The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-01-08
AN INCIDENT OF
PRAIRIE LIFE.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

piercing voice. Half unconsciously sh
drew little away from his hand.
''It's everything" she said, every
thing! Why did we ever come here, t,
such wretchedness as this
He did not attempt another caress
except with his anxious eyes, and he
face was turned away from them, hid
den in her hands.
She would have called after him ant
chung to him if she could have seen thu
look on his face as he went out-all thu
patience and WEAKNESS of it.
In just a few minutes be was back a
her side.
Sarah" he said rather anxiously
what would you say to letting two PEG
pie come in for a little rest? They've
stopped the wagon just little way from
here. She seems childish young thing
and he looks as if the world had beer
too much for him, he's so thin and sick
ly looking. What do you say to bring
ing them imp
"Oh, John, how can we, when it's SC
hard to keep up as it is? But go ask
them in. If we can make it a little
easier for them, we ought to, l suppose
you come with me-" coaxed John
go get your hat, and we'll ask them
together"
She gave slight protesting laugh,
but went nevertheless, clinging to his
arm and almost resting her face some
times ON his shoulder.
They were very near the travellers now.
The tired horses, with detected down
bent heads, were snatching what little
rest they could. In the covered wagon
sat the man and woman-such a hollow
checked, large eyed man and such lit
tie slip of a wifel The hot wind tapped
over the two occupants and their scanty
possessions.
Some of the self pity that had dark
ened Sarahs face all the morning faded
out of it and was replaced by a purer,
nobler look.
'You must be tired out" Sarah be-
gan without preamble. 1--WE want you
to come up TO the house for little rest
and to have dinner with us. Won't
your?
A pleased smile breaking over the
young wife's face seemed almost to fade
out the little worried line between the
dark eyes. An answering CLEAN stole
over the worn face at her side, but they
both protested family. They couldn't
give so much trouble. 1t would not be
right
You come right alongY said John,
with kindly authority. I'VE want you,
so don't make any fuss about it. Wen
take the horses into my barn. Let 'em
try my feed and a good bucket Of my
well water"
The two men went off together, Sarah
back to the sod house. A look of cheer
and comfort seemed to be in its brown
walls now. How good it will seem
to rest in a housew said the little wife,
with happy sigh.
Wouldn't you like to lie down lit
tie while till dinner is ready?' said
Sarah. Come right into my room, and
just feel that you are at home" pro-
tecting kindness had sprung up in her
heart for this little creature with the
appealing eyes. "You must be so hot
and uncomfortable There's cold water
in that pitcher, and I'll bring yeu some
warm. No, it isn't bit of trouble.
Then you must rest until dinner"
Unpleasant thoughts were far away as
Sarah prepared the simple dinner, trying
to make it as attractive as possible. She
would get out some of her wedding china.
Why not? John would enjoy a bright
spot in the day for the strangers. She
even picked bunch of astralagus, max
ing a centerpiece of the white, furry
leaves. A sprig of wild geranium was
laid at each plate.
There were CHEEKY faces around the
table, and Sarah's was not less bright
than the faces of the others.
The gaunt stranger sat little more
erect now, and his face after even this
brief rest seemed less sharply outlined.
The warm, human kindness as well as the
comfort had wrought the change
and in some way made it easier to re-
member in whose larger protecting care
they were and would still be when rolling
over the brown prairie. Bit by bit their
story came out The man told how he
had been carpenter and builder in Iowa,
what happy little home it had been. and
why they were flying now to the untried
world of Colorado. that Mecca for con
sumptives. The gaunt man and the
young wife avoided the dread word.
They said instead, People with any sort
of lung trouble"
As they went back to the sitting room
John and Sarah talked cheerily of the
home in Colorado and brought
out book of views of the wonderful seen
cry. The gaunt man and his little wife
bent over them with keen interest 1T
will be n great move for us" he said. at
seemed to be the only thing for us to do,
49, I
more heartened up today than any time
since we started. We won't forget your
Kindness. | can tell you"
oh. pshawv said John. and Don't
speak Of il" said Sarah in breath. IT'S
been so pleasant for US to have your!
II was necessary to take up the journey
again. The two men went out to the barr
together.
The eyes of the little wife sought
Sarah's. "You have been so good" she
said, almost in whisper, so good tC
heat--I wouldn't have minded them Sc
much for myself, but it has been so bad
for him. 1t makes the cough worse, and
that always frightens me. All these
DAYS that we have been on the way
have been longing so to reach Colorado
/ have felt as if | couldn't wait, wheI
the waiting must mean everything e
him, and it has been so hard, so almost
impossible, to keep cheerful before him
That is always very hard-don't you
think so-when your life is all wrapped
up in somebody else's, to keep that one
from feeling how you suffer? And oi
course, il they knew, that would make Il
all so much worse"
How the poor young thing was empty
ing her heart QUIT 1t was as if all tho
grief and anxiety of the days In the GOV
cred wagon, rolling over the brown plains
had burst their bounds and must poul
themselves out to this listener.
IL wanted you to know" the excited
little voice ran on, "how kind you have
been-what comfort it has been to me
Don't you see how much less tired h'
looks? And he hasn't coughed near s.
much; not nearl You have cheered ui
up too. 1t has been so strange-all THU
journey-every day taking us farther
away from home, and the trying TO choki
down the homesickness-and She
broke off short, with gratitude and tears
shining in her eyes.
There was just time for Sarah to taxi
the little brown hand in hers and press
it close when the two men came back.
The man with STOPPING shoulders anG
the flush on either cheek went up close Il
the little woman with bright, eager eyes.
"Well. little woman, are you mos
ready?" he said, patting her shoulder
you've had a fine rest, haven't you Z
He coughed sharply "a be spoke bl