The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-17

In sympathy with them. The minor chord
in life is very fascinating when IL does not
yibrate for ourselves.
Kit saw her at last. and sprang up hasti-
IL. htr cheeks ntiame from the exertloD.
and her short curls. tossed and tangled by
the evening wind, standing MP like n halo
about her head. Kit was hardly more than
seventeen. but we'll developed for her age.
showing the effect of mountain air and
training.
Glad to sea your She extended her
hand. grimy with ashes and charred sticks.
The old woman looked up without any
interest at the arrival-no light In her
faded gray eyes.
Mother" Kit waved her hand, by way
of introduction. in the direction OF the fry
ing pan.
The old woman grizzly nodded.
Bill" Her voice sOftened as she stepped
near the couch. The man looked up with
a CLEAN of interest ms Mary Fenton came
forward and offered him the fruit.
Thanks" He spoke in n fretful voice.
broken by coughing. I'm powerful tired
OF bacon. Them cherries look COOL"
Kits hands hung listlessly by her side. A
look of distress crept into her soft eyes. II
know. Bill. It's powerful hard. The bacon
is salt and hard; but it's oil l can 90 just
now. May be tomorrow" her face
brIghtened-'Im going to get some lilies
for Miss FentoD. and they'll let me have q
little beef. Just for you. at the hotel"
With a sbrug of fEetiul Impotence the
man turn his race a~ey from CDem, ana lay
silently munchiDg the fruit.
Your brother is quite ILL.," Miss Fenton
said. as Kit accompanied her across the
road.
My bro.heri Why. it's Billw Kit looked
up into her face with surprise, and then
said IN explanation: IL foreot-everybo body
knew about us in Oregon. Bill and / are
sweethearts-haye been since we were
little kids. We are going TO be married"
she straightened herself up with a comical
n nf 1fnnrrr sr 80 Rail rata avall ~ ua-
voice faltered. Miss ~Mary-mayn't | call
you that? / heard the old lady at the hotel
say your name and | liked il. Will you
walk mp the road q piece with me this even
Ing. the way you see Shasta? We see the
white mounting az home. and when alump
comes into my throat and feel "a bit down
it does me good to see 1t up there in the
sky. LOOKING down upon me Just as IL does
at home. All the time when we were COM
ing L kept looking over my shoulder. and
the white mounting kept following us. Us
il it was going to take keer of all OF us.p
She drew her sleeve across her ey es, as if
to brush away a little moisture. then pulled
the old cigarette hat down low over her
face, giving il o sort of rough pat. Its
one OF Bills old Ones" she said in O half
aside.
IL was growing dusk. The lohg shadows
of the pines on either side ienRthened quite
across the road, until their tips were LOST
in the wild tangle of azaleas and bracken
by the wayside.
The Sacramento kept mp a gurgle and q
rush lust below. which blended In with the
soft coughing of the pines. Mary Fenton
walked close by Kits side and waited for
her TO speak.
We'll, Miss Mary, you are so good to him.
I'll tell you Just from the beginning; and |
think. Miss Mary. | knowed the frat min
ute that | saw you setting there in that
rocking chair that you was an angel, and
be- conld help Bill.
Mother and me lived all alone in q
cabin IN southern Oregon. Father was
killed when i was bOrn-spree." she ex-
planned shortly. Mother has always had
a sort OF n misery since. She's nevor happy,
even here. She didn't want To come.
Bills folks lived Doxt TO rs. bout two
miles away. Bills older than rue. but he
was always sickly; didn't like boys; SO
when ! was big enough we played together,
for Bill.
"Bills folks went home to Missouri. and
Bill stayed. He's a wood chopper. and me
and Bill we've always loved each
other. Me and mother fnrnIed
our ground ourselves, and we've
always been dirt poor; but me and
Bill was always happy. You see. Miss
Mary. IT folks have got each other in this
world. they've got all that's wanted. Then
Bill took cold last winter-had q fever. L
took him home and nursed him. lie was
pretty bad. 1t was a hard winter. wet.
and / thought II never wonld stop. Bill
GOT punisr and punier. Mother said 10 wac
the way of the Lord. because l was 80 set
OH bill. but. Miss Mary. ! kDowea better"
They reached the view of shasta, and
walked TO q little spot away from the road.
Kit picked out a smooth log, folded Miss
tenton'5 shawl over 10. and made her sit