The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-02-01

though there is no sorrow, ana ever
a storm Or wreck.
They had laid her on the little
white bed in her chamber, rom
which the harbor could 'e plainly
seen and save Tor II or TWO kind
acighb9rS, and gone away ana lelt
them together: she, lying so stiil'
with closed eyes-he, bending over
her. lent and unmindtul OF the
presence of Others.
Just lefOrc moo she slowly opens
her eyes and gazes at him il silence.
Then, with a little sigh, she lays
fee ly:
81 knew you'd come, dad: l knew
you'd come. Twas a hard voyage
you had, dad and Il pretty rough
landing; but you didn't mind it,
'ecause your little gal was there"
She S silent for "A few moments,
and then raising her head, she a ks:
The white dress: You didn't
forget it: The white dress with the
gold stars on the corners, that You
were going to get tor your little gall"
30, Jo!" The tcais were stream
ing down the old mans cheeks. Il
bought the lurticst n for We: all
soft and VIII tie, with stars ont and a
great, lOHg sash; but Lost it-in
the wreck--JO."
"And a great, long sash" This
said very slowly. 'On, dad, if | only
could see it. But don't cry; l guess
| don't want it: I'm going to leave
you a little while. I'm going up
there where they've lots Of waite
dresses, all shining and pretty: and
0 o you'll come, too, won't you dad?
lIl watch for you, just as l did here.
and there won't bc-any Storms--dad
the vessel will sail-right in on
blue water-an' I'll he looking for
you. I'll have 'em Civ me-a dress
with Il big, shining star on tan
you'll know me, sure--l knew you'd
GOMEZ"
One last feeble pressure Of his had
on little smile, and 10 waits and
watches 40 moe on earth.
a strange calm falls upon the old
man. They cannot persuade him to
leave her for an instant. He is
utterly deaf to their %cntreaties, and,
kneeling by the bed, he presses, from
time to time, her ice cold hand to
his lips. All through the long night
he keeps his silent watch, and when
another morning breaks they find
him still there.
.Nechani ally he watches them robe
her for the last resting-placc, in pure,
white garments that Il klnd-hcdrtcd
neighbnr nds brought; unmoyed he
see them place a few snowy buds in
the little, cold hands.
Presently the door opens softly: a
rOugh-loOking fisherman comes in,
and. bending over thr cot1in, his
tears fall like rain upon the fac
within.
The little gal was so happy yes
terday," he says, turning to the old
man, who, even. now. will not re-
move his gaze from her. ''Ill never
forget her standin' there an saying
as how she wished she could do some
thing big for dad; an she has, 50 she
has, poor little girl"
Covering his face with his horny
hands, he breaks into bitter weeping,
and, turning, quickly leaves the room.
The old mans whole frame changes.
The terrible calm has broken up, hut
no t ars come. only a look OF UNI
utterable gladness and Joy.
Il know'd it. 10; / know'd il.
Somethin' big for dad. Dear. little
gal. Wait just d minute, 10; I'm
comm"
His head falls forward upon the
Someone comes in presently
and finds him there. He is quite
dead.
They bury them side by side. in
one grave, close by the murmuring
and at the head they placed a
simple, white wooden shaft, with
Just these two words roughly in
>cribeL upon it-''Dad's Jo,"-Mil-
waukec Wisconsin,.