The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-08-22

OuU
was finally prevailed upon to undor,
take the commission, and, hanging his
six shooter and belt on the fence, he
knocked at the door. A feeble voice
said: Come in" Pushing the door
open, he stood ~irresolute upon the
threshold. The light in the room was
dim, and he could indistinctly see a
figure stretched on a low couch in the
farther corner.
"Will you come in, sirG" said the
same feeble, gentle voice; then as Billy
stepped in with some embarrassment
she continued. What is your errand,
sir9''
He tried to think of a means by
which he could delicately and accept
ably deliver his message of charity,
but finding nonehe was obliged to make
known his errand as simply as possible,
trusting to the inspiration of the mo-
ment to help him out.
you are a widow, are you note" he
asked.
YES" she replied, raising herself
hastily on one elbow as he spoke.
"You must forgive a stranger,
madam, for coming to you with so lit
tie ceremony and asking such a ques-
ton, but the truth is, I've"
TELL me, sir" she interrupted, ''do
you live in this part of the c~ountry3
Are you a cowboy from one of the
ranches7 Excuse me, I am partly
blind"
Yes" he said, 81 live here and I am
a cowboy"
How long have you been following
this occupation? How long have you
been in Colorado You were not born
in the West, I know, for you have
neither the speech nor the manners of
the people. Where did you come
from? Tell me, I implore you"
Billy looked at the form dimly out
lined before him in blank astonish-
ment.
"Why, madam I'm perfectly willing
to tell you. My home was in New
Haven, Conn, God bless it and I came
West eight years ago. Since then I
have met with many varied expert,
ences. I've tasted the sweetness of
prosperity and the bitterness Of ad-
versity. About a year ago I had a
! comfortable sum of money and was
preparing to return to the East, when
by an unhappy speculation I lost it all;
then I drifted into my present situa-
ton. But I mean to accomplish some
thing before I go home again to my
dear old mother" There was a charm
ing youthful ring of hopefulness in his
voice which his eight years of trying
experiences had failed to obliterate.
The widow dropped back on her
couch and was perfectly still.
"But I am forgetting my Grand"
continued Billy. Ny friends and I have
brought you a little offering, which I
hope will be acceptable. 1t should be,
for it is a present from the good church
members of the village, who beg you
will accept it with their compliments"
He advanced to the side of the couch
and bet down to place the contents Of
his hat in her lap. AS he did so a ray
of light stole through the half closed
blinds and fell upon the woman's face.
my Cod" He started back paler
than his companion, while the hat
dropped heavily to the floor. The next
moment he was kneeling beside the
couch clasping the wasted form in his
strong young arms, his frame shaken
by violent sobs.
"Willys, dear WHY'S, I have been
seeking you all over the West for the
last five years. Thank God, oh, thank
Him a thousand times that I have
found you at last"
In the meantime his companions out
side were becoming impatient.
Wonder what's keepin' tn Teller SO
long," said n Of them; The could a
gave the wilder the money a hundred
times ove during tn time he's benin
there"
II should think he could. Tell you
what. I'll just croop aroun' t. tn win
der n see what he's up t." said Spot,
suiting the action to the words. Drop
ping on his knees, he cautiously peered
through the half closed blinds. The
next moment he had fallen backward,
and was o 0 Fastening to his COM
rades with a curious expression on his
face.
"Well, what's up, Spot9" he was
asked.
81 du' know" replied Spot, scratch
ing his head, '"pears like Billy's gone
and got mashed on tn wilder. He's
| down IN hio 1-ooo 3eomo Al Ia L.II