The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-24
PAP'S WIFE.

"a n ~ Y n -
what IN the name OF all that is
weird aud mysterious is that"
Night had closed ia dark and cold.
The wind came whistling and sigh
ing over the mountains and through
the pines 10 a way that, % one ex-
perienced indicated a storm. John
MAYNARD, in his light buggy, on a
lonely valley road ia North Carolina.
hungry tired, and with a weary
horse. had concluded NOT 20 attempt
u drive 90 To Shelbyyille until mora
ing; and. under the suDposition that
he would nnd a dwelling Of some
kind, had turned his horse Up a steep,
stony. narrow lane. on either side Of
which lay a low snake fence Having
reac he'd the first rising the horse
paused OF bis own accord for breath
ing SPELL, aud John, peering about
him into the darkness 10 vain effort
TO d scoyer some signs of a habita-
fion. became aware Of small light
IN a patch OF woods on his left 1t
was not the light from a window Of
a house, for 10 was small and moved
along slowly 10 a dancing, uncertain
way for a short distance, then re-
mained stationary.
"A Wlll-O'- the-wisp in the dismal
swamp perhaps" John muttefed.
Anyway, / intend to ind OUT" and
be got out Of the buggy Jumped over
the fence, aud made his way as rap
Idly as possible in the direction Of
that curious spot Of flame.
He felt, as he stumbled along in
the darkness that be was doing a
foolish thing in thus gratifying his
curiosity, and he was conscious OF a
slight shock when, az last, he reached
the light; for IL came from a small
lantern which stood al the head of a
solitary grave enclosed 0y low
picket fence Of rough stakes 1t was
marked by a plain slab OF wood, on
which was painted, in big, black,
crooked letters,
SARAH,
AeK. s."
John Maynard stood looking az IL a
few moments wondering hY whom
the lantern had been put there, and
for what reason. As he turned away
he saw a small box at the foot OF the
grave He picked il up and pulled
OF the slide cover, disclosing 70 his
view a pair Of iron-bowed spectacles.
and . ball OF gray yarn with four
rusty steel knitting needles thrust
through It.
"Welll This certainly beats any
thing ever saw befoTe." CALCULATED
John as he put the box down again
aud walked back to his horse and
buggy In the lane.
He drove on for about half a mile
and was beginning 70 wonder
II he would be obliged 10
spend the night ia the wOOds
when the bark ng or a dog
told him that he must be near a
dwelling OF some sort; and a few
minutes later he perceived a two
room cabin standing IN the middle OF
a small clearing. Before II burned a
small fire OF pine brush; and as be
stopped bis horse at the bars which
did duty for a gate, lank, yellow
and-black hound came bounding
down from the cabin, barking loudly.
"Halloam shouted John. az the top
OF his voice: Snd 'Hailoa yerse'L .
responded a thin, sallow woman in a
coarse home-spun dress as she ap-
peared at the door OF the caoin, a
short-stemmed clay pipe IN her
mouth.
'aNy good lady, I'm looking for a
place 20 stay uver hight Can you
accommodate meg" asked John, In
bis most ingratiatlng tone of voice.
Il can't very well seep out In the
woods you know"
Wall, meow, stranger. responded
che woman. In a drawling voice and
without removing the pipe from her
mouth, nthe ole mau en- the gals hey
gone up ID the head ~ the cove teI
singlni. en- they iisb hain't anyone
hayah but me; but II yen light I'll
do the best / kin fer ye Yen batter
look after yes0wn stock. Jist ye tex
him down ter the barn. en- yell Ind
plenty o rouehness en- some nubbins
d corn. en- when ye git through
IFS come in the biz house hyan ed
III 20 0uten the li.tle house en coos
ye some suppeT."
Have YOU got lautern2' asked
John
"No. I haln't Pap he's got one
but he don't ct nobody lay a fngel
on it. III put a light outen the
ence though, en ye kin see by bit,
reckon"
Reaching up n a little shelf neal
the door she took down a knife and Z
piece Of fat pork, from which she cui
a generous slice. Laying IL in a tiI
plate she carried it out 80 the fence
and set IL on a post Tnen, taxing /
half-burned stick from the fre 10 thl
yard she lit the pork, and left IL burt
smokiiy in the wind. BY this iiVh
Tnh~ trrlf HIS way ~ the harm fnunr