The Bossier banner., 1894-08-09

W US anu IKE as not ne Ii open on US
with shotgun. We don't want to do
any shooting if we can help it, but if
we can't help it, we can't, of course"
That's So agreed Sam, land ex-
pect we'd better sort of slip up on him
and not let him get any advantage of
u.s."
The men dismounted and crept softly
forward through the grass, keeping
well in the shadow of the old wagon.
After little while they got quite
close, and stopping to listen, distinctly
heard low voices in the wagon engaged
in earnest conversation. One of the
voices, it was plain, was that of
woman, while the other, weak and thin,
was Enthusiastically that of child.
How do you feel now, dearie?" the
woman asked.
Il feel very well, mother, only I'm
so tired, the child replied.
do You feel as we'll as you did this
morning?"
mo; the ride was so rough and so
long that it made me sore and weak
But don't mind that, for I'm glad we
got here and papa got good claim. Is
it long till daylight, mamma?"
"Yes, 4 long time. Night has just
come on.
Il wish it was light, so that I could
see the country. Is it very pretty?"
Yes, darling, very beautiful
Il am glad of that, mamma. Are
there any flowers in bloom?"
The prairie is covered with them,
sweet, and when morning comes will
bring you lots of them. When you get
well you can gather them for yourself,
all you want"
mo, no, mamma, | shall never do
that. Don't cry. | am very happy,
but shall never be well any more
| am glad the land is pretty, though,
for it will be pleasant to you and papa,
and after awhile you will have beau
tiful home. l want the morning to
come so that may see the claim just
once--just once"
''Well, go to sleep then, pet, and
soon the morning will come. You are
weak and tired now, but sleep and rest
will help you, and tomorrow you will
feel better"
No, mamma, am not sleepy now,
and l want to talk. Do you think this
is as pretty as the old home in Mis-
souri?"
ut may not be now, but it will be
when we get it improved and get q
neat little house and yard and garden.
1t will be very nice, l know"
Yes, it will be very nice, mamma,
but not as nice as the old home we had
before papa lost it. l wish we had
never had to give it up, mamma, don't
you?"
''Yes, but it couldn't be helped, and
SO we must not grieve. We will soon be
as happy and contented here as we
were there"
Il hope so, but I'm afraid you won't,
viii you be very lonely when I'm not
here?"
But you will be here, darling. You
will soon get we'll"
mo, mamma, | won't be well any
more. | had beautiful dream awhile
ago, and l saw the prettiest land. all
bright and dazzling with sunshine and
flowers, and | heard, oh, such grand
music, and there were SO many people
there, and they were all happy And
while l was looking on and listening
some one waved hand as if beckon-
ing me to come. | am going to that
beautiful land, mamma, but you must
not cry, for l shall be happier there
than | ever was here, and sometime I'll
come back, maybe. Is the morning al
most Gomez"
Not yet, sweet child" sobbed the
father, who had just entered the wag-
on. go to sleep, and it will soon come. .
For little while the child lay per-
fectly still, and the anxious 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:
rs the claim pretty, papa?"
"Yes, it's beautiful, darling"
LAS pretty as the old home?'
almost, 1 expect, and we shall soon
make it much nicer than it is"
"And nobody can take it from you,
can they?"
NO, Gity CiI t1hC llAlo IlOlAlC IL 1Oll1
us, dearest"
81 am so glad of that, papa. Nobody
can take it from you.'
There was slight movement on the
part of the three men outside, and a
hurried glance was exchanged among
them.
''I'm going to leave you, papa" the
child went on, land 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 to where the
house will be, so that you and mamma
can see it often; and you must plant
flowers by it and tree.
Eyes, yes, Allie; I'll not forget" the
father replied in a husky voice; but
you must not think of such things.
You must sleep tonight, and to-mor-
row you will feel better"
''No, l cannot sleep, papa, and I'll
never see tomorrow. | am going away
soon: but I'm glad that you have a
| Io,,,o orl ba n