Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-12-11

from GOu-0ltnd mOleS--blind puppies
that you are, crawling hither and
thither and knocking your heads against
the WALL"
Meantime the weary days came and
went ut farmer Peters, and the old man
chung to life with terrible tenacity. He
seemed ready to die at any moment, and
cried out In his long hours of suffering
for death to set him free. But death
seemed rs reluctant as no is sometimes
eager. Farmer Peter Crawled about from
one spot to another. Even his own chill.
by his first wife and
Aniutka by the second-secmed to think
it useless to waste any pity upon him.
They, too. grew impatient when he
groaned, and turned their faces away
when he tried to fix his deep sunkcn and
besccching eyes upon them.
One day. upon seeing that Akoolina
was alone with him, he gasped out:
daughter, gO-gO quickly to aunt
Martha and tell her to come ut once; tell
her that l am dying"
The young girl made dash for the
door, but Anissia interccp pied her.
alt will never do" murmurcd the wife
to herself, "to let his sister into the
house. He might give her his money,
and all our trouble would be for naught.
What shall l do? My head is splitting."
Suddenly she gave a suppressed cry
OF JOY. MatriOna stood before her. Shn
carried bundle in her hand, and had
come to bring some shirts to her son.
"What news, dcarie?" she asked, in
low voice; "is he still alivc?"
"Just enough life in him to say that he
lives" whispered Anissia.
"And the money, dearie?" came from
Matriona; mo one has got it away from
him?"
"Not yet" replied Anissia, "but he
calls for his sister Martha"
"Are you quite sure he has not given
1t to anybody?" questioned the woman
"Yes, indeed" was the answer. II
watch him as cat does rat. He hides
1t first in ono place and then in another.
l think Akoolina suspects me. She
knows more than you think. l hate
her."
"Take care, dearie," whispered Ma
triona. hoarsely; "if he succeeds in CIV
ing tho money away to any one, mark
my words, 1t ends your sport. They'll
turn you out as they would beggar!"
"Oh, misery, misery, aunt" sobbcd
Peters wife, "who will advise me, who
will help me? Nikita is afraid; he trcm-
bled when l asked him to help me get
the money"
"He'll be fast enough to help you
spend 1t, however, dearic," chuckled
Matriona.
ale thinks that Peter has hidden 1t
under the floor" added Anissia.
"Who knows?" replied the peasant
woman. "Have you searched thore?"
allow can II" moaned the wife. "He
Is always In the room. It's my opinion
that he doesn't know what to do with it
himself One moment he hides it in
some out OF the way place, and the next
conceals 1t under his Clothes"
"Take care, dearie," whispered Matri-
ona, with repusive twist to her long
upper lip; sits your only chance; il
somebody else gets hold OF the money,
good-by to everything. BY the way, lit
tie soul, how many pinches have you put
into his tca?"
Before Anissia could answer, ono of
the neighbors burst in upon them.
"Anissia, for Gods sake, don't you
hear your husband calling you? Go
quickly. He may be dying"
"No, he coughs like that all the time"
was the woman's reply; "but he'll not
last much longer"
"YOu're right" answered the neigh.
Dor; "hc's been dying for six months
now, and it must keep you pretty we'll
tied down."
The moment the gossiping heighhor
had turned her back. Matriona again be.
gan questioning Anissia:
SLOW many pinches did you put into
his tea, dearic?"
"Two," was the wife's reply. "He
noticed it and said that even tho ten
tasted nasty to him, but comforted him
by reminding him that the incest dishes
have no flavor for sick man. But, oh,
auntie, how my knees trembled. Why
will he not die by himself? l don't want
such thing on my conscience"
"Better ask why he doesn't hand his
money over to you dearie," blurtcd out
MatriOna. "There's no time to be lost
You must make some more tea at once
and put larger pinch into his cup this
time. Then, while his thoughts are
wandering, we'll both search for tho
money. It's plain enough to mo that he
is only waiting for his sister to come in
order to hand the roll over to her, and
then what will become of you, little
soul? know what I'm talking about.
They'll never let you stay in tho house
and marry again unless you have plenty
Of money to smooth things down. Who
is willing to do anything without being
paid for it? Say who, dcarc? Words
will not answer to persuade people; you
must have money, and plenty of 1t, too"
"But You will go in with me, aunt,
will you not, and then I'll have more
said Anissia. "Comc, you
brought the shirts for Nikita, you know;
you will drink tea with u.s."
"Herc's aunt Matriona, Peter" said
his wife, approaching tho dying mans
bedside. "She has come to see her son;
she will drink tea with us"
"Good day." murmnred the old farmer,
family.
"God bless you," answered Matr!onn;
"I'm sorry to see you so low. My hus-
band sends his love to you. Tho money
you gave us was very welcome; we're
poor folk. He babe me come and SEQ
how you did,"
"Tm dying, Matriona, dying slowly,
oh, so slowly" moaned the old farmer.
Anissia had left the room to prepare
the samovar, and the peasant woman,
under pretense of counting the beats OF