The morning times., 1897-02-14

one night Mary Haines had discovered it,
How Mary teased her until she confessed
that they were to be married in the spring
and go TO Kansas.
Its 4:3o' George called
She dropped the photographs into the
trunk and closed the lid with crash
She laid her hat and cloak on the led
lin glad l baked the bread and dried
apple pies this morning. she Thought,
men are so helpless about homework
/ must leave some word Of where I'm gone.
| guess he has tried TO be good to me, but
he has no right to keep me here
She found sheet of thin, blue lined
paper on which she had so often written
to .her folks" She sat down on the bed
with the ink bottle on a chair near by
Dear Rick she wrote, then hastily
crossed it out and began Rick" Then
she was motionless for time, her eyes
fixed on the ceiling At last she wrote:
George Gilbert is here and is going to
lend me money TO go home ON. | cannot
stand 1t here any longer I hope you will
forgive me, FOR | know you have tried to
be good to me and"
She threw down her pen and ran into the
kitchen. George stood in the doorway,
smoking and looking down the road.
Ready he asked without turning.
'Oh, can't 60" she cried huskily. .'I
can't go-!ie has done his best 1t would be
too had when he has worked 50 hard-poor
Rick" She sat down and covered her face
with her hands.
'An right" George answered. 81 was
willing to take you, but if you think you'd
better not that's all right don't want
to interfere, as l said BEFORE
Il shouldn't have said what did" she
sobbed, ''but it seems like tile wind has
made me half crazy. I'll stay, though,
now, if it kills me-
We'll, guess d better be driving back
to town. her cousin said. "If / could
help you any by" He fumbled in his
pocket and she heard the rattle of loose
change.
mo, George; there is only one thing you
can do for Inc. Promise that you will
never say a word about this TO any living
soul Tell ma that you found me well and
happy--be sure you remenlber-well and
happy"
'AH right; III be mum as an OYSTER
he answered He was puzzled but rather
relieved to find that she was not going
with him He bid her good-by and drove
out into the wheel track.
She watched him out OF sight then she
went into the house and laid her clothing
back in the trunk. Her letter lay on the
floor She picked it up and threw it into
the fire, as If IL had been something un-
clean She watched ii blaze and turn 10
white ghost which she crumbled with
the poker When the house had taken ON
it's ordinary look she put the tea kettle
on the stove and set the table for sup
per As she cut one OF her pies she smiled
she was To eat them after all
The wind had gone with the sun, and it
was dusk when she heard the sound Of
wheels. she took the lanternfrom the high
shelf lit it and set out To the barn. lis
that you, Rick" she called.
Yes been expecting me long," came
from the other side of the team.
Cousin George has been here; lie couldn't
wait for you, but he left his regards" she
said.
Yes, Imet him the other side of Markers.
We stopped TO talk little while; said he
didn't have time to stay TO supper or all
night -
Kate held the lantern while her husband
unhitched and fed his horses, then they
walked together to the house Through tie
open NppA a. tipNh VI iSbb itIa th tue
| ground, ana within the red table cloth and
| white dishes Shone pleasant and cheerful.
I've got some good news, sis,' Rick
said across the table, as he helped himself
| TO a third cut OF pie old man Shultz
wants to buy this farm; says he don't like
| the way my land gouges out the corner
of his section. He viii take up the mort
! gage and give me 5000 clear. 1t ain t
much, but We can go back home and begin
| over again. Begin over gain in a country
where a man gets a decent living for his
| sweat and labor
Kate laid her head on the table and
began TO cry.
why, sis, amt YOU tickled?" he asked.
Il did it because 1 thought this was no
| place for YOU
II am awful pleased" she answered,
"but I was SO tired and 1 thought mebbe
| you didn't care"
In the night the wind came up and set
the cornstalks CTealling and rustling With
! thousand whispers, 'but they said to
Kate: Years fly, years fly-good-bye,
| goodbye" Now the whisper Of the wind
| was sweet to her as she lay listening:
Years fly, years fly-good-bye, goodbye y