Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-01-09
In the Nick of Time.

ca HE Widow Carney came out of
her two-room shanty beyond the
dump. She stood erect in the
spring sunshine, looking over 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 a 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 1 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 were fireman an like to be en-
gineer 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 boarders. for
meals"
That is how John Conover met Nelly
Carney. lie was getting ready to go
10 the mines. He had just come from
the Eastern States and had claim ND
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 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 sudden resolution.
Nelly" he began, gently, I'm going
up to a rough place. but I've got no
ton to take you along"
1T takes two to make a bargain,
Mr. Conover"
Not this bargain. / know you'll 90.
dear. I'm only wondering if it'll pay
YOU. Jim always stuck to 1t that creek
claim was bound to pan out If it does,
you and Kathleen viii be fixed for life.
II 1t 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
iii the morning consented to go up
country with John Conover. They
were married one day, and set out the
next, taking the little child with them.
1t seemed n shame to John Conover
that he had brought such a pretty crea-
ture to live in such n wild and lone
some spot. She was happy enough, APP
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 a
good find in 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 he made lady of for the fu-
ture.
Life in a hotel is a great educator.
Day after day Mrs. CoAover went
about saw great plays, read novels.
visited her child, and enjoyed exist
ence. She received Johns infrequent
letters with q 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
= t first with all the passion of her i'm
uuIsive nature; but, as time went on,
lhe longing grew less fierce. and she
felt she would rather never return than
10 go now when life was so full of
gaiety and novelty.
one day Fergus 0'Hare came to see
her. The colored servant told her with
n grin that the visitor would not write
his name on a card. maybe couldn't.
Nelly flushed. for she knew it was but
n 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 Go. Fergus" she said.
with little condescension.
Fergus had stopped in the middle of
tho little 7arlor.
Nelly Conover, oi can't behave it's
the same" he said.
sIt IS" she laughed: then in her
warm-hearted way. "Sit down. Fergus
I'm glad to seq you. You should see
Kathleen She's fine girl now"
Fergus would not sit down. lie was
evidently At loss what TO say. He
shifted his hat uneasily.
Nelly carney, thot was. OF must
hurry NY wurrd rs Owe Tim Blake in
me place down in the yard. orve some
wurra Of John Conover from a dirthy
chinese that Orve befriended wunst or
twice. He told me. Nelly Carney. thot
John has made his foiad at last an
shot three or the worst min in San
Francisco are to be afther not only
phwat he's taken cot alriddy, bat it
viii be his life for his claim out there
0eyant.
Nelly C0noyer had risen. All the fine
aGy dropped from her. She ran TO
Fergus ana caught his hand.
Fergus. Fergus. we're a friend in
decd. Cone away with me TO John.
Get Tim. Denny and Jerry and one of
the otkey bcyS we can depend on
There's plenty OF money. We viii so
faster than any one: o Fergus. help me
FOR old-time's sake
We've no tonne thin, to lose, ouoth
fergus. ~Eor thot gang is away three
hours noe. Be ready whln come with
the b'ys
An hour or two later Nelly was ready.
She had been to the convent to kiss
kathleen. she had dressed herself In