The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-11-25

let her hair loose. She had to stop IA
twist it mp. It was abundant still. bu
there were threads Of gray among th
brown, and Onner smiled little sadly
They'll DO growing up to take car
OF mo. too; for I'm aging. can't den
it; I'm growing old, or will DO to
soon" she whispered, softly.
She knew what she was going 70
now. A neighbor had stopped At he
cato that very morning while she wa
busy in tho garden
Heard the news Onner7"
mo; what IL it7'
Powder mill blow mp yesterday on
1t tho Hollow"
you don't sayi Anybody hurtT'
Eyes, three men killed. Two of then
don't know about. The other on.
was Tom Shannon"
TON Shannon! What, Roxy's hus
band?"
''For sure. Isn't 1t dreadful and
Roxy not dead three months yet; anG
those three children left without fathe,
or mother"
Haven't they any body?''
''They say not Roxy was IN only
child, you know, and Toms sister dice
out in California, and his brother, dea,
knows what's become Of him. Mis-.
Marsh was telling me they're rea
pretty children, and good and quiet
too. They're good stock. you know.
Why, Toms father was a deacon, and
Roxy's folks had minister among
them somewhere. All the same,
they're loft now. But must 60. The
dinner never'l got itself into my
kettle, though it seems to in some
folks. Come and see me, Onner, do
She was OF; and Onner. who had had
hard werk 20 keep her SMILES hidden by
her sunbennet, marched straight up to
her open kitchen door, and on into tho
pantry, where she kneeled down by
the flour barrel and just cried out: &C
Lord, make me worthy. I'm not hall
good enough to take caro- Of the poor
orphans; but just let me have them,
and make me worthy"
Then she went up tho short stairs.
Thore was a little room that the sit
ting room pipe went through. That
must be tho boys room, and she raised
tho white curtain, picked a stray Leaf
from tho yellow-painted floor, and
looked about
II hope he'll be good boy" she said
aloud.
Below, there were two small rooms
opening from that same living room.
One was her own, the other must be
for her little girls 81 can hear them
then if they're croopy at night, and it'll
be so handy when they have the
whooping- cough and the measles I'll
go out and pick a lot more sage, too;
all Of them will want sight for their
colds, and then the turkey, too,
at Thanksgiving. I'm glad 1 saved a lot
of pennyroyal in the time of it. I'll
get a piece of bright calico and CHEEKY
up things here for them. Dear hearts!
seems if couldn't wait"
You know now her errand. and the
secret Jacob was wondering over.
A half mile before it reached the lit
tie village, the road was crossed by a
railroad track, and Billy, having re-
membranes of former experiences
there. began to prick up his ears and
quite affect coltish ways.
Guess I'll stop At Uncle Silas' and
see If it's about car-time," said Miss
Onner. and turned up u short lane to a
tiny house where Uncle Silas," q
broken-down lay-preacher. lived with
his good wife. Once there it was easy
to SEQ there was trouble, for the worthy
couple were both in tears and only too
glad to unburden themselves.
''You see," said Auntie Silas, 1.-THE
town isn't willing to give US outside
help any more, and We can't get along
without: SO they say we must come
into that noisy Mill Falls, and they'll
give Us places in the Home
well, it looks pleasant there" said
Miss Onner
''Oh, it's all nice enough. too nice, in
fact. You see / used to take butter
there. and ! know ali about it, but
'tisn't home-like, the rooms are dread
ful high, and they're white as ice: and
the beds, no patchwork there: every
things SO dreadfully smooth and shiny.
But could stand all tina. il they'd only
let Sllas and me stay together"
why, can't you?"
''No, no: bit. Hes got to sit on .
bench enc side Of the wall aud I tho
other; aud in the house, SUNDAYS in
church. we can look at one another. and
Wednesday afternoon we can visit, lust
like other foiAs-and after I've cared
for and nursed him forty-five wears,
just as well as know how. It's read
fui-dreadfuit" and the quiet. hopeless
tears of the aged saint coursed down
the worn cheeks again.
Its the Lords ordering. Onner. and
ma and l mustn't say word araius.
II, the old man interrupted. with quay-
eriog voice. and ms. she doesn't mean
anything against Him. Only after
forty-five years of getting along To-
gether through ups and downs. itseerss
little strange TO think of a high
brick wall being between US. But IL
can't get between our hearts. can it,
ma? not q bit, not q bit.
We'll. haven't heard the Lord or
oering any such thing vet, said Miss
onner. "and didn, suppose there were
men mean enough TO do il,
But II Is no worse than what's hap
pcned to Lucy Wilton, went on Uncle
Silas
What's shas?'