The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-13

died 1t was thus that she would go at
last, and he would be free. Evidently
she had not thought of this He had
best remind her
'-Life's unsartin. All got to die some
time. Best be ready he said, in a
cheerful tone
This was the beginning Of long
struggle. Each occupied ground that
was impreg1able and 2 retrea: TO
their fortresses ended most of their
skirrnishes for the time.
Then Samuel CLARK reminded his
mother, scarcely ten years his senior,
that she was old. and must soon die,
and then he would wear his best clothes.
travel Her only defense was: "Yes,
Samuel, but hope to be able to lay
you away FIRST You know, Samuel,
you're deef, and you'd be cheated out OF
your eye teeth l hope to be spared as
long as you need me, SaEl-u-el"
And Samuel, who knew what this
kindness aad care meant. was not
his deafness and the ability Of the
world TO cheat him. Dearer than him
self was his little property, which he
SO longed to enjoy in his own way. He
felt powerless, yet impotently welded
his one weapon. '.All got to die. The
old die first" In his thought the flower
of youth was yet to bloom for him.
As to the picket fence, it seemed to
Samuel that she had always wanted it
Given passion for flowers. firm faith
in the economic value of chickens, and
no picket fence, the result is easily
imagined Mary Clarks husband had
considered flowers q sinful waste of
land and labor. What were door-y ards
for, if not for the chickens? And
Samuel felt that in order to be the man
of the house he must clothe himself as
with armor in the opinions OF his father
He could not remember the summer
when flowers had not bloomed around
the door; and that they might do SD.
his youth had passed in wearying
chase after chickens. When he had be-
come old enough TO go to the fields,
generations of brindled dogs had worn
out their lives in the same occupation.
Like his father, Samuel abhorred q
blossom that was not harbinger OF an
edible fruit Apple blossoms were
beautiful to him because of the apples
to follow. They were more beautiful
after the petals had fallen, revealing
the round green ball At their base
which dispelled the fear of barren
pistiL But he had grown accustomed
to the flowers in the dooryard. He
would ha We missed them had they failed
to appear. He would have missed those
vigilant skirmishers, the chickens, had
they been limited to d space of their
own. He would have missed the per-
sistent reminders of his mother that
IF that there fence was only built-r'
and his own unfailing antagonism-
Perhaps he would not hav e liked to miss
any OF these things
Il tell you what it is, Snn-u-el Clark,
all L want Ia to get yon away hong
enough, and I'll build that fence my.
self she said at last. desperately
No teliin' what may happen before
next spring. the old man crowed, his
bleared eyes lighting. Perhaps you
won't be here by that time Best be
ready. All got to die The old first"
"Well, Samuel. if die first, l don't
expect no picket fence. There won't be
any money to build it W it'll, or any farm
to build it on, inside year. You know
you're deef, Sam-u-el They'll cheat
you out of everything you've got"
''I'll risk it, D. it! I'll risk it."
yelled Samuel, with unusual vim. But
this time he had gone too far.
Il nW have that fence, so there now.
Samuel Clarl,!" and that very after
noon she drove to town and ordered
thesmaterials. The,neSt morning they
came and man to make Of them
fence. 81
Samuel eyea the work sullenly. His
mother was silent but triumphant
AS Mary Clark stood in the shade of
her apple tres giving her orders as to
the distance apart and depth of post
holes. figure emerged from the house.
and. when she caught sight Of it, was
jogging rapidly down the road. 1t
was thin figure, not very tall. It's
clothes hung loosely about it Its hat
was iammed down to its ears. and its
gray hair Haunted out beneath the rim.
Across its shoulders was stout stick,
at the aft end of which dangled a bum
lle. She had gone too far also. Samuel
was running away.
''Humphl' shifted Mary Clark: 'T bet
hat picket fence he'll bo back TO din. |
her"
But he was not. At three o'clock she !
ordered the work stopped, hitched her 1
horse TO the buggy, aud started after |
lin. She found him ten miles down |
he road. seated on rail at the corner /
If fence.
''Sam-u-el!''
No answer. He was staring straight |
,efore him with dull eyes. Perhapz he |
lid not hear her His face showed 1
white through the ssreaks of dust. So |
onely and hopeless he looked, it ;
ouched her 70 the heart. Little /
'amueli Had she not vowed TO take
are of him? She climbed ou, Of TIA,
'ugyy and went to him She touched
is hand
why, Samuel. you're coldl Get
light in the buggy and come homer
Il won't" said Samuel, without look-
ng az her.
We'll. you riX-if have 20 carry
oui" She took hold Of him He
eized the fence behind him and faced
er with blazing eyes
You let go o me-" he yelled Then
= began 20 cry, and make terrible
hoking noises. as the dumb do
Samuel. Sam u-ei, what's the mat
er with you2 Have you pi1rob gone