Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-09-02

| Inc Oest nome IN tDe WOTIu.
The hand lying in his moved slightly,
but she made him no other answer.
Then silence fell on them again, and
his eyes still rested on the old gray
house; but hers were fxed on the val
ley below. The day grew more dim
and the land was all hushed and peace
full, except for a beetles quick whirr
as II hurried along to its home, and the
cali Of farm boy rising up from the
rick yard as he finished his evenings
work. Then at length he spoke again,
and his voice was still low and pleading
US he spoke Of that day long ago, the
day she had come to his home. He
"minded" the song she had hummed.
the words she had spoken. And once
a futtering sigh escaped her lips, but
her lids did not culver above her wide
eyes.
"An' them" he went on, and his voice
sank lower, and II was even as though
he spoke to himself, "the sun went
down. an the daytime was over; an we
cllmbed-you an me-up the field path
to this bench. An here we sat in the
dimsy; an you was wearin' little
white frock with bassomy roses upon
It, an byme'bye, when the dew fell,
the frcck grew all heavy with damp
ness, an I-all laughing-chid you
sharply for bein' careless wife. An
then--how well I can mind it--you
turned your dear face round to NEAL
sober an solemn--an' you said, just as
II twas prayer you was sayin': Illus
band, I was fearful OF the new life be-
fore me, being but young and over
thoughtless; but | want il to be better
for you-havin' me with you. Iwant to
make you happier, an ! want never to
do nor to say one thing to hurt or TO
vex you--till | die Poor little Patty
how well can mind it--nigh upon 20
years-an'-'
His voice broke, and the next words
would not come. She stirred slightly
and shivered, then leaned closer to him.
And then at last she lifted her eyes
from the valley to the sky where the
stars were appearing; and then her
lids qulvered and narrowed; and he saw
there were tears on her cheek.
"Patty, wife," he murmured, mind
the old days for my sake. Mind him,
too, as tits best. Mind him lynn all saucy
and strong in his cradle, as we stood by
him, you an me. and laughed at his
baby ways. How he waved up his brag-
garty arms to reach us, an grabbed at
our fingers to raise him, an cuddled
his face on our shoulders when he got
his own way in the end"
"An' when he fell Ill that first spring
time, how we watched, an we hoped
an we prayed for him; an he battled
way back, just shadow; an laughed
hisself into all hearts. An can mind
that when night came, for many hn'
many year after, you would start from
your sleep with cry an wonder II all
was we'll An then would creep to
his bedside, an shadin' the light would
look down pom his face, all lynn 50
quiet an so rosy; an would bring back
the word, just to socthe you' Ills
right, he's sleepin' WE'LL"
Against his own heart he could now
feel her sobs; ON his hand he could feel
hot tears falling; but this weight at the
heart was easier to bear, and the tears
made the handclasp Armer.
And the stars shone out, and the
moon rose high, and no more words
were spoken. The scent Of the clover,
all heavy with dew, was sweet on the
cool night breezes. From the farm be-
low CHEEKY lights shot forth and then
CLEANED bright and steady; and the
slow rub of a chain from the cow
house now and again broke the still
ness. Time was unheeded by the
mourners now; 1t was good to rest
just rest and be silent
By and by her sobs were spent, but
she did not raise her head from his
shoulder; for week she had held it
high and stern, and now It was raising
to bend It. So he drew her shawl closer
about her; he stroked her heavy,
loosened hair and gently fingered the
soft curls which strayed about her ear.
And great tiredness that was even
peace fell upon her heart; and after
awhile she slept.
Peter Penruddock's mouth had been
shaped by cheerful words, and now he
must abide by it; there must be no
further Strengthening of the upward
curves, for his cheerful words were still
needed, The world did not die witkthe
death of o son, and live worlds seldom
love innovation.
So Peter sat with his face to the stars,
and schooled his tongue to the shape
of comfort. And the great moon was
so placid, the stars were so radiant, the
gray sky stretched so vast, and life
shrank so belittled that 1t did not seem
hard to smile over earth's pains, and
think Of the childless years as but mo-
ments. But when at length he turned
his eyes downwards, and faced the still
spot lying stepped in the valley below,