The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-06-09

went forth to SOW his seed But ]
amt any seed an l amt a sower. !
don't know no more, though, 'cept
Blessed air tn peacemakers.' praps
oh. no. | couldn't make peace be-
tween them. They're as fierce rs mig
gers"
There seemed even less hope of mis-
siOnary work of this sort when she con-
fronted Jane, looking particularly sharp
and unpliable in her bed. Anyway,
I'm gOin' to try it," Maria said to her
self, although her legs shook under her
and her head hung abashed ut the mere
suggestion. Wheh she administered the
first ~teaspoOnful of medicine she whis-
pered so faintly that she could hardly
hear it herself. Don't We b'lieve ye'd
feel easier t. make up with the girls
now you're stretched so lOwy
James foxy little face seemed to ex-
hibit new angles for the occasion.
what! with them old maids"! she
shrieked as distinctly az she could for
coughing. If they should come in that
door this minute, do We know what I'd
do? Chuck the piller at EN-" Maria
wiped a G a upon her patchwork when
she sat down to it. Her hearts as
hard as Jobses," she sighed. But she
was tenacious of her purpose. The no
ton Of being a peacemaker never left
her mind.
After a few days Jane grew weaker.
Her angles softened considerably.
When prayer meeting night came and
those of the paupers who were availa-
BILE met in the long dining room for de-
votions, as was the good keepers Gus
tom to have them do, Maria begged to
h W. r fOpv0r;,,r 1oOS,C 10c% a S0,. @ln% II
might hear the singing. The harmony
OF this exercise might have been mar
red for more critical ears by the eccen-
tricity Of n lusty-voiced old man,
who, whatever the hymn chosen by the
assembly, selected another to his own
taste and tune, and sang it independ-
entity at the top of his lungs. When
the last notes died away Jane exclaim-
ed, excitedly: THAT was dretful nice.
l enjoyed the colonel more'n the rest.
I'm kinder tired O. tn Wanderin' Boy"
The %colOnels choice had been II Want
to BE an Angel" why" cried Maria,
with hope in her voice, would We like
t be a angel, Jane?
"NO," said Jane, but I'd like tn col
Onel to be if he wants o SO bad" An
other tear dropped into Maria's patch
work.
1t was only the next day when the
anxious nurse thought she detected a
marked change for the worse III her pa
TENTS condition. When the poor doc
tor paid his hurried morning visit she
followed him out into the hall, inquiring
with white lips: Us she goin' to liver"
mot long," the man flung back as he
lodged on to the next waiting door.
Haste vas now the keynote Of
Maria's anxiety. She ran up to the
bed, crying: Jane, Jane, won't We let
me fetch" A bOny finger was held up
warningly:: "Is it them old maids? p
Maria caught the emaciated claw in her
plump clasp. But jest see here. S'pose
-s'pOse you was goin' to a land where
there wasn't no chairs nor settin' in
chairs"
EFF they git into it I'll knock 'em out
wherever I be-" persisted Jane.
mot long. Not long," was changing
in Maria's ears. Its 10 use," she Sob
bed, desperately; "ye're goin' to die
In a little while now"
Jane stared at her with eyes fixed
in terror. Finally she put up her hand
to steady her lips. WHO said so?"
Maria ,jerked her thumb toward the
spot where the physician had stood.
"Wculdn't We feel easier t. make up
with 'em befur We go?"
A long and painful pause followed.
Jane was gazing Eigidly at the wall
with her back turned. Maria's nervous
movements alone betrayed conscious
ness of the lapse Of time. After a
full hour Of this oppressive silence a
faint voice from the bed said: Il sup
pose l halter. Bring EN- in"
Maria's face was luminous with what
we know to be inward solar light,
though she would have called it merely
thanking God when she hurried off,
to return followed by her little awe
stricken procession.
When they reached the door sill Jane
called out: There, don't come no fur
ther. | don't want my floor all tracked
up" The gray heads bowed in solemn
acquiescence.
Their were a few heavy moments of
waiting and labored breathing. Then
Jane, with her face still turned toward
the wall, said. well, 1 forgive We all
your mean, nasty, hateful, sassy ways"
The grave, b~lue-jcancd cOncla 7e turned
and marched away.
At the next administration of medi-
cine there vas a whispered, "See here.
S'pose 1 was t. git well alter all. I jes
bet they'd git into it,"
"Oh, no." Maria pleaded; don't feel
like that. You're film up dretful
fast"
II sick woman grew uneasy after
this. She begged Maria to sit upon the
edge of the bed and to put her face
down lawful close" The sharp, iut-
tering fingers tried to caress the soft
gray wave Of hair bent over them.
"Say, when I'm gone l want We should
have it,"
"Oh, no, no."
eyes, and Jane was, indeed, I'LL.
ing up fast" and it was almost impossi-
BILE to understand her.
"Take time. Say it slow, DEAR"
Maria Urged.
"Lcok outer til winde.:, M ,ria," Ma
ria urged.
"Look outer tn winder, Maria; 1 got
t. tell We somethin'-"
"Well!'
The bony thongs clItched at the soft
hair so hard that they hurt. LET EN-
set into it if We want t.. I don't care"
When Maria moved back into her
old quarters there was q rocking chair
humping after her. "Ye don't expect
the rune t. hold you, an that too, do
We, Mari without an additiony' Sarah
Dunn inquired tartly. The others had
pretended not to notice her entrance.
Maria was standing near the door with
her hands awkwardly c%lutching the
lack Of her new acquisition. Don't
We b'ieve we cd make q place fur it?"
she returned, meekly. "We might put
n O. the old ones out IN take turns
with this. Jane thought we cd use it
among U.S."
There was Il chorus Of surprised *
clamalhns did lane Beckwcrth want
that! Well. l neva:!' In a body they
| drew closer and began an excit.d in