The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1898-10-07
A FLOWER FROM
THE YUKON
joint

II was all she SAID, nut ne
- could sec her grow white TO
the lips, and her hands clasped und I'M
claspcd ncrvously,
"Why, Millie, thought you'd be glad,
and would wish fellow God speedr
but We shall miss you 80 at home"
she made the soft answer.
Nonsense, there are enough lett"
he said lightly, adding more gravely:
"And you know, Mile, how have al
ways hated this grinding poverty, and
how l have had TO give up all my
dreams of college and professional
career TO run the farm. and then have
barely kept the wolf from the door.
Now that the other boys can take my
placa, am too old TO succeed along ed
ucational lines, and must try some 9th
or way, and what better one Is there
than to try the llondlke9 Yes, ! am
going; the party starts In one month,
and ! shall not return until return
rich man."
The girl buried her face IN her apron
and burst into tears, sobbing until the
young man was almost frightened; but
he held his peace, going back In mem
DRY TO his first meeting with her four
teen years before, when she, tiny,
wIllful elf Of years, came, an orphan,
into their poor homo. It was with him
she first made friends; he rocked and
soOthed her TO sleep when she cried of
homcslckness; to him sho had gone
ever since with her Joys and sorrows.
Aud he2
Well always old ana full Of care he
yond his years, ne had taken her into
his arms, and more and more, az the
years passed, she became his idol; but
there had been no love making be-
tween them. Each had been content to
be near the other; each was burdened
with the multltudlnous burdens that
daily fell to their lot.
There were ten children, besides NIL
lie. In the Stanley family The Oldest,
a girl was dead, tho second married
and far away; then camo Ave boys.
John, the eldest of these; then a girl,
and lastly two boys. Minlc, coming in
just whore she did like John-had
much care und hard work; but no one
had over heard her complain or seen
such look ON her bright face as II now
wore.
When the storm of her grief was
spent John said, gravely:
Il may not have another chance 60
see you alone, Mile, SO / wnnt TO tell
you this now although am sure YOU
must know II. l love you with more
than brothers love; you ure the ono
woman In all tho world for me. but |
am not going 10 ask you to bind your
self l om leaving homo for the snke
Of the whole family, but more than all
for your sake, Mile. II you want me
on my return /, with all ! have. will he
yours II never como back, you viii
know that largely for your sake tried
and failed. You
But hero he was interrupted by tho
girl throwing her arms about his neck
In her old childish way, ana sohbing:
Don't go, John. O. don't goi
He drew her into hls arms ana kissed
and soothod her ms on that first night.
John was gone and life IN the busy
old hive Of farm house went on ap-
parently much the same. but It was not
the same with Aullio. At parting she
had said
Il shall never never see you again.
john"
He had tried 10 smile, though his eyes
were suspiclously moist. ana had an.
swered lightly;
Nonsense, dear ono, I'll remind you
Of your gloomy prophecy on our we'd
ding day" Then more grnvely: when
/ ! send you flower from the banks of
the Yukon. you may know It Is an omen
Of success, and that day-if so Ike YOU
/ are true TO JOhn-bcgln TO prepare for
/ our union. The fow letters that | cnn
/ send will be- of course, family affairs.
/ but this you alone viii understand"
Days, weeks, and months passed.
once, In what seemed 10 Millic an ago,
letter came and Il always contained
money, for John hired out nj once in
stead Of prospecting for himself. Too
the letters were full of bounding life
and hope; fun OF dreams of success aud
the glad homecoming. Drawing
strength from these. the girl went on
her now doubly burdened way. Never
before had she realized how much pc
had done 10 tighten her burdens; how
he had tried to shelter her; how like a
bulwark his love had been around her
how much she had depended on his ap-
probation and sympathy. 1t had al
seemed a matter Of course to her.
1t was a sultry August evening. Fork
ed lightning played along the western