
were hounGering in the ten foot hole Of
water At the END Of TIE foot log. Somehow
the old man loSv his scat and was carried By
the current against the foot log. which be
caught with both hands, and was out Of i'm
mediate danger Of drowning. He was on the
up stream side Of the log, and the current