Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-05-10
In the Nick o Time
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NIIE Widow Carney came out of her

TIIE Widow Carney came out of her
| two-room shanty beyond the dump.
She stood erect in the spring sunshine,
rocking over a network of railroad
tracks. across to the switchhouse where
Kathleen had taken Fergus O'Hare's
dinner. Nelly Carney was still little
more than girl. Her face was arch
and sweet, her eyes bright, her hair
black and curly. The wind blew her
calico dress away from her fine figure.
And you say that she's widow?"
John Conover remarked to Fergus.
Not long, venture"
'Three year," said Fergus, painting
(. little. mot for any fault of the b'ys.
She's little uppish, is Nelly Carney.
Phil were fireman an like to be an
engineer wan day, but the greasers
down Coyote pass finished him wan
night whin they attacked the train.
Company gives her the rint av the hoose
thar, an she keeps borders for meals.''
That is how John Conover met Nelly
Carney. He was getting ready to go to
the mines. He had just come from the
eastern states and had a claim up about
Toby's creek that his brother had left
him when he died the year before.
He did not say much about himself
TO anyone. He took his meals with the
Widow Carney for week or so and
bunked in with Fergus O'Hare. He
said he was getting his outfit. Nelly
carney did some sewing for him and
they sat together evenings, while little
Kathleen slept beside them.
One of these evenings John Conover
seemed to be very thoughtful. At last
he took a sudden resolution.
"Nelly,' he began, gently, I'm going
up to rough place, but I've got no.
ton to take you along"
ut takes two to make a bargain.
Mr.. Conover.
Not this bargain. know you'll go,
dear. I'm only wondering if it'll pay
you. Jim always stuck to it, that creek
claim was bound to pan out. If it does,
you and Kathleen will be fixed for life.
1t it don't, you might have tough
time. Shall we go down to the squire
tomorrow, Nell?"
Nelly took nights sleep on it, and
in the morning consented to 20 up
country with John Conover. They were
married one day and set out the next,
taking the little child with them.
1t seemed a shame to John Conover
that he had brought such pretty crea-
ture to live in such a wild and lone
some spot. She was happy enough, ap-
parently the same Nelly that he had
seen on the dump that spring day. The
more he loved her the more he brooded
over her sacrifice of home and friends
among civilized people. He worked
hard, and the next summer made good
find in a hole and sent her back to San
Francisco with a small fortune and
instructions to put Kathleen into
convent, where she could have school
ing and be made a lady of for the fu-
ture.
Life in a hotel is a great educator.
Day after day Mrs. Conover went about,
saw great plays, read novels, visited
her child and enjoyed existence. She
received Johns infrequent letters with
a positive alarm. Suppose he should
send for her to return. She could close
her eyes and see the great, dark, snow
topped mountain wall, the rough cabin
CLOSE under the shadow, the brawling
waters of the mountain torrent. In
dreams she heard the drumming voice
of the wind among the pine boughs, the
*cream of the wild eagles-that was ALL
She missed John at first with all the
passion of her impulsive nature; but,
as time went on, the longing grew less
fierce, and she felt she would rather
never return than to 20 now when life
was so full of gayety and novelty.
One day Fergus O'Hare came to see
Ner. The colored servant told her, with
a grin, that the visitor wouldn't write
his name on a card-maybe couldn't.
Nelly flushed, for she knew it was but
"a little time since she had 0een igno-
rant of card formaIties. She said she
would see him in her own parlor, and
the amused bellboy showed up the
switchman. He looked rougher and
more grimy than ever.
How do you do, Fergus?" she said,
with little condescension.
Fergus had stopped in the middle of
the little parlor. ;,..s -.s......, -.s. .