The diamond drill., 1894-09-29

never had To give it up, mamma. don't
you?"
"Yes. but IL couldn't be helped, and
so we must not grieve. We will soon be
as happy and contented here as we
were there"
81 hope SO, but I'm afraid you won't
win you be very lonely when I'm not
here?"
But you will be here, darling. You
will soon get we'll"
For little while the child lay per-
fectly still, and the anxiops parents
began TO think that she had fallen
asleep. But soon she reused again,
and in a voice weaker and thinner
than ever before asked:
is the claim pretty, papa?"
eyes, it's beautiful, darling"
"As pretty as the old home?"
Almost, expect, and we shall soon
make IL much nicer than IL is"
And nobody can take IL from you,
can they?"
mo; they can't take this home from
us, dearest"
IL am so glad of that, papa. Nobody
can take IL from you"
There was slight movement on the
part of the three men outside, and a
hurried glance was exchanged among
them.
"pm going 70 leave you, papa" the
child went on, ''and I'm going away
right soon. You and mamma will miss
me, but you will have new home, and
you must not think of me too much.
You must make my grave, papa, In
some sunny spot close 70 where the
house will be, SO that you and mamma
can see il often; and you must plant
flowers by 1t and tree"
Yes, yes, Allie; I'll not forget" the
father replied in husky voice; "but
you must not think of such things.
You must sleep tonight, and to-mor-
row you will feel better"
mo, l cannot sleep, papa, and I'll
never see tomorrow. / am going away
soon; but I'm glad that you have a
new home and will-never-hav
-give-it-up."
Old Jake hurriedly drew his sleeve
across his eyes and whispered few
words 70 his companions. Then they
all fell back as noiselessly as they
came. When they were out OF hear
ing of the occupants OF the wagon
Jake said in his most solemn and i'm
pressive tone:
Boys, she's going TO die, amt she?'
That's the way put IL up, replied
Sam in all seriousness
yes, she's going to die,p repeated
Jake, "and it's blamed bad thing TO
see that child a-dying away out here
on this lonely prairie. without friend
or anything, and just know that pa
and ma must feel awful"
81 know they do" said Sam.
"Wondcr II we could do anything for
them2"
"ldon't know Reckon there would
mt be any harm in going TO see"
"Then you 90 down TO the wagon,
Jake, and we'll wait here"
Jake started off at once, and two
hours passed before he came back.
"liow is she. Jakc2" Sam whispered.
''Shc's gone" Jake replied. "She's
better off, though, expect, for she's
been sick long time, they say, and
the doctors said she couldn't ever get
well. She's n pretty little thing
though, Sam, and went off smiling like
an angel. She was glad her pa had
got a new home, and she wanted to be
buried on the claim"
For little while the men were 81
lent, then Sam said:
Has he got new home, Jake?"
"Who?" Jake asked.
"The man over there--the child's
pap
What do you say about that, Samp"
I'D rather you'd say, Jake"
Then say that he has"
Jake, here's my hand on that"
said old Sam, as he extended his rough,
sun-browned fist.
"And here's mine," said Ike, extend
ing his at the same time.
"Then we understand, do we,n Jake
said after a moment, that this claim
belongs TO that chap in the wagon,
and that we give up all right to it?"
That's my notion, Z" replied Sam.
"And mine" agreed Ike.
"Then that's settled, boys" Jake
continued, and I'm glad you fix IL
that way. I'd never have the heart TO
take the land from him after hearing
her talking and rejoicing about his
new home. Nevcrl 1 said 10 myself
right then and there that this claim
was his, and that I'd stand by him In
holding IL against creation. And I'll
do il, too"
You betP cried the others.
The next morning'the father selected
a resting place for the child and the
three men made grave and placed
the remains In H. Then, bringing a
small tree from the woods, they planted
IL at the head and scattered some
flower seeds about. They did every
thing they could 10 cheer the sad.
hearted parents, and were sorry that
they could do no more.
Boys" said old Jake whom they
were again alone, 1--WE done some
mighty low-down things In my time,
but ] never done anything that made
q. 81 n