Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-08-16
viii you be very lonely wnen I'm not


rs the claim pretty, papa?"
Yes, it's beautiful, darling"
"As pretty as the old homer"
Almost, | expect, and we shall soon
make it much nicer than 1t is"
"And nobody can take it fro !. you
can they?"
mo- they can't take this home from
us, dearest"
lam so glad Of that papa. Nobody
can take II 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, ''and I'm going away
right soon. You and mamma will miss
me, but you will have a 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 1t often; and you must plant
flowers by it 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, cannot sleep, papa, and I'll
never see tomorrow. am going away
soon; but I'm glad that you have q
new home and wlll--neyer-have-to
-glve-it-up.'
Old Jake hurriedly drew his sleeve
across his eyes and whispered few
words to his companions. Then they
all fell back as noiselcssly 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 she9"
That's tho way ! put 1t up" replied
Sam In all seriousness.
Yes She's going to die" repeated
Jake, land it's Il 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"
~ know they do" said Sam.
"Wonder If wo could do anything for
then2'
IL don't know. Reckon there would
MT be any harm in going to see"
"rhen you go down to the wagon,
Jake, and we'll wait here"
Jake started off at once, and two
hours passed before he came back,
GLOW is she, Jake2" Sam whispered.
"She's gone" Jake replied "She's
better off, though, expect for she's
been sick a long time, they say, and
the doctors said she couldn't ever get
well. She's 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 DO
buried on the claim"
For little while the men were 81
lent, then Sam said.
elias he got new home, Jake2'
"Who?' Jake asked.
1.-THE man over there--the child's
PAP
What do you say about that, Samp"
"I'd rather you'd say, Jake"
"rhen | 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 mlne," said Ike, extend.
ing his at the same time.
"Then we understand do We" Jake
said after moment, that this claim
belongs to that chap in the wagon,
and that we give up all right to lt2n
That's my notion, replied Sam.
"And NINE" agreed Ike.
"Then that's settled, boys" Jake
continued, land I'm glad you fix it
that way I'd never have the heart TO
take the land from him after hearing
her talking and rejoicing about his
new home. Never said to myself
right then and there that this claim
was his, and that I'd stand by him In
holding 1t against creation, And III
do it, too"
you bet' cried the others
The next mornng'the father selected
a resting place for the child and the
three men made a grave and placed
the remains in IL. Then, bringing q
small tree from the woods, they planted
1t 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 when they
were again alone, ave done some
mighty low-down things in my time
but never done anything that made
me feel SO mean as did last night
when stood there by that old wagon
and listened to the words Of that little
dyin' child, KNOWN that I'd come there
to help run her pa Off the claim that Is
rightly his. ! tell you, | felt like a
low-down sneak
at was mean trick, said Sam, "and
I'm ashamed Of 1t. But us his claim"
"You bet It Is We can put up with
five claims or get another, for we're
not going to take that one, That little
grave up there makes that squatters
title good, and I'd like TO see anybody
dispute it,"
Jake and his companions were as
good as their word, and for the sake Of
the little girl who had passed on to q
better home stood by the squatter
Loyalty in the defense Of his claim.
-Thnmas p Montfort. In Tesliea