The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-10-31

fectly still. and the anxious parents
began to think that she had fallen
asleep. But soon she reused again,
and in voice weaker and thinner
than ever before asked:
us the claim pretty, papa?"
''Yes, it's beautiful, darling"
''As pretty as the old home?"
almost, expect, and we shall soon
make it much nicer than it is"
''And nobody can take it from You,
can they?"
mo: they can't take this home from
US, dearest"
81 am so glad of that, papa. Nobody
can take it from you"
There was q slight movement on the
part of the three men outside, and
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 viii have a new home, and
Won 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 a tree
. Eyes, yes, Allie; I'll rot 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 viii feel better"
mo, I 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-have-
-give-it-up."
Old Jake hurriedly drew his sleeve
across his eyes and whispered few
words to 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 it up" replied
Sam in all seriousness.
eyes, she's going to die" repeated
Jake, land it's blamed bad thing to
see that child a-dying away out here
on this lonely prairie. without friend
or anything, and l just know that pa
and ma must feel awful"
81 know they do" said Sam.
wonder if we could do anything for
them?"
Il don't know. Reckon there would
ln't be any harm in going to See"
"Then 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.
How is she, Jake?" Sam whispered.
"She'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 a 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
pa?"
What do you say about that, Sam?"
I'D rather you'd say, Jake"
"Then l 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," 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" replied Sam.
"And mine," agreed Ike.
''Then that's settled, bows" 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 it against creation And I'll
do it. too"
"You betr' 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 it. Then, bringing a
small tree from the woods, they planted
it at the head and scattered some
flower seeds about. They did every
thing they could to cheer the sad.
hearted parents, and were sorry that
they could do no more.
Boys" said old Jake when they
were again alone, I've done some
mighty low-down things in my time,
but l never done anything that made
me feel so mean as i did last night
when l 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. l tell you, felt like a
low-down sneak"
at was mean trick" said Sam, and
I'm ashamed of ii. But it's 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 squatter's
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
better home stood by the squatter
Loyalty in the defense of his claim.
Thomas 2. Montfort, IN Leslies
Weekly.
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