Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-01-05
In the Nick of Time.


f1D HE Widow Carney came out of
her two-room shanty beyond the
dump. She stood erect in the
spring sunshine, looking over a net
work of railroad tracks, across to the
switchouse where Kathleen had taken
Fergus O'Hare's dinner. Nellie Carney
was still little more than n 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 a widow"
John COnOver remarked to Fergus.
Not long. l venture"
Three year." said Fergus, painting a
little. Not for any fault of the b'ys.
She's a little uppish, is Nellie Carney.
Phil We're a fireman an like to be en-
glneer wan day, but the greasers down
Coyote pass finished him wan night
when they attacked the train. Com
pany gives her the rint av the hoose
thar, an she keeps boarlers for
meals"
That is how John Conover met Nelly
Carney. He was getting ready to 60
to the mines. He had just come from
the Eastern States and had n 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 a week or so, and
bunked in with Fergus O'Hare. He
said he was getting his outfit. Nellie
Carney did some sewing for him, and
they sat together evenings, while Kath-
leen slept beside them.
One Of these evenings John Conover
seemed to be very thoughtful. At last
he took q sudden resolution.
Nelly" he began, gently, "I'm going
up to a rough place, but I've got a no
ton to take you along"
at takes two to make q bargain.
Mr.. Conover."
mot this bargain. l know you'll 20,
dear. I'm only wondering IL it'll pay
you. Jim always stuck to 1t that creek
claim was bound to pan out. If It does.
you and Kathleen will be fixed for life.
If it don't you might have a tough
time. Shall we go down to the squire
tomorrow, Nell?"
Nelly took a nights sleep on 1t, and
in the morning consented to. go up
country with John Conover. They
We're married one day, and set out the
next, taking the little child with them.
1t seemed a shame to John Conoyer
that he had brought such a pretty crea-
ture to live in such n 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 q home and friends
among civilized people. He worked
haft, ana inc next summer made a
good find in a hole and sent her back to
San francisco with a small fortune
and instructions to put Kathleen into a
convent, where she could have school,
ing and he made a lady Of for the fu-
ture.
Life in a hotel is u great educator.
Day after day Mrs. Conoyer went
about. saw great plays, read novels,
visited her child. and enjoyed exist
ence. She received Johns %infreuucnt
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 scream of the wild
eagles-that was all. She missed John
at first with all the passion of her i'm
pulsive nature; but. as time went on.
the longing grew less fierce, and she
felt she would rather return than
to go now when life was so full Of
gaiety and novelty.
One day Fergus O'Hare came to see
her. The colored servant told her with
q 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 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 q little condescension.
Fergus had stopped in the middle Of
the little parlor.
Nelly C~onover! OF can't behave it's
the same." he said.
1T !s," she laughed; then In her
! warm-hearted way, ''Sit down. Fergus.
I'm glad to see you. You should see
Kathleen. She's a fine girl now"
Fergus would Tot Sit dows- Hs VS.