Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-26

vas done locked the door after them
and took up her task OF nursing.
Grim and resolute, with set face and
! steady hands, she went through her
work, doing it thoroughly and exactly
just as she did everything else. Offers
of help were plenty, but she rejected
them all; no one should have anything
of Reuben's past life from the utter
ances of his delirious tongue if she
could help it.
But she learned much herself that
she would gladly have never known.
1t was evident that he had been a SOL
der, cowboy, a railroad hand, and a
tramp. Then came broken words
which almost stopped the beating of
her heart, for she gathered from them
that he was a fugitive from justice.
You shall not hang me- he shouted.
Il tell you it was done in self-defense.
He struck first"
At last the fever left him weak and
helpless, but it was evident he would
never rally. Whether he realized
that he was about to die she did not
know. He uttered no words of re-
pentance or desire to recover or graft
tude for her ministrations But as
he lay pale and silent, she began to be
conscious Of a strangely growing like
ness to his father, and it came over
her with a pang that he was nearing
the age at which his father had died
1t was the night before Thanksgiv-
ing again. She sat watching him as
he slept thinking how like it was to
watching by his father, only then her
vigils had been shared by her mother.
At last Reuben opened his eyes, and
looked at her wistfully. She leaned
over him to catch anything he might
say. you have been good to me,
Tempy," said he family, and the great
tears welled into his eyes.
Mother told me, Reuby," said she,
and bent down and kissed him for the
first time since their childhood. An
hour later and he was dead.
She composed his limbs and covered
his face reverently. Then she went
to the door and let in the new day
AS she did so three men came around
the corner of the house as if they had
been Waiting there. She recognized
one Of them as a deputy sheriff resi-
dent in the town, and she OWNED their
errand intuitively.
eve didn't want to disturb We, Miss
Tempy," began Sheriff Kimpton.
I'VE thought we would wait here till
we knew We were stirrin'. These gen.
tlemen have got little business with
Reuben. HoN's Reuben this morn
ing?"
Come in," said she quietly, and led
the way into the bedroom. She turned
down the sheet from the dead mans
face and stood one side. One of the
strangers stood back respectfully, but
the other advanced resolutely and laid
his hand on Reuben's face.
Dead, sure enough said he, and
there was disappointment in his tone.
Il didn't know but he might be sham
ming, and there's quite reward-it's
a case O. murder"
His companion flushed uneasily. |
mo need O. bein' brutal, Dunham,"
said he in low tone; eve might as
we'll go. Sorry 10 have troubled We
so, ma'am, but we didn't know" and
he followed Durham out of the room
and out of the house. Sheriff Kimp-
ton fingered with an awkward at
tempt at sympathy.
81 declare fer't, Miss Tempy, II
wouldn't have had it happen for any
thing if I'd known Reuben had been
so low. We've all felt for We; don't
think we haven't. Them men got
here last night with their papers all
regular and everything. Said they
came from Illinois, and 7 never was
so beat in my life as whem they told
me their errand. l told 'em Reuben
was bed-fast, but that Durham didn't !
seem to believe it. I dent think
Reuben was so much to blame from
what they told me. 1t seems likely it
was in a brawl and he struck an I'M
lucky blow. The fellow was a. wild
blade, but his folks had money and
influence, so they followed it up with
and Reuben's accident get
ting into the papers give 'ern a clew.
But he's out O. their reach now, any
way. I'll send my wife right over,
and I'll do any errands for We to the
or minister, Or such like.
Reuben was just about my age. Him
and me used to go swimmin' together
when we was little shavers. Good
natered little Teller as ever was, then.
Sho, now! Thanksgivini day, tool"
AT last the door closed behind the
voluble man, and Miss
Tempy went back to her dead. Today
she was truly thankful.