The National tribune., 1891-12-03

4 bNCieNs
As Brmt eonGdcd TO Reedcr later, for the
moment he did not know whether he WAS on
/ loot or horseback, so dumbtuunded was he.
/ Bui hequic;y remembered little Jackcy' need
and told bis Owaud.
few moments later they were hurrying
across the prairie 10 the rescue Of Jackey.
The attacl, was nothing serious after all, and
directly be had had some soothing drops that
/ the widow brought with her, the poor little
wretch, who for SO long had known nothing
better than the heroic cuddling Of the men,
Struggled contentedly against the widows
/ shoulder IN peace. Sims stayed to soc the out
come of the matter and grained as he saw
! BTuut take Eucdpr Of 10 OuC side aud whisper
something that made the last.mamcd gentle
man cape In surprise.
That's the widdcr!" whispered Braut.
"Git out!' demonstrated Rcederi she amt
4 got false toethl"
Jackcy had fallen asleep in her arms, poor
/ liiiie rte Presently il was time for her TO
return 10 her claim Jacllcy objected rlgor-
ously.
I've" hogan Bmut, we're much
/ obliged 10 you. IL Jackoy Is taken again that
/ way, will-Can yuu w.
Oh, yes, J shall be glad 10 come over, the
/ little widow answered.
Presently she was gone Sims had departed
a few minutes before. For the time being
Jacley refused 10 be comlorted FOR the loss of
. his ncw-louua friend.
.lacllcys head is pretty level said Recder,
cautiously.
She'll come back again if he has another at.
/ tack, said Brant after a while
IL may lave been that the two bachelors
were so inhuman as 20 hope sncakingly That
j poor Jacley would be again attacked.
A week. two, passed, and Jackey continued
+ in excellent health, and the bachelors saw no
/ m0rc Of thC little widow. Then presently, the
baby was seized again, this time apparently
worse than before. lie screamed and cried
1 and suddenly grew silent and settled back in
4 Brauts arms, rigid and still, making the man
gasp with the fear that he was going 10 lose
forever the little fellow who had grown so Gcar
10 him. Rccdcr happened la at that moment.
JaCkey las -
One might have thought that RoeGcr was al
M 81 delighted M Jackcy' strait. Away he tore.
4 The Doctor stopped him when only within
shouting distance Of the widow house. Rccder
attempted TO ignore the dog aud aroused his
/ wrath 20 the extent that there was no advauc-
! ing without n pitched battle. From that mo-
ment the Doctor was an unc0mpmsing enemy
+ 70 Rocdcr. The hest the mHn could do was 10
shout till he brought the little widow to the
door.
Jackey's got IL aga-a-a-in +" he Toarod, and
she understood and hurried TO the rescue
Poor little Jackcy had a hard fight and mar
row escape THIS time, and the men were well
nigh in despair as they hung heiplessly about
/ him while the widow worked for his life. IL
was several hours before he began to mend
much, but presently he was sleeping ia tho
widows arms, with his pinchcd little face cud-
1 died close - hers.
Mrs. Nelson" said Brant stumbingly.
there is no way-I can't thank you! Bat, II
/ -Jackcy--ifI had lost him. lip
His bearded chin tremblod as he turned
away.
il would have been fought" finished
! Reeder.
The widow strolIod the Whitley head cuddled
| against her shoulder
81 know" she said, simply. my baby-he
I was just such another little fellow when he
died in my arms"
THAT was tough, tooiD commented Reodor.
awkwardly but sympathctically, feeling des-
perately that somebody ought to say some
/ thing.
il was nearly sunset.
Il must 20 now said the widow. "Cannot
take JaCkcy home with me2"
Aud Jackcy went with her.
The next day the men went 10 fetch tho,
1 baby home. The Doctor cvinced a desire 10
throttle Reeder at his approach, but was quiet
cd by bis mistress
Jaczey was contonted ana happy but when
/ Braut attempted 10 take him away he clung 10
the widow with all the might Of his little Gn-
gers, and cried as il bis heart would break
n ~ Ut
/ till the following day. When they again went
after him, Braut wondered why Reeder must
think il necessary 10 30 too. RccGer was be-
coming trilc Olici0us, he thought The Doc
tor must have thought 30, too, for Rcedcr was
obliged 10 beat him of with picket. pin, which
happened TO be lying handy.
Jackey walled piteOusly when Brant tried 70
take him away.
"Oh, couldn't You give him 10 me? said the
little widow. " I-I-that is-Iny baby was u Z
older than hot"
81 couldn't part with him." said Brant,
sobcrly. " lie Is an ] have In the world 10 To-
he's all ] have"
And, finally, Jaclzey was taken away, crying
dismaliy all the way home. After the little
fellow had cried himself 10 sleep, BTant fell to
thinking.
/ Il'
Then he gazed az his honest face in his BIT OF
a mirror aud shook his head.
"She wouldn't do il he muttcrcd.
Meanwhile Rcedcr was doing some deep
thinking. lie, also, studied himself in the
glass, aud was pretty well satisfied with the re-
Election. lie had been entertaining suudry
new ideas ever since he FIRST met the widow a
Braut's.
"But Jackcy an that blamed dog are against
me-" be muttered. But D.
Upon tho following day, Sims, having 10
Gated "a newcomer on claim several miles be-
{ yond there, stopped 81 BTauts on his way back
10 the settlement lie found Rocdcr there
} Rcedcr had begun 20 BE somewhat suspicious
{ Of Sims. What brought him 10 that neigh.
0 boThood so oftonf
Sims was ia reminiscent mood, aud pres
? emily told the bachelors what he knew Of tho
little widows unhappy married life.
o "And, BOW" continued be, after the recital
. was done, when see the brave struggle that
: little woman is making fighting against th'
Q priyatlOns Of life on a prairie claiIn-when
I think Of il all, ] feel that il Is a shame thai
q some one don't help her 81 her struggle"
, lie chuckled 10 himself AS he saw q look o
c determination come over RcedcT's face
well i must be going" he said, presently
K "Soe you again Saturday. I'm going 10 call on
j. the little widow then, and-Woll, maybe III
j. have some news 10 tell you!"
r This last was accompanied by q wink tina
Z made BraHts honest heart sink and RcCde
d long TO throw a chair at Sims
D Hang that Sims!" PrOWlcd Recder aftc
& he had reached home. I'D like to-wal
+ IN show him thing OF two, Tor al bis smart
n ness
e II took him the better part Of the time iii
Il Saturday 10 complete his preparations 10
e showing" Sims. lie composed a nice speed
Ir Cmbodying declaration Of undying affection
and an offer Of his heart and hand. He planne
a program Of procedure, and when SatuTda
came, shaved and d0nned his best clothes.
II il would be we'll 30 see what Braut wa
- about, be thought. Rccder had grown suspic
ious Of him as well as Of the land agent. Whe
be he reached the Brant place both its oWne
u and Jackey were missing. lie thought d
amid mass where fI4rg bYI ug.ta unN ct gr