Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-02-02
CHAPTER II.

Here. gentle reader would l fain
draw the curtain on the scenes of this
little domestic drama! Willingly would
/ record the final cXeunt of the charac-
ters from the stage of action by telling
you that our hero, Horatius Cobb, Jr.,
transacted his business at Dumping
Ditch and returned to the bosom of his
family in peace and happiness. Fain
would pronounce the sweet epilogue:
"Al went we'll and the goose hung
high" and then lay down my black
ened pen for aye. Alas, it cannot be!
Fate hath willed otherwise.
Emily Cobb arose unusually late that
morning, but in excellent spirits. She
was worthy spouse, was Mrs. Cobb;
in fact, she possessed all the essential
elements of those peculiarly feminine
attractions which are characteristic of
good woman and a dutiful and de-
voted wife. Cobb had appreciated
these features when the two were chill
dren together, and when finally, in the
course of human events, it became
proper and consistent for him to be-
tray his admiration for such truly
beauteous traits, he did so, and conse-
quently two more hearts beat as
one"
After Mrs. Cobb had partaken of her
morning repast of omelets and coffee,
she gave the servants directions for
preparing Mr.. Cobb's dinner, and tax
ing a novel strolled into the garden for
quiet period of enjoyment Now it
was just in the time of the year when
roses were beginning to bloom, and as
the worthy lady stepped from the
veranda she noticed blossom of ex-
quisite fragrance and beauty near by.
She plucked it. Others there were,
which she gathered also, and twined
them into q sweet garland-emblem of
love and innocence. Perchance as she
fingered there amid the perfume of
natures tiny flower gods, her heart
was touched with the simplicity and
sweet suggestiveness of their beauty.
Mayhap her thoughts stole lightly back
to the time when little Emily-not
Cobb then-kissed the blushing petals
of the first spring rose; or later, when
upon one occasion she knelt before the
altar in virgin loneliness, a garland of
pure white blossoms upon her breast
the bridei All, who can tell what
fancies surged through her mind? We
can only guess what were her thoughts
when, turning, she whispered softly to
herself: Poor man! he works so hard.
1 will place these upon his desk so that
he will find them when he comes home
to dinner" and tripping lightly away
towards Mr.. Cobb's apartment, she
hummed snatch of merry song.
She had just finished arranging the
roses in a vase and had stepped back
with satisfied smile to survey her
work, when her eyes rested upon slip
of paper that had fallen upon the rug
at her feet. 1t was her Horatius' unfin-
ished note Picking it up she slowly
read it's contents:
''My DEAR EMILY: have gone to Dump
ling Ditch and will not return
That was all, but was it not enough?
Could it be possible-could she believe
her eyes? Again and again did Mrs
Cobb peruse this brief but cruel, ali!
so cruel, note. Gone to Dumping
Ditch, never to returnl The letter was
unsigned. Was it not possible that it
might be a mistake? Nay, nay; she
knew that handwriting too well to be
deceived. The characteristics of Hora-
titus Cobb's hieroglyphics We're too
marked to be mistaken Woe was
Mrs. Cobbi A thousand, yea, a million
thoughts flashed through her fevered
brain. Her head grew dizzy; her
heart throbbed fercer and fercer,
her hot temples dropped upon
her heaving breast The cool breeze
that stole softly in at she window
laden with its vernal balms revived the
lady somewhat, but it did more. 1t
blew from the table piece of brown
paper-the Geographic message Cobb
had received. That told the storyi
What cry of amazement burst from
Emily Cobb's blanched lips as she read
those fateful words. HE died last
night" All. who was As and what