Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-10-05
The Coming Of Giuseppe

TARLY on the third morning of Mil
ton Wakes, William Eyre, of Scrap
erlowe, was awakened by his wife sud-
denly sitting up in bed and laughing
with: glee odd in woman of 65, who
had for IL months labored under great
trouble. He turned on his pillow, and
saw her rubbing her eyes with the back
of her hand. Her white nightcap had
fallen loosely back to her shoulders;
her hair, still black and heavy, was
slightly disordered, a pink flush
warmed her thin cheeks.
''Such dream, lad!'' she cried, in
voice whence all the sleepiness had not
departed. "Darrand were i food, an
big ships, such as one sees i pictures,
were sailin' UP, easy as maybe, to tn
New Brig. An I stood at tn wayter
side an watched an tn first soul
saw aboard were our lad, comm home
to you an me-"
Williams own eyes glistened; it was
good to see her reused from her long
apathy. 'It means luck" he said. 9TH
Lord knows as yo' an me want luck
badly enow, though tn money as we
had to And for Tom Basker's surety
be all paid. Well pull through, make
no doubt, an'-happen-happen our
lads safe an sound somewhere"
Then he rose and dressed himself,
and went out to the shipper, for it was
nigh milking-time. When he returned
with his two pals trimming with
snowy foam and odorous as wild flow
ers, he found, to his great surprise, that
Mary was kneeling on the hearth,
blowing newly-ighted fire with an
ancient pair of bellows.
WELL" he said, somewhat GROSSLY.
''Why couldna stop i bed till I brought
your tea upstairs? You know as tn
doctor said you were to rest fro morn
to night"
She turned her face towards him;
sweet laughter still curved her lips.
"Hark at him!" she exclaimed. 81
might be a naughty BARN.
Then she worked the bellows until
the blaze leaped up the chimney and
the kettle that swung from a great
pot-hook began to sing stentorously.
AS soon as she had lifted it to the hob
she began to lay the breakfast table,
for the first time since her health had
given way. The oatcake toaster was
hung upon the bars; from the oven
came the cracking sound that accom-
panies the frying of bacon. William
watched her like one bewitched.; he
had never dared to hope that she would
take an active part in the work again.
But as they shared that meal she
seemed as sprightly as in the days of
her young wifehood.
When they had finished eating, she
went to the window and looked down
the hillside to Milton. The Neither End
was full of caravans and stalls; already
one might hear the crack-crack of the
shooting galleries, where assembled
such holiday,ma.kers a. wished to make
the most of their time before, in an
other hour, they departed downward
in the carriers old yellow omnibus.
.'Why, William" said Mary, 81 feel
that young to-day. It all puts me i
mind o when you were courtin' me
I'm just thinkin', Lad, as this
even when tn works done I'd like
you and me to go down to tn Wakes
together"
The farmer slapped his knee. SAY
that will we," he said. I'D have prof
fered it myself. but for fear O yo' none
bein' able to walk"
So they mace up their minds, and
Williams heart grew glad within him
to see how much of her old zest had re
turned. She laughingly forbade hin
to help with the household duties
made pointed remarks concerning hi.
bewilGered face, and finally she kisset
him from her presence while she pu
the place in order. And when evening
had come and they went arm-in-arn
to the neither end, which they jus
reached as the sun was concentrating
his strength for a golden glory, tn,
first and most notable sight the,
beheld was young Giuseppe with he,
wheeling hurdy-gurdy and cage o
Java sparrows.
The girl was standing on the green
near the forecourt of the Bold Cloudes
ley. turning the handle of the anti
quated music box. Such of the note
as came belonged. to some fragment o
a long-forgotten opera-only now an,
again could one hear anything-an,
that was in the interval when the gal
Looping horses winded for the gather
ing of new riders. Giuseppe groun,