The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-04-08

~ 80 A84t1F tNft| MtM y KO~
N 20 stir "A step. not with my on
sent. he cried, angrily.
'>h-sh. father whispered his wife.
Don't let's have u words about H."
Miranda put her api q to her eyes
I'm sure I don't want TO have no
words" She whimpcrec.
ilesba stood up with her hand on her
husbands shoulder. we won't say
anything more. Miranda III 90 to
Williams as soon ~ ] IN get my
things ready, an stay till your com
pany's gone"
Miranda walked ont OF the room
without answering. She had gained
the day. and there was nothing more
TO be said. but she still held her apron
10 her eyes.
The old people had seldom been sep
arated, even for a day, and during tho
time that interviewed they would sit.
hand in hand, by the hour. trying for
lornly to find some way OF escape from
Miranda's plan.
Its no use. father" sighed licsbn.
"she's made up her mind to save me go
and to 20 fore Jason comes home. an
she won't r~s' till she get, me out o.
the house"
'Vell. she'll repent IT," said the old
man. shaking his head.
Don't father" entreatcd his wife.
"Tain't for us to make her repent H."
II was not until the time came to say
good-by that the children began TO
comprehend that she was going away.
"Gramma mustn't do" cried little
Della. clinging to Hesba's skirts. and
then the baby set up . wall and re-
fused to be comforted.
Hesba strained the little creatures for
a m to her bosom. II don't want
any harm to come toyou, Mirandy," she
said. turning TO her daughter in-law,
but l can't help fcarin' that scparatin'
father an me, a. you're doin', the Lord
may see fit to separate you from some
O them you love"
That was her farewell word.
When Jason came home the fol-
lowing week il was an easy matter for
Miranda to make him believe that his
mother had gone OF her w free will
| to visit her brother. the old man, b
| dent to his wifc's entreaty. keeping 81
lent. She took mucn credit to herself
for having gtd it SO well. Her
visitors came and went. but she said
| not "A word about Hesba's coming home.
Not ever the old mans pleading eyes
| could move her.
One morning in November while Mi
randa was busy in the kitchen little
Nan wandered into the yard and
amused herself for half an hour chas'
ing the chickens. The ground was
covered with slush and that night tho
child was seized with diphtheria.
For three days she lay tossing and
moaning. and almost the only words
that passed her lips were: Gamma.
ont gamma
'.liaby can't have gran'ma. Gran'ma''
gone said Miranda. ''Mommer's here
to take care o Nan"
But she was not skillful at nursing
Nan grew rapidly worse, still moan
ing for gamma and death came will
the suidcnncss characteristic OF tn
disease.
Jason reached home the day befor'
the funeral. He was almost heart
broken. You'd ought 70 sent 70
mother" he said At once.
II don't know what for" MIRANDA
protested. ia an injured voice. ''Th'
doctor an me did everything that coul'
be done. an there wouldn't be an,
earthly use sending for her now"
A day or two later little Della cam
and leaned against her knee Is she sa
sewing. II want my gramma." SAFE
the child. with a ~iong-drawn sigh. Il
want her to tell me stories"
..Delie seems to think she hol's
mortgage on mother" said the OLE
man: an | guess it's legaler an thu
one some other folks hol,."
Miranda WINGED, hut she was to-
wise TO make him any nnswer. 'Got'
gran'pa.' she said TO Della "llcl
, tell YOU bout jack the Giant-killcr /"
II doesn't want 10 hear bout Jack I
Giant-killer." said the child, perverse'
~. .sGramma she tellei M stories
bout little chilen love one anuver.'
Her grandfather took her on hi
knee.
THAT was said for grown-up folks a
we'll as for little children" he re
marked, looking furtively at Miranda
ian il means that every body ought Z
be lovin' an kind TO each other"
..Gramma was lovin' an kind" sai'
Della
The old man laid his cheek agains
hers. but he drew back with a startlc
face.
why. Mirany. this child's sick!" III
exclaimed. shes got a ragin' fever
Miranda threw down her sewing an'
snatched the child away from him
Della was her idol.
II want gramma." repeated the littl'
one. drowsily.
Just then Jason game in.
go telegraph Tor mother" crie'
Miranda. TELL her not to wait 70
anything"
When the doctor came the next after
noon he found his little patient ncstle'
IN Hcsba's lap. while, close beside them
his chin on his cane, and his lace beam
ing like q lovers. sat the old man
..Ah, she is better said the doctor
.sShc is getting on finely"
Were all better piped the oil
man. blinking behind his glasses.
We've got our gramma back sal