The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1893-01-07

thin cheeks, an unwelcome strength
in the weary limbs that had so long
lain helpless.
Before the noisy clock should again
strike - its gong was muffied, for Hes
ter's mother was fast slipping away to
the mansions in her Fathers house
Another year had rolled away and
Hester was sitting alone by the open
window where once her mother had
sat for SO long. 1t was now eleven
years since Eben Hayward had gone
west and Hester would soon be 80
years old. The lilacs were in bloom
again and then was when Hester al
ways felt most lonely and sad She
did not doubt Eben once herself If
he never returned it would be because
death had overtaken him. If she only
knew!
A shadow fell across the path of sum
light on the kitchen floor and a tall.
thin, poorly clothed form came past
the blooming lilac bush. Tramps
came often to Hester's door and were
never turned away unfed. She went
out to the kitchen
Does Miss Hester Long live here?"
the stranger asked.
"Yes, | am She"
He stepped inside
Il guess you don't know me-I-"
"Eben!" she cried, holding o,lt both
hands. "Oh, Ebcn Hayward!-you
have come back at last"
q kept thinking week by week I'd
strike it somewheres at last, SO could
write and tell YOU" he explained, after
little while, land then l got down
into that God-forsaken part of Arizona
where it was worse than ever, and |
hadn't the heart to write. I rather
then you thought l was dead, SOS that
you'd feel free to marry some one of
the other fellows l knew was wanting
you. But last year when l struck
that pile of gold in my claim I never
thought about you bein' married to
anybody else-I knew you would not
give me your promise for nothing. So
just as quick as ever / could | turned
it into ready cash at good figure and
started for home with it in my belt for
you. But | was followed and robbed
and left for dead just as l got into
Kansas state, so that / give up all
heart in anything But made up my
AlilSl W VI dLi III but ICSJ UI IHe WaN
home, if / only got here in time to see
you once before come to die. How
ever, I'm not for dying now-I feel
like new man" Yet the smile on
his haggard face and the glitter in his
eyes, and the new strength of which
he was so proud, told different story
to Hesters experienced eyes.
He would not wait for any refresh
ment, but insisted on her accompany
ing him to his fathers house. He
seemed afraid to lose sight of her. and
Hester, seeing what was coming.
yielded to him as one yields to sick
child. He was hardly inside the home
door when the hunger, exposure and
excitement he had endured proved too
much and he fell fainting to the floor.
There were weeks and weeks of vio-
lent, feverish suffering before Eben
Hayward recognized Hester again.
They had more than once despaired OF
his life, but at last he rallied and
slowly, slowly came back to reason
and a degree of strength
Hester" he said one morning when
the June roses were fading, "please
read me those verses in the bible I
ieoo w you VIC ady "eHl dWdJ-aHu
you sat there under the lilac bush
with such a wicked smile on your lips.
was so scared l could hardly read. l
remember the meaning, but / have
forgotten the verses, for haven't seen
a bible since then"
Hester read them to him.
And now," she said, with crimson
face and lowered eyes, Il have enough
for you and me both until you get
well and strong, and then you can be-
gin over again to prepare that place
for me and | will help you"
There was a wedding few days
afterward at the parsonage near by,
and Hester Hayward is as happy as
though Eben had indeed brought her
fame and fortune when he came back. |
Belle Y. Logon.