Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-02-21

her shoulder. NANNY, Use 80 poly
She tried eagerly enough now to
arouse him, but he slept heavily as II
fever had already drugged his veins
with Its red poppy juice. 1t ran its
course quickly. The last night she
watched by him the rain drlpped slow.
ly through the leaks In the roof. Now
and then came agusto Of wind, Nathan
sat by the hearth and his wet coat and
hat, hung on chair, dripped upon the
floor.
His eyes werc fixed on the boy.
"That mans dead" lie spoke rough.
ly, but he had not spoken TO her before
for weeks. "Shot In battle"
Mandy started, her face quivered, al
II she were about to explain--protest.
But her husband was not looking at
her. Mandy understood the motive,
he was sorry for hcr-and for thatl II
he had insulted her II would have been
easier to bear. Her face hardened
again, and she answered sullenly:
what do 1t matter? Nothing mat
tcrs. Hush, hush"
For the child had begun to speak
His mind wandered and he fancied
himself again on the ridge. His
mother, bending over him, could hear
him fecbly initiate the guns boom,
boom" The land was so full Of wsr
that even to this poor baby the wind
OF death blew across old battleAelds.
Nathan's kin came to tho funeral.
Mandy's people lived further off,
Gross the mounting"-and II was hard
to send a message through the federal
outposts. The men talked OF crops and
Of the late fights, Of Hartman and
Bragg. They treated Nathan with
respect; William was the "best of" Of
the brothers, but Nathan was the old
est. "Nathsn's wife" with her still
moss and reserve, impressed them with
awe. william watched her closely and
took Nathan aside for . talk - the
horses were being hitchsd 10 the hig
wagon.
~ don't like Mandy's looka, he said.
"Taint natural fur woman 10 DO %
still. She oughter hev CHANGE
Nathan waited.
Send her back with VI" he urged,
"Morgan's mon hsv fairly torsd up tho
bridge, but thsrc'ss good ferry, and
Nanoy'll DO proper glad tsr noe her.
Lot hcr stay : spell, I'LL do hcr good,
an she'll come back apry o. ever"
Nathan turned away. "She kin 70
Of she plcasss," he said, but when the
plan WAS broached 10 Mandy herself,
she would not bear oft,
The other women c,ied whom they
left; MAndya eyes were still dry and
hard.
"pcar's like she couldn't forgive
providence, no how said Aunt Jane
after they were out OF sight
"Why, sister" said william cheer
fully--hc had done oil he could and
was inclined to shake of any furtheI
responsibllity-"she's young enough
ter hev a dozen mo children"
Aunt Jane shook her head Neither
she nor any Of tho others he'd seer
signs OF what they would have callet
. falling out" but the whole atmos
phcro had been unnatural.
II would have seemed atill more 10
could she have seen Mandy after shi
was left alone. With fsvcrlsh energy
she cleaned tho cabin, and mende{
Nathan's Sunday cost end vest, ant
various pairs Of hali-woru socks. Thel
she cooked supper, though 1t was al
hour or so before sundown. Nathan
coming In for IN old bucket Of tsl
that stood In . corner Of the shed, wa
amazed. She took up her sunbonnet
and as II by fash, he OWNED hel
meaning.
"yo amt got no call ter 60"
Once more che hesltsted
THE child don't need me now" OH
murmured. She was starving for
word Of himself.
II dunno" hs answered, slowly, "ei
he knowed-lt'd 10 kind o lonesome
fur the little fcllcr"--ho paused.
For the arst tlmo Mandy put hc'
hands before her face and wcpt
Things were not very different Ia
the next three or four years. Nathan
did not talk; he had fallen into a
habit Of silence, but he watched herr
he was restless II, by any chance, she
were away-a new thing; he even
tried to save her from rough work or
exposure 10 rough weather
She needed care, though she did not
say NO. A pain often came In her loft
side, her breath was short, she had .
cough. She was, however, not unhap'
by, for sho began TO suspect that M.
than was fond OF her. Had he como
to think her innocent or--had hc for.
given her guilt2 lilo gave no sign
either way.
One day she tried to ut heavy log
and tainted. She was slowly regain
Ing consciousness when Nathan found
her, but her eyclids did not culver or
her lips move a. he carried her In and
put her on the bed. Ilo stopped down
and gave her o long kiss.
Presently somebody was bathing
her forehead and rubbing her cold
hands ltstopped, for there was On
unfamiliar call outside.
~ can't rightly say she's noticed
anything, doctor" said her husband
"pears like she's too fur gone The
sentence broke abruptly as the speaker
turned away.
Tho doctor found her weak and
pale, but with dIlatcd eyes Of
ecstacy Her faded lips wore smil-
Ing rapture, for she still felt her hus-
bands kiss. II was Mandy's hour Of
triumph-only-sho was dying, Ella
r. Mosby, in Springfield (MasA) 10
publican.
A LouisvlLLE tKy.) man, who says
he never drinks, tells Of Il farmer who
has produced q breed Of fur-bearing