Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-05-15
than I can help, an specially now,
when I feel like I amt got no friends
COPYRIGHT, 1901, BY THOMAS p MoNrFoRT
u i; ": :;;: ::: s. Il 81:

than I can help. an specially now,
when feel like amt got no friends
on earth"
The squire softened Immediately.
II amt mad at you, Sim," he replied,
"nor amt a-goin to git mad ut you.
l Jest can't make out no jestice in your
way Of rensonin; that's all"
can yit it's Jest, for all that"
"Mebby 1t is. dunno.'
You know, squire, Loueesy an me
don't suit You know that, don't your"
Eyes, everybody knows that now"
EVERYBODY knows 1t now, an I guess
good many knowed it fore we mar
ried. That's whar I done wrong. I
ort "a had sense enough to know it
then, an mebby would If I'd a. keer-
ed enough to stop an think. Loueesy
was young, an she couldn't know, but I
was older, an ort to "a seen that she
couldn't never be happy with a man
IKE me. done wrong to urge her to
marry me, IN that's whar all the fault
lies. I've ruined her life an destroyed
her happiness, but was too blind to
see 1t till 1t was too late"
$50 now
$50 now Pm a-goin to do what little
can to make amends. Pm a-goin to
give her all have, then take myself
out Of her life"
The squire was silent and thoughtful
a long time, and when at last he spoke
he said:
"Your reasonin may be jest, Sim,
but whether 1t be or not I amt a-goin
to argue with you bout It, cause it
wouldn't be no use. You've got your
head sot that Away, IN nothin amt
a-goin to change it,
"Nothin."
But as 1 was a-goin to say, Sim,
don't give all your land away. It amt
right, an nobody can't expect you to do
SIGH thing"
"I'll give 1t all, squire, ever inch of
It"
"Jest think, though, Sim. You'll be
set out in the world without a home,
without dollar an
II have thought Of all that, squire.
I've thought of ever thing"
"But suppose Loueesy gifts divorce
an her an that other man You know
what meanY'
Eyes, suppose they marry"
''Waal, would you want him to have
what's your'n, while you didn't have
nothing"
"If 1t is to be SO, squire, SO let it be.
I'll have the consciousness of KNOWN
that I've done my duty, as far as I
could, toward Loueesy."
The squire sighed and drew the blank
toward him and took up his pen.
II hate to make any SIGH deed" he
said, "but II you will have 1t SO, so let
It be-"
The deeds were made, and Sim sign
ed them. Then he went back home,
stopping Mt Hicks store on the way to
settle little account he had there.
"Ever'thing must be left in as good
shape as possible" he said to himself,
$50 Loueesy won't be pestered no more
than can be helped"
y When he was back in his room, he
took piece Of paper and pencil and
sat down at the table and wrote note
to his wife. 1t was slow and laborious
work, and 1t took him long time to
put down the few words he had to say.
With each word his heart grew heavier
and sadder, for that was the last thing
he was ever to do for Louisa, and when
1t was finished his life and hers would
part, never to meet again.
II am goin away" he wrote, ian I'll
never see you no more an never no
more stand liz he way of your hapri-
ness. 1t is hard. cruelty hard, but 1t is
best, for know that can't never,
make you happy, an mebby when I'm
gone it'll be different. You amt to
blaine for nothin, Loueesy. All the
blame Is mine. What you done is nat
raj, an you couldn't help 1t, but what
done could "a helped. l ort to "a
knowed you couldn't never be happy
with me. 1t was like draggin a bird
down an tryin to make it live with a
mole, dom like the mole does. l ruined
your life by urgin you to marry me
when ort to "a knowed better, but
hope you will forgive me, an pray
that God will too. I've paid the debt
at the store, an leave what money I
have. II you need any advice bout
anything, go to Pap Sampson. He'll
be glad to help you, an know you can
trust him. I've done the best can for
you, but know 1t amt much. All I
want is to make you happy, an hope
you will be. Don't think l blame you
for nothin, for don't. It's all my own
fault. But didn't know. Far'well."
He placed the deeds on the table,
then folded the note carefully and laid
1t on top of them. Then he took from
his pocket all the money he had and
placed 1t in little heap on the note.
When 1t was all done, he stood for
little while looking Mt 1t, then turned
away, saying to himself:
ut amt much, God knows, but it's
all ! can do, an mebby Loueesy'll un-
derstand."
After that he walked back and forth
across the room for a long time, and his