Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-07-07

The eyes OF the little wife sought
Testers. You have been so pood. :"
she said, almost in a whisper, $50 good
TO take us inl This awful dust and the
beat! i wouldn't have minded them
SO much for myself, but it has been
so bad for him. It makes the cough
worse, and that always frightens me.
sometimes when we have been going
so slowly the horses have Just seemed
to creep, and when the dust has nj.
most seemed to choke him. bav.
1elt as II should go frantic, All these
Gays that we have been on the way
have been longing so to reach Col.
oraoo' have felt as if l couldn't wait.
when the waiting might mean every.
thing 70 him, and it has been SO hard
so almost impossible, to keep cheerful
before him! That is always very hard.
don't you think so? When your life is
ali wrapped up in somebody else's. TO
keep that one from feeling how Won
suffer? And of course if they knew
that would make it all so much worse"
HOW the poor young thing was
emptying her heart outl It was as II
al the grief and anxiety of the DAYS
IN the covered wagon, rolling over the
brown plains, had burst its bounds.
and must pour itself out to this lis
tener.
Il wanted you to know" the excited
little voice ran on, "how kind you have
been-what comfort it has been to
me! Don't you see how much less tired
he looks? And he hasn't coughed near
so much, not nearl You have cheered
US up, too. 1t has been so strange
all this jourpey-every day taking Us
farther away from home, and the try
ing to choke down the hort sickness
and" She broke Off short, with graft
tude and tears shining in her eyes.
There was just time for Hester TO
take the little brown hand in hers and
press it close, when the two men came
back.
The man with STOPPING shoulders
and the flush on either cheek went up
close to the little woman with the
bright, eager eyes.
well, little woman, are you most
ready?" he said, patting her shout
der. you've had fine rest, haven't
your" He coughed sharply as he
spoke, but she smiled up at him bright
ly that he might not know how much
more it racked her chest than his.
You'd better get on your bonnet,
little woman" he said; fits time we
were going. L don't know how were
to thank you and your wife, Mr.. Gil
bert, for all you've done for us. but
we feel it, sir, we feel it."
TT wasn't anything at all!- John
protested. at has done us good to
have you here"
Hester and the little young wife went
into the tiny bedroom together. The
wind had stopped its maddeninp song
outside, and the air was clear ara1n
from its burden of dust. The furniture
would have to be busted for the third
time that day, but the thought brought
no scowl to her forehead now. The
little traveller pinned on the rusty
black hat, and turned to hold out both
hands impulsively to Hester. Thank
you again." she said; and then. In
whisper: Colorado is a wonderful
| place, isn't it? Haven't you heard
about the way people get cured there
people just as bad off as George. or
worse? You feel sure it'n do him good.
don't your"
She searched Hester's face as IL to
read her fate there. 1t was hard to
meet the girlish eyes.
I've never been farther west than
this myself" she said, 'but evervone
says it's wonderful climate in Colo
RADIO for people with trouble with their
lungs. I'm so glad you're going there,
and when he's grown well and strong
you'll be coming back this way to
see u.s."
The delight of that possible future
was in the young wife's eyes. .'If he
only doesi" she said. ooh, if he only
doesi"
There were hearty hand-clasps ex-
changed few minutes later. Then tho
prairie schooner" with it's freight of
human love and anxieties, rolled slow
~ away. The two left behind in the
little sod house stood long at the win
dow'-till the wagon was seen, a dark
blot, above the sharp horizon. With
quick, impulsive movement Hester,s
hand stole into her husbands.
How good you are!" she said. al
most solemnly. 'And while have Won
what do care about other things?
DID you think would really go east
without you? Why, John, I couldn't
bear it, away from you'll"
Far off in the big wagon lit tie WON
an sat with her round cheek pressed
against a shabby coat-sleeve, and the
cry of her heart was like that Of Hes
ter's. What are other things" she
was whispering, while 1 have YOU,
dear?"