The Van Buren press., 1895-06-29

Win put her head in the door and said;
"Want somethin' to eat, Sam? I've got
piece set out fer you."
| Lindy could hear them talking and
laughing. II reckon oughtn't te
want Sam to NOPE Jest cause I'm sick.
The baby moved restlessly and began
to cry. She took 1t in her arms and
nestled its little velvety head against
her. 1t was her baby, hers and Sans
and Win nor no one else could get It
She put its hand up to her lips and
kissed the little thin fingers, and for
awhile forgot her trouble in watching
her baby.
..Where's VIM asked Lindy's mother
one morning, when she had run in for
little while.
s'she's gone out to the field to take
Sam q drink
"Yes, and she's making plum fool
OF herself, too. The hull neighbor-
hoods a-tallsin' about the way she's 9
simperin' and iirtin' round. II rs in
your place I'd send her home"
That afternoon Sam came in from
the field. i've broke my plow an
hev to go to town to get it fixed," he
said to Lindy.
ssSam, don't you think we could git
along now without Win? l feel real
good, an ma could come over an help
me some"
I'D ruther you'd keep her till you
git good an strong" he answered.
II blieve could git about without
her." said Lindy.
mo, you'd better keep her another
week. When feller's workin' hard in
the field he don't want to hev to worry
about what's a-goin' on in the house. y
0'I reckon couldn't pack water out
to you, an help you plow. an gig
gle as much as Win does" she says.
"Why Lindy, what ails you?"
"Nothin."
SIS there somethin' you'd like mo to
git you in town."
mo don't want anything"
Where's Sam a-goin'?" asked Win,
as she saw him putting his team to the
wagon.
ITO town." said Lindy.
well, I'm a-goin', too I've been
a-wantin' to fer two weeks" And rum
ming to the door she screamed: "Sam,
hold on minute, til git ready"
Lindy watched them drive away.
She saw Win look up at Sam and say
something, and Sam laughed. She
flung herself down on the bed and
cried and cried. II wish neither of
EN- would ever come back. and could
go home and stay with ma. wish I'd
died when the baby come" The
baby cried and it took her long while
to quiet it. She wished her ma would
come over, she was SO lonesome. She
looked at the clock. Sam had been
gone almost long enough to get back,
but she didn't want to see Sam, and
Win-she felt as if she could choke her.
Some one knocked at the door. She
opened it and there stood old Mrs.
Trover, the worst old gossip In the
country. She never could bear her.
but she was SO lonesome she was really
glad to see her. After she had talked
about the baby awhile and told Lindy
how bad she looked, she said: An SO
you're still a-keepin' Win Potts, air
you? Well, just come a-purpose to
tell you If is in your place I'd send her
an her traps a-fyin'."
Lindy grew pale, but she quietly
asked: "Why?"
why, why, you'd orter know, an !
knowed some one must tell you, so l
took it on myself to come over. Why
she jist hangs round your Sam ridicu-
lous. Why, don't they go a-trottin of
to church together an over to her
mas, an don't she holler at ever'one
along the road an ask If she don't look
like she's married, and don't she hang
round him all the time carryin' water
to the field, an didn't l see 'em with
my own eyes this very afternoon arid
in down the road with his arms round
her and her with her head agin his
shoulder. They never see me till l
turned the corner an was most onto
'em. An You orter have seen how
fustered they was when l met 'em. l
knowed you didn't know how they
was a-actin', an l come over to tell
you. The hull country is a-pityin'
YOU"
''Did you say you saw 'em, Mrs.
Trover?''
"See EN-, yes, l see 'em with my own
eyes, course see 'em. You look terri
BILE white, Lindy; can't git you some
water?"
Nom, don't want any,
well, l must go. jist come over
to tell you about it. thought it time
You was KNOWN, an you with young
baby, too. Now good-by; come an see
me Is soon as you can, and don't take
it too much to heart what I've told
YOU"
Lindy watched her go down the lane
and out of sight. What should she dol
''Oh, Lord. tell me what to do" she
moaned. "I'll go home to ma, that's
what I'll do, an if Sam wants Win
Potts he can have her. Well go home
to gran'ma, won't we, baby?" she said
as she took it in her arms. 1t was a
mile around the road, and about three
quarters through the fields. She must
hurry or. they would be back. She
wrapped the baby in blanket, threw
a shawl over her head and started
across the fields.
"Why, Lindy Wilson, her mother
said, as Lindy walked in ~ the kitchen
door.
Take the baby, ma" and then she
tainted.
1t was late in the afternoon when
Sam and Win came home. Sam tied
his team and hurried in the house. He
had bought pair of slippers for Lindy.
The way she acted when he started
away had made him uncomfortable all
tho of4arpoop Ha ,vapt tbrourh h q