Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-11-10
dear, an kiss your mother fore she

the tuss ocks and ran off to make the
castle. Hot work it was making that
castle. Little Sue took off her bon
net, pushed her curls back, and tapped
the flies from her face.
Now it's all ready for my bald-head-
ed child; she will be happy and comfy
in her new house." She brought the
doll and placed it in the castle.
''I'll gather some flowers, an make
yer bokay, bald-headed child" said
Sue, and she ran to the river bank,
where the bluebells grew long and
rank.
a light buggy was coming along.the
road drawn by pair of ponies. and in
it were a young man and girl-a
pretty girl, in a cool white gown, and
a rose-laden hat.
The young mar was looking tenderly
at the girls face, but the girls eyes
were bent on a great basket of starry
white jasmine she carried on her knee.
The ponies were going fast-the
young man glanced quickly along the
road. saw the white boxes good way
ahead-then he looked again at the
girls face.
They were now very close to the
castle; the young man had his finger
ready to turn the rein.
Presently little figure dashed from
the scrub that bordered the road.
my bald-headed child. you'll kill her.
you'll Kill her. cried Sue, holding
her arms out before her to stop the
ponies. a sharp scream, and
little Sue lay trampled to death-her
life blood mingling with the hot red
dust of the road.
The young man and the girl leaped
from the buggy, and bent over the
| crushed figure. He put his hand on the
child's heart.
A woman came swiftly through the
scrub, her face ashen pale-she waved
the man and girl aside, and bent over
the tiny figure, kissed the bleeding
mouth, and clenched the dust of the
road in her agony.
9Th only thing loved in this world.
she moaned, my-little-Suze-my
pretty-laughing little gel. My babyi
Was it for this brought you into the
| world?''
''Take her aside for moment,
Alice" said the young man, "and turn
away your faces"
<
an, and forced her to turn aside. -.
the man gently laid the little body
| upon a buggy cushion, and covered it
with linen rug he touched the
| woman's shoulder.
"Where to?" he asked.
The woman pointed to the bank of
| the river where the wagon and tent
| were. He carried the burden in 81
- 10
| bank.
"Where is your husband?"
'He's gone ter tn township. mister
said the woman. 'He only went few
| minutes ago."
ST must see the police. I
can't tell you how sorry I am" He
| wrung the woman's hand.
"'Twasn't your fault. mister said
| the woman, sobbing. Il seen the whole
| thing with my own eyes"
He drew. the girl aside. and whis-
| pered. The woman and the girl went
into the tent.
| The girl washed the tiny face and
/ hands, and put lace scarf round the
| head. Then she placed jasmine sprays
in the little hands.
| Thank We, miss; thank ye," said the
woman, holding out work-coarsened
| hand that shook like leaf. The girl
| took it in hers.
''There was doll of my little Sues
It's layin' in the road. If yes get ii
I'd thank ye kindly, miss, dear"
"Tll run for it, said the girl.
The woman watched the girl away
Then with stout iron skewers she
pinned the flags of the tent together
and secured herself against intru.
| sion.
"Here is the doll,' said the girl. "Will
| you let me come imp"
"Id rather We didn't. I'd like ye'd
leave me alone with my little dead
Sue, please miss"
I'm frightened to leave you there
alone" said the girl-'it seems sc
wretched-oh, do let me come in-dc
let me in
"I'r be all right, miss. Will ye sit
at the door of the tent till I call ye?"
The girl sat outside, waiting, wait
ing, till she was tined.
The woman took the doll, and fold
ed it in the arms of the dead child.
with a knife she stealthily ripped
an opening in the back of the tent, an6
stole out to where a heap of harnes:
lay. Taking a pair of hobbies
and smiling strangely, she went bach
to the tent. She kissed the lips of the
dead child then she bound the
body to her own breast, placed hel
hands together, and slipped the hob
bles over them then she stag
gered to the edge of the river.
Lord God,'' said the woman. sob
bing, '1ook down upon i sinful woman
you gave me my little Suze-yol