Iron County register., 1900-06-07

world had been too much Tor him
he's so thin and sickly-looking. What
do you say to bringing them in?''
so John, how can we, when it's SO
! hard to keep up as it is?"
He looks real sick and worn,' re-
peated her husband; and that brought
the response he knew it would
go ask them, Them" said Hester
''f we can make it little easier for
them, we ought to, 1 suppose
"You come with me-" coaxed John.
go get ON your hat, and Wen ask
them together"
She gave a slight protesting laugh,
but went. nevertheless. clinging to his
arm, and almost resting her face
sometimes on his shoulder
What a country" she said, half
under her breath. Dust dust, dust.
everywhere. You breathe it and taste
it and get your eyes blinded by it!''
| They were very near the travellers
now. The tired horses, with detected,
| down-bent heads, were snatching
what little rest they could. In the
covered wagon sat the man and wom-
an-such hollow-cheeked, large-eyed
man, and such little slip of a wife!
The hot wind tapped the canvas
cover, and sent swirls of dust over the
two occupants and their scanty pos
sessions. That they were very scanty,
| indeed, Hester could not help seeing
| IN the briefest glance. y dry. un-
| tempting lunch the wife was taking
from a basket. Some of the self-pity
that had d@rllcned Hester's face all
the morning faded out of it, and was
replaced by a purer. nobler look.
You ask them, JOHN she said,
softly.
They'll like it better from you,"
whispered her husband.
The face of the little wife in the big
wagon frightened visibly at her ap-
proach.
"You must be tired out" Hester be-
gan, without preamble. I'VE want you
to come up to the house for little
rest and to have dinner with us. Won't
you?"
| A pleased smile breaking over the
young face seemed almost to fade out
the little worried line between the
dark eyes. An answering CLEAN stole
over the worn face at her side, but
they both protested family They
couldn't give so much trouble; it
would not be right.
You come right along. said John.
with kindly authority. I'VE wantyou,
SO don't make any fuss about it. Well
take the horses into my barn; let 'em
| try my feed and a good bucket of my
well water"
The two men went off together. Hes
| ter and the little wife beating their
way back to the sod house. \ look
| of cheer and comfort seeme,l to be in
its brown walls now. How good it
will seem to rest in a house." said the
| little wife. with happy sigh.
''Wouldn't you like to lie down a
| little while till dinner is ready?" said
Hester. Come right into my room.
and just feel that you are at home
| \ protecting kindliness had sprung up
| in her heart for this little creature
with the appealing eyes. You must
be so hot and uncomfortable. There's
| cold wafer in that pitcher. and I'll
| bring you some warm No. it isn't a
| bit of trouble. Then you must just
rest unIli dinner"
Unpleasant thoughts were far away
as Hester prepared the simple dinner,
trying to make it as attractive as
possible, She would get out some of
her wedding china-why not? John
would enjoy it, and it might make a
| bright spot in the day for the
strangers. She even picked a bunch
of astragalus. making a centerpiece of
the white, furry leaves. \ sprig of
wild geranium was laid at each plate.
There were CHEEKY faces around the
table, and Hester's was not less bright
than the others.
The gaunt stranger sat little more
erect now, and his face. after even this
brief rest, seemed less sharply outlined
The warm. human kindness as we'll
as the outward comfort had wrought
the change. and in some way made it
easier to remember in Whose larger
protecting care they were, and would
still be when rolling over the brown
prairie. Bit by bit their story came
out. The man told how he had been
carpenter and builder in Iowa; what
happy little home it had been. and why
they were flying now to the untried
world of Colorado. that Mecca for
consumptives. The gaunt man and the
young wife avoided the dread word
they said, instead, people with any
sort of lung trouble"
Hester's dish of canned wild plums
seemed'to meet with special favor from
the gaunt man. He accepted the press
ing offer for a third saucerful with an
apologetic laugh, and Hester mental
ly schemed to convey generous sup
ply to the canvas-covered wagon.
81 don't know when George has en-
joyed anything so.' said the little wife
Everything is so good! And oh. how
nice it feels to be resteG! Travelling
viii be so much easier now:'
They went back to the sitting-room
John and Hester talked cheerily of the
prospective home in Colorado. and
brought out a book of views of the
wonderful scenery. The gaunt man
and his little wife bent over them with
keen interest. It'll be a great move
for u.s." he said. ut seemed to be the
only thing for us to do. and I'm glad
we're so near there. / feel more
heartened up to-day than any time
since we started. We won't forget your
kindness. L can tell you.'
''Oh, pshaw!" said John. and Don't
speak of it!" said Hester, in breath.
Its been so pleasant for us to have
you!"