The suburban citizen., 1900-07-14

cough worse, and that always fright
ems me. Sometimes when we have
been going 80 slowly the horses ius,
seemed to creep, and when the dust
has almost seemed to choke him. !
have felt as II l should go frantic
All these days that we have been on
the way l have been longing so tc
reach Colorado. l have felt as IL |
couldn't wait, when the waiting might
mean everything to him, and it has
been so hard, almost impossible, tc
keep cheerful before hlml That is
always very hard, don't you think so?
When your life is all wrapped up in
somebody elses, to keep that one from
feeling how you suffer? And, of
course IL they knew that would make
It all so much worse.
How the poor young thing was emp
tying her heart out! 1t was as If all
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 list.
ener.
81 wanted you to know" the excited
little voice ran on, "how kind you have
been-what a comfort II has been to
me! Don't you see how much less
tired he looks? And he hasn't coughed
near so much, not near! You have
cheered us up, too. 1t has been so
strange-all this journey-every day
taking us farther away from home,
and the trying to choke down the
homesickn ,ss-an-" She broke off
short with gratitude 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 the STOPPING shoulders
and the flush on eithe, cheek went up
close to the little woman with the
bright, eager eyes,
"Well, little woman, are you most
ready?' he said, patting her shoulder.
you've had a fine rest, haven't your
He coughed sharply as he spoke, but
she smiled up at him brightly that he
might not know how much more 1t
racked her chest than his.
You'd better get on your bonnet,
little woman" he said; "its time we
were going. 1 don't know how we're
to thank you and your wife, Mr.. Gil
bert, for all you have done for us, but
we feel it, sir, we feel IT,"
1T wasn't anything at allP John
protested. 1T 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 maddening
song outside, and the air was clear
again 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 fore
head 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 a whisper, Colorado is
a wonderful place, isn't IL? Haven't
you heard about the way people get
cured there-people just as bad off
as George, or worse? You feel sure
it'll do him good don't yOu?"
She searched Hester's face as If to
read her fate there. 1t was hard to
meet the girlish eyes.
"Tve never been farther West than
this myself" she said, "but everyone
says it's a wonderful climate in Colo
RADIO for people with trouble with their
lungs. I'm so glad you are going
there, and when he's grown well and
strong you'll be coming back to see
u.s."
The delight of that possible future
was in the young wife's eyes. If he
only does~ she said "Oh, If he only
dOesw
There were hearty handclasps ex-
changed a few minutes later. Then
the 'prairie schooner" with it's freight
of human love and anxieties, rolled
slowly away. The two left behind in
the little sod house stood long at the
window-till the wagon was seen a
dark blot above the sharp horizon.
With a quick, impulslye movement.
Hester's hand stole into her husbands.
How good you arew she said, al
most solemnly. "And while l have
you, why do care about other things?
Did you think l would really go East
without you? Why, John, l couldn't
bear it, away from your
Far off in the big wagon a little
woman sat with her round cheek
pressed against shabby coat-sleeve,
and the cry Of her heart was like that
of Hester's. "What are other things"
she was whispering, "while 1 have
you, dear?"-Youth's Companion.
Something About Trees.
The stems of trees have nrovisiOn