Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-11-26

BY the time another year had rolled an.
other Thanksgiving into the calendar.
The roof Of the old house no longer
leaked. The barn had been raised from
its attitude Of deep detection, and its
mows were crowded to bursting with
hay and grain. The old horse spent hif
days chiefly in the pasture while
younger and more vigorous animal did
the work, assisted by yoke Of big and
handsome oxen. The solitary COW now
had plenty Of company, and frisky calves
gamboled about her in the summer
time. There was no longer any doubt as
to the availability Of any Of the fat COB.
blers for q Thanksgiving dinner.
Thus the seasons succeeded one an.
other with their measure Of content.
Each found the widow more and more
dependent upon her atalwart helper.
She chung to him as she might have
chung to the son Of whom she had been
deprived in the springtime Of her wife.
hood. As her lettering footsteps were
supported down the aisle Of the village
church on a Sunday few Of the oongre.
cation knew that the handsome young
man who watched over her 80 assidu-
ously was not in fact her own SOL.
Those who were cognizant Of the rela-
tons between the two shook their heads
knowingly, saying to themselves and
to each other: Lucky boy thatl Step
ped right into the farm just as the old
lady was about to leave it. He knows
the side Of his bread that has the hutter
on it,"
But it is doubtful If Jem had ever
given that a thought; SO happy and
content was he that the merely material
conditions Of his life had never troubled
his consciousness Only one thing trou-
bled his thoughts Of late. He was deep
ly stirred by the soft, brown eyes Of
pretty Susie Jones, q chorister in the
church-Susie, who lived, as he had
done, with friends for board and keep
another Of New England's orphans.
He never mentioned this daring spec
ulation, not even to the widow. But her
eyes, though growing dim, were acute
enough to penetrate his honest soul.
His whole life lay conferred in the farm,
which had become as essential to 1t al.
most as the air he breathed. But now
there must be young life there. A pair
Of brown eyes persisted in dancing be.
fore his face, in wood pile, in field, in
garden.
And go 1t came to pass that there was
a wedding next Thanksgiving in the
little cottage, now pretty with vines
and CHEEKY within. Susie was glad Of
80 pleasant place for the troth which
she was to plight with Jem, while he,
lucky fellow though he was, could moi
take time to travel to SuMe'a home, far
away over the rough. billy roads. "A
wife's good thing" he remarked to
the widow the evening before his mar
riage, but there's COWS to be looked
after and hens to be fed-more'n you
cnuld tend tn alone.
"That's SO, Jem, said the widow,
smiling brightly, land thanks to You
for 1t all"
Under branches Of autumn leavef
from the last reddening trees Jem and
Susie promised all the things Of the SIM
pie marriage service. Then came the
country wedding supper
When the last guest had gone, driven
away in the farm wagons that had clus.
tered around the door all afternoon, the
widow turned to Jem and Susie, sitting
bashfully in the freight.
you're my children, now, both Of
you," she said. "Call me mother just
once, Jem and Susie.
"Mother!" cried Jem, taking the
feeble hands together and kissing them
tenderly my darling mother, dearest
friend ever hadI'
She returned his loving glance linger-
ingly, gratefully, as they led her to the
door Of her room.
Next morning Jem knocked again at
the Widow Wilson's door just as he had
done on that lonely Thanksgiving day
four years ago. This time not even
feeble voice answered his repeated calls.
Three days later, as the neighbors
struggled back from the little cemetery
on the hill, Squire Lothrop drew Jem
apart.
II s'pose you know the widder's left
the farm to your No? Shol It's mighty
strange she didn't tell you. She made
her will more'n year ago, and you're
her only heir, She seemed to set lot
by you, the wilder did, and"-looking
around approvingly over the snow COW
cred fields-'I d'no's | blame her. The
last four years hev been the peacefulest
Of her life, and she's left her peace
with you, for surel''-Cleyeland Plain