St. Paul daily globe., 1893-02-15
THE BACK-SETTLER'S STORY.
Mrs. Findlay Braden in Boston Traveller.
MarnnS Iahan and / came ont her

| then. and neither OF us AFRAID or Work.
We prospered after spell, and mar
ried our nearest neighbor's daughters.
Arian and Dorcas Miles. Arian had
the prettiest face, but Dorcas was the
better natured. And the latter was my
| own dear wife!
think we we were happier then than
| we have ever been since. Sorrow? We
| didn't know the meaning OF it! And
| everything went well till the summer
| of '54.
| My trouble began with quarrel; and
| it was with Marcus Laban, about bit
of land to which we both laid claim.
LET him have it," said Dorcas, the
family peacemaker.
| But wouldn't, because we had a wee
son and heir of our own.
''It would be robbing the boy, Dor
cas-" argued: 1--WE mustn't do that.
"But it's such little spot of ground
| it can't matter much"
s'It will be valuable in time" went
on, grimly enough. MARCUS must
give up all claim to it. 1t never belonged
to him, anyhow"
But he and Arian think differently"
mo doubt. They have everything to
gain by it,"
but it is making hard feelings"
sighed loving Dorcas. ''Arian will
hardly speak. and Brother Marcus
drives by now without stopping"
Let them go!" l cried, savagely.
| ''We must look out for OWN, and we
don't need their company"
And for the time being that ended
the matter.
But. somehow, everything got to 60
ing wrong. | missed Marcus Laban's
kindly help and counsel. but would not
admit it, And Dorcas pined for the
companionshlp Of her only sister. 10
top all, the seasons crops were small
indeed. And there we were, with
long, cold winter before us, and but
little to tide it over.
1--WE might ali live together till
spring." suggested Dorcas eagerly.
''The same fire would do for us all. and
Pm almost sure Marcus and Arian
would accept"
They can't come. and that settles
it," | answered, sternly. 'Laban can
look out for himself!"
But little Noel loves them So"
sighed Dorcas. "Only yesterday | saw
him tossing kisses into the air, to send
uncle and auntie.' The poor baby misses
them sadly"
Fudge! He is much too young to
| know or care. No, no; the LabanS will
stay where they are.''
"Oh, StineW
1t was the first word of reproach l had
ever heard from Dorcas' lips, and it cut
deep. But pretended not to see the
| tears on her pretty long lashes, and
nothing more was said.
Winter soon began in earnest. BY
| outstanding everything in store we
found that we could hold out until
| spring.
But I wonder how it is with Marcus
and Arian," commented Dorcas. "Stine,
Slime. can't get them out of my
mind"
Nonsense" cried, sharply. "Stop
thinking about them"
"But Arlan is my own dear sister,"
well, supposing she is. Her husband
is mean, grasping fellow, and"
"Stine, my husband, let them come
and stay with us for the balance of the
winter. l have a letter from them both.
| They will soon be starving"
''Stutf!' l grunted. ''Let me hear no
| more about tie Labans"
| But God, in sHiS good providence,
| brought them to us yet that very month.
| Dorcas and our little Noel were both
| taken down with fever, and | watched
! beside them, sick at heart. wondered
I if they were going to die.
go for AFian and Marcus" said my
| poor wife. before the delirium came.
! But | would not-could not! Why, [
| had miSused them for months, and all
because of strip of ground worth less
| than $40
Several days more went by in sadness
! and anxiety. Dorcas and the boy were
both growing worse, and at last fell
| on my knees by their bed. 20 Lord"
| Jcried. s.Send Marcus and AriaD to
| help usw
| And that very morning, in answer to
my pitiful prayer, they came marching
| into our door-yard. Marcus had sold his
! one horse weeks before, and both his
face and Arian's looked pale and
pinched. opened the door before they
knocked, in a shame-faced way, but
Marcus caught my hand in warm,
| brotherly grasp. I'VE didn't know till
an hour ago that your wife and baby
| were SICK" he said. simply. 1--WE came
| long and rough, without young Trot-
away. And Arian isn't at her best"
| looked at her then, my wife's only
| sister. How her beauty was fading. 1t
was all because she had been hand in
| hand with want, while had withheld
what we had to spare.
She put out her thin little hands, and
| | touched them reverently. God bless
| you. Arian, and Marcus. too" | cried,
| brokenly. Il don't deserve this. but ]
| prayed that you might come to our as
| sistance. We are in dire straits, but
with Gods help, ana yours. we will pull
through. Don't go in to DorcaS yet.
She wouldn't know you if you did.
! Well have breakfast first. Nursing re-
quires strength, and"
! Ioy cin
day morning." Interrupted Marcus. Il
didn't mind for myself, but | did for
Aran. All, Stine, lve been thinking
| hard things of YOU"
''And of you," confessed in turn.
"But we'll bury the past together and
| look forward to happier future"
"Granted?" cried Marcus, heartily.
Then, after breakfast, we went in to
| Dorcas and little Noel. The boy knew
| Aran at once. Nurse me, auptie" he
cried. Noel is so tired. Let me sleep
| IN your lap. Papa wouldn't let Noel 20
to auutie. Now auntie's come to Noel.
| Good auntie."
Tenderly she caught my boy to her
| loving breast. while she rained kisses
upon his fever-burnt cheeks. And for
days and days the good little woman
faithfully nursed both him and DorcaS.
But our little Noel was destined to
| leave u.s. He was OUT Of his mind the
most of the time, with only few mo-
| ments of consciousness at the end.
! Papa" he asked, ''are auntie and
uncle here to stay?'
Yes, child" l answered, with a
lump in my throat.
land you won't send them away?"
mo, my boy"
He laid his cheek to mine confdingly.
"Then mamma won't cry any more. and
papa will be good to everybody. Noel
is glad, papa. Now sing Happy Land.'''
My heart was breaking. and couldn't.
! But Arian did, and little Noel died in
| her arms.
Then did learn the full meaning Of
| that awful word, sorrow
Dorcas recovered soon after, and to-
| gether we went to NoeP grave. 1t was
made in the very strip of land | had
coveted for him, and which rightfully
belonged to Marcus Laban.
1.-The boys death was one of Gods