, 1898-10-05

right after dinner"
I'm iss ready. and-l wouldn't have
asked you. John, oniy-only-you nm
derstand how it is. don't your" Her
face was red again.
why. Sarah, where have you been;
You look as rosy us a poppy" and Mrs.
Smith wiped the tears from her eyes as
she gazed at her daughters face.
"I've been attending to business for
us, mother. You will not leave the
place. I'm going over to Squire Halls
this evening. John Howard II coming
to take me in the buggy"
The sun was sinking low in the west
when John Howard and Sarah returned
from the squire's-
Twill you come in, John, and stay
about some? I'd-I'd rather you'd tell
him, if you don't mind. Sarah said.
John hitched the horse and went in.
He walked to the bedside Of jackson
Smith and sat down.
Uncle Jackson" be began, GIVE
come to tell You what I've done. You
Know that I've often warned you that
some day you would lose the most vaIu-
able possession you had"-
Its the brindle heifer, " nterru pied
Jackson Smith, his eyes swapping II
grily. John Howard, you think be-
cause l am on my deathbed that you
can do as you please. but I'll show you.
It's just like you to shoot q neighbours
heifer just because she jumped into
your wheat. l don't expect anything
better of you-the whole party is made
up of thieves and cutthroats-but I'll
leave it in my will. jackson Goggan
shall law and law until He sank
back exhausted from his outburst.
IF you get that angry owe that
brindle heifer, Uncle jackson, l don't
know what you will say when l tell
you that l have not touched the heifeE
but l have married Sarah"
Married - Sarahr' and jackson
Smiths eyes dilated. Married Sarahl"
he said, under his breath. "John, give
me your hand. | knew Sarah was a
Smith. Why. there never was an old
maid in the Smith family. but it did
seem she meant to take after the Walk
ers-her mother was a Walker. Sarah
married. | can go in peace, John,
now that you have lifted the disgrace
from the Smith family. Call Sarah. ]
want to give her the brindle heifer."
When the lawyer came the next day,
he wrote a will bequeathing all. save a
life interest to Mrs. Smith. to his be-
loved daughter, Sarah, who had glad
dened the last hours Of his life.
A few days later, with all due cere-
mony, jackson Smith was laid away by
the side of other Smiths. John Howard
went home with his wife and her moth
er. At the porch he halted awkwardly,
seeing which Sarah turned.
"Will you come in, .John?'' she asked.
"I'm afraid it would only poster you
if l did. reckon I ought to go home,
but l hate to leave you-you women
folks alone-and you'll be kind of lone.
some now"
"You might stay. We would fix up
fathers room real comfortable IL You
would just Us soon" said Sarah, begin
ming to realize the awkwardness of her
position.
I'D like to, Sarah. I could tend the
crop just as we'll, but I'd feel as il 1
was living of Of you women, and-and
you might get to hate me If l hung
You needn't be afraid Of that,
said Sarah. tapping her foot
nervously IN the porch floor. "It would.
be the easiest way out Of our-our-di-
but, if you'd rather not stay we
could explain to folks how it was that
you just married me to rave the farm"
but. Sarah, if we told that, it
would be a lie. Itook advantage Of your
to get you married to me. and
you didn't suspect me, but now l feel
and as if you. will not respect me
when l tell you the truth" Sarah 9azed |
1t him in wonder. What could be mean,
she thought, but no sound came from
Ter lips, and he continued: 1--we been
;rying for ten years to ask you to marry
ne, but | never could do it, and when
you came to me in your trouble jumped
It the chance. Sarah. because | wanted
7ou-I've always wanted you. but now
feel a t stay-unless you can take
ne for your husband in earnest. His
yes did not lift to her face.
"Johnl" Her eyes were open wide in
maze, and the face so lately tear stain.
ID became radiant with unexpected JOY
You love me?" she questioned in glad
lnbelief. why. have loved you all
his time. too. she Whispered. --Cin.
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