The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1891-02-11

| 4
HE SHOT ACROSS THE MOUTH OF THE PIT.
her at the front door and instantly
sensed the dreadful meaning of her cry.
He bounded past her. hardly seeming
to touch the ground. Seeing no one
about the mill, and hearing no sound
save the idle droning of the saw as it
played against the empty air. his
quick intuition drew him to the edge of
the pit.
| The flow from Lonesome gashed and
mangled side had silently enlarged the
| borders of the bright red blot upon
the sawdust. and left him Slapped of
consciousness. and almost of life. The
face which Rev. Dearborn looked down
| upon was as white as the face of the
dead He hailed the returning work
men, and tenderly they lifted him from
his grave-like pit. laid him on strong.
wide board and carried him to the par
sonage.
The wound had been dressed and
throughout the long. bright afternoon
the lad had lain in total unconscious
| ness.
As the supper hour came and the
workmen struggled slowly out of the
mill yard one of them left the silent
group and came over to where FL Jigga
stood sentinel at the gate.
| He said nothing. but tears dropped
from his sunburned cheeks. as ne took
Lonesome's dinner-pail and put it into
her hands.
As she took the dinner-pail to her
mother, with wondering face and tremb-
ling voice. she asked:
Mamma. where's my 'Onesome:
| Him don't tum.''
My child. he is in papa 5 room asleep,
and Fl Jiggs must keep very still"
The child stood in thoughtful silence
a moment. and then said:
| Il des him would s'eep better if F.
Jiggs God sing Joy Bells to 'Onesoms
- Non do
Unable to speak. the mother gave
nod of approval and Fl Jiggs trippei
lightly away to the silent room. wherf
not a word broke the stlllness.-not
sound. save the mellow .'twing-ee-e-e,:
OF the black birds, as they swayed to
and fro on the bending rushes of the
pond.
The door opened softly. just wide
enough to admit a very little body. then
IS softly closed behind her.
She stole gently to the corner where
her own little rocker and all her dolly
things stood.
Sweeter than the maths of black
birds. though they piped perfect jubi.
lee, was the child-song that swelled
from her lips. as she rocked her dearest
dollie and sang:
Joy bells ringing,
Children singing
Hear their voices,
Loud and clear
AS the last note floated from the baby
lips. his eyes opened to meet hers.
The same smile, so sweet. so gentle,
so inviting. Lit all his face and left no
need for pale lips to falter words of
love and welcome.
Dropping her doll, she took her tiny
wash bench from its place behind the
door. placed it by the bedside. and by its |
help clambered onto the bed.
Nesting close beside him. she slipped |
ACi uooS us Ills ucCh. ana gen. |
tly pressed her flushed, rosy cheek |
against his-so pale and bloodless-then |
all was still.
The little arms drew closer. closer |
about his neck. She kissed his lips. |
his cheeks, his eyes and said in her |
sweet. simple. pleading directness:
''P'ease don't ii: don't be afaid. l |
dol lore 90. Ido.r'
After moments silence she whis-
pered. half-fearfully. half-pleadingly:
Talk to 'oor FL Jiggs, p'ease do
No answer
Still she waited and yet he did not
speak.
Softly, as though not to wake him,
she loosed her arms from his neck, and
cautiously slipped from the bed until
her feet touched the little wash bench.
Did she understand the mystery of
death?
Ask those who found her standing
there. on tiptoe, with one small up
stretched hand laid lovingly upon his
cold, white brow.
FORREST CRIssEY.