Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-08-08
SANS PRAYER MEETING,
By HARRIET CARYL cox.

nm occasional strAgRler buuntcreu UP
to look at the derailcd cars and pile OF
debris on either side Of the track
The rest Of the settlement were In
the office OF the one hotel the place af-
forded; and the room was blue with
smoke MS they sat about the sputtering
fire and related anecdotes, or We'd with
each other In tales Of danger and hero
ism.
Some of the stories were old ones, as
knowing glances between the men
but the crowd was good
naturcd and new and old alike were
received with appreciation.
Ed LADIES, the funny man OF the
place, had just finished telling q new
and very taking story, Ed had just re-
turned from neighboring settlement,
and had, doubtless brought the story
with him.
As the shouts OF laughter that had
greeted him died away, one Of the men
shouted, Swearing Sans goin' ter
sleep. Wake him up, and make him
tell us u good one. Come, Sam" and
they gave him hearty slap,
II could tell yer story he said,
slowly, after n moments hesitationl
but yer wouldn't believe 1t, and !
dunno as want ter toll III" ind he
replaced his pipe and relapsed into 81
leuce.
"Oh, come otfl" they cried Yer
don't sneak out er II that way. Guess
yer can stan IT II we don't swaller II
whole; II can't be no worseathan some
what's been told ter-night; so 40
ahead, old feller,'
They looked inquirlngly at him
lie drcw his pipe out, rubbed its
smooth stem against his high boots MS
If in thought; then, tucking II into his
boot leg, he glanced about the dingy
room.
ut amt exactly like any OF yer
stories" he begun; but the smash-up
tcr.nivht made me think Of II same's
twas Yesterday
"Twas fifteen years back, when
was a-loaging up in Michigan, and
things was 50 dull and hard we was
mighty glad when anything interest
ing came up So when one cr the log
gers brought news up from town that
thcrcd been n terrible slnash-up, we
was rather glad than otherwise
Course we was sorry for them who had
folks killed, hut II didn't matter much
ter the folks what got killed,
$50 whole crowd on US quit CAM
and went inter town, There was III
teen follss dcad, and some pretty bat
shook up There was one woman who
hadn't known o thing ever since sli'
landed on er head. And she had III
tie rir, SO Ben who kept the hous'
told us. and he was dreadfully upset
bout that child. Cause, yous there
want any women folks In town tel
look after 1t. len's wife had took
sudden notion ter go east n week be-
fore, and she was the only one, except
the station agents wife, who had died
u month ago
"'lt does seem kind er tough that
there amt no woman ter kind Ct
mother her, Ben said, as we set abou
the stove a-talkIng same's we be now
And she's most cried herself sick, too
Wish the train hadn't seen III ter smash
up here; and he scowlcd an awfu
Scowl.
eyer wouldn't have sold 30 mucl
beer, so yer needn't be blaming your
rood luck, one Of the men told him
but he seemed bit troubled all even
ing and kept a-going up ter lister
close ter her door to see II shed stopped
crying. l'lrlc-by, he came back con
siderable relieved
"'she sounds quiet, he snid; 'ant
now guess we can rest easy
$50 we was having n ronsing goo'
time when all o sudden the fellc
next ter me give an awful start am
said kind er low Sam, ! see a ghost
"'Ghost nothing, | rcpliedi but
looked where hc pointed, and sur
enough there was something white Il
coming down the dark hallway
"I.y this time some 0 the Others say
we WINS a-lookin' at something, an
they locked toe And fore we begai
ter realize what 1t was little bit q
voice piped up
"'Why don't Susan come up to hea
me say my prayers2'
"If IL had been real live ghost
couldn't have struck us 50 sudden.
"rBctter go back ter bed, Ben said
trying ter speak soft like Susan
busy now, and can't comai SO ru
along.
''But she lsnew he was a-looling hei
and she waga spunkS littlc thing
~ viii have susan sha cried, q
stamping her little bare loot, FcI
her to come right now and She locke
real proud like.
Susan amt here; she's gone, Be
said, kinder shamod 0uess you ca
say your prayers ter yersclf this once
can't yer2' he asked.
Course not, she said, her eyes biz
There wouldn't he anyone to say. "Go
bless you, darling, and keep you;' an
that little under lip o hers began te
tremblc.
II tell yer, boys, there come a lum
in my throat SO big, II 1t had been gol
I'd a. been u rich man; and oil Of Y