The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-01-18

ilUIuln ne quietly JOOk out ms nUnu-
kerchief and wiped his eyes "Why,
that's his dog, what's the matter, why
don't you tell me what has hap
pened ?" And her woman's instinct
told her half the truth.
eve meant my dear" said her hus-
band, ito keep your Christmas from
being spoiled, but the doctor says he
can live but day or so, and so we
must tell you" aud the strong voice
trembled
Cannot he be brought here yet :"
Oh, | wish I had known" cried Mrs.
Hardin with the horror of it all still
ON her face. "And Handsome Bill,
where is he - "In jail, and Babe is
with HIM; but they say he did it in self
defense, and | suppose he did, for
saw poor Harry draw his pistol.
That woman has ruined more men. -
Then die stopped and they were all
quiet for a few seconds. "Oh, we
must go to him" said Mrs. Hardin,
and she patted the wolf dog tenderly.
Half an hour later, she sat in the
hospital beside the dying man, for he
was failing rapidly. She listened to
his message of love to his young wife
and child far away in Missouri. "Tell
her." he said, that ! was accident
ally shot: the truth will only make her
more unhappy" Then he lay still
you have been SO good Mrs. Har-
din, if had only spent Christmas eve
with you"-here look Of hate came
into his eyes. THAT man has fol-
lowed me when had money last fall
and would have gone out, he per-
suaded me to stay and / lost every
thing then Babe came. He held
Mrs EIard;n's hand closer and closed
his eyes. Mrs. Hardin, take the
wolf dog to my little boy and tell him
never to go to mining camp" He
grsped for breath, and Mrs Hardin.
trying to raise him, for the first time
noticed the woman Lily, who hurried
to the bed side. They spoke quietly
to each other, and lifted him on his
pillows. The twilight was over and
all was darkness, save where the
moon looked into the window and
threw II wierd. cold light. The nurse
brought in the candles. old Sludge
and George Hardin entered quietly:
the priest came noiselessly carrying Il
crucifX. Maggie Hardin and the
woman Lily stood on one side, the
priest and the TWO men on the other.
The moon rose higher and looked
in on the scene. The dying
man opened his eyes, Mrs. Hardin,
don't tell my wife hold my hand
tighter where is Old Sludge :" Here
| am" muttered the old man. what
is it, old boy ?" Thank you for what
you have done for me, if had only
followed your advice-good bye-old
friends" He closed his eyes and
Harry" The woman
Lily pressed closer; he grew away
WIFI a SlluNlhtI' lIll my WIG Dul
the sentence was never finished.
The northern lights began to flash
and cast II halo over the cruciiix held
aloft in the old priests hand The
two women bowed their heads and
prayer went up from every heart. The
room was bathed in crimson glow
for an instant, then u violet light set
tied over everything and with it IA
feeling of peace. The dying man
opened his eyes and smiled at Maggie
Hardin. "God bless you, and all
good women. ne murmured and
passed into his last sleep. The violet
light still rested on the crucitX. 1t
was a wierd, magical scene. one that
always came back to them with every
Christmas night,
They bore him to Maggie Hardin's
home. She took down the crimson
berries and left the crucifX where
Father NIcNiel had placed it. Old
Sludge and her husband watched
through the night, and there were
other watchers too. On box covered
with caribou skins lay the woman
Lily, but she never closed her eyes.
Underneath the plain casket lay the
wolf dog, Every now and then he
would rise, gaze at his master and
utter low, plaintive howl,
In the morning Babe came, and
wept when she say the still, white
face. And while she was weeping,
Maggie Hardin talked to her and the
woman Lily as only Maggie Hardin
could.
They buried him underneath the
SHOWS of Dawson City. Maggie laid
the crimson berries on his grave, and
then went home to write to the wife
and child in far away Missouri.
1t was Christmas eve again and five