Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1899-07-07

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The Widow Carney came out of her
two room shanty hey ond the dump. She
stood erect in the spring sunshine, lock
ing oven a network Of railroad tracks.
GcroSs to the s~witchhouse, where Kath-
len had taken Fergus O'Hnre's dinner
Nelly Carney was still little more than
n girl Her face was arch and sweet.
her eyes bright. her hair black and cur
". The wind blew her calico dress
away from her fine figure.
''And you say that she's a widowT'
John Conover remarked to Fergus
mot long. l venture"
"Three year, said Fergus. painting
a little. mot for any fault of the b'ys.
She's a little uppish. Ia Nelly Carney
Phil were a fireman an like to be an en-
gincer wan day. but the, Grcaaers down
Coyote pass finished him wan night
when they attacked the train. Company
gives her the rint nv the hose thar, an
she keeps borders for meals.
That is how John Conoyer met Nelly
Carney. lie was getting ready 20 go to
the mines. Ee 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
90 any one. lie took his meals with the
Widow Carney for p 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
Rlep, beside them.
One of these evenings John Conover
seemed to be very thoughtful at last
he took o sudden resolution.
"Nelly. be began gently. I'm 60
ing up to a rough place. but I've got a
notion TO take you along"
"It takes two to make a bargain, Mr.
CoDover."
mot this bargain. l know You'll go,
dear. I'm only wondering if it'll pay
you. Jim always stuck to it, hat that
creek claim was bound to pan out. If it
does. you and Kathleen will be fixed for
hfe. II it don't. you might have a
tough time. Shall we go down to the
squire tomorrow, NellT'
Nelly took a nights sleep on it and
in the morning consented 10 go up
country with John Conover. They were
married one day and set ont the Aext,
taking the little child with them.
1t seemed a shame TO John Conover
that he had brought such a pretty
creature to live in such a wild and lone
scme spot. She was happy enough, ap.
parently the same Nelly that be had
seen on the dump that spring day. The
more he loved her the more he brooded
over her sacrifice Of a home and friends
among civilized people. He worked
hard, and the next summer made a good
And in a hole and sent her back to San
Francisco with a small fortune and in
~structions to put Kathleen into a con-
vent. where she couh have schooling
and be made a lady Of for the future,
Life in a hotel IL O great educator
Day after day Mrs Ccnover 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
eend for her to return. She could close
her eyeg 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 scream 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 go now when life
was 50 full Of gayety and novelty.
One day Fergus O'Hare came to see
her. The colored servant told her. with
a grin. that the visitor would not write
his name on a card-maybe couldn't
Nelly flushed, for she knew it was but
a little time since she had been ignor-
ant Of card formalities. She said she
would SEQ him in her own parlor. and
the amused bellboy showed up the
switchman- He looked rougher and
mere grimy than ever.
''How do you do. Fergusf" she said.
with a little condescension.
Fergus bad stopped in the middle Of
me little parlor.
NELLY Conoverl OF can't behave it's
tbe came. f" be said.
~n is, che laughed Then, in her