Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1901-01-16
"A
e AN INCIDENT OF
q PRAIRIE LIFE.
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had been, and why they were flying
now to the untried world Of Colorado,
that Mecca for consumptives. The
gaunt man and the young wife avoided
the dread word. They said instead,
People with any sort of lung trou-
ble."
As they went back to the sitting-room
John and Sarah talked cheerily of the
prospective home in Colorado and
brought out book Of views of the
wonderful scenery. The gaunt man and
his little wife bent over them with
for U.S." he said. 1T seemed to be the
only thing for us to do, and I'm glad
we're so near there. l feel more heart
ened up to-day than any time since we
started. We won't forget your kind
ness, l can tell you"
"Oh, pshaww said John, and Don't
speak of it." said Sarah in a breath.
IT'S been so pleasant for us to have
you'll"
1t was necessary to take up the jour-
l.
the barn together.
| The eyes of the little wife sought Sa-
rah's. You have been SO good" she
| said, almost i'll whisper, 80 good to
| take us in. This awful dust and the
heat-I wouldn't have minded them so
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, when
the waiting must mean everything to
| him, and 1t has been SO strange-all
| this journey-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
| And of course, il they knew, that
would make it all so much worse"
How the poor young thing was emp
| tying her heart out! 1t was as If ali
the grief and anxiety of the days in
the covered wagon, rolling over the
brown plains, had burst their bounds
and must pour themselves out to this
listener.
Il wanted you to know" the excited
little voice ran on, "how kind you have
been-what a comfort it has been to
me! Don't you see how much less tired
he looks? And he hasn't coughed near
so much; not near! You have cheered
us up, too. 1t has been so strange-all
this journey-eyery day taking us far
ther away from home, and the trying
to choke down the homesickness-
and" She broke off short, with
gratitude and tears shining in her eyes.
There was just time for Sarah to
take the little brown hand in hers and
press it close when the two men came
back.
The man with STOPPING shoulders and
the flush on either cheek went up close
to the little woman with bright, eager
eyes.
"Well, little woman, are you most
ready?" he said, patting her shoulder.
you've had fine rest, haven't your
He coughed sharply as he spoke, but
she smiled up at him brightly that he
| might not know how much more it
racked her chest than his.
you'd better get on your bonnet, lit
tie woman he said; Its time we were
going. | don't know how we're to
thank you and your wife, Mr.. Gilbert,
for all you've done for us, but We feel
it, sir; we feel it."
1T wasn't anything at ALL" John pro-
tested. 1T has done us good to have
you here"
Sarah and the little young wife went
into the tiny bedroom together. The
wind had stopped its maddening song
| outside, and the air was clear again
| from Its burden of dust. The furniture
| would have to be busted for the third
time that day, but the thought brought
no scowl to her forehead now. The lit
tie traveller pinned on the rusty hat
and turned to hold out both hands i'm
puslvely to Sarah. "Thank you again.,
| she said, and then, in whisper: "Col-
| orado Is wonderful place, isn't it?
4
Haven't you heard about the way peo-
pie get cured there-people just as bad
off as George or worse? You feel sure
| it'll do him good, don't you?'
She searched Sarah's face as If to
read her fate there. 1t was hard to
meet the girlish eyes.
"I've never been farther west than
this myself" she said, but every one
says it's wonderful climate in Col
orado for people with trouble with their
lungs. Pm so glad you're going there,
and when he's grown well and strong
you'll be coming back this way to see
u.s."
The delight Of that possible future
was in the young wife's eyes. IF he
only doesw she said. IF he only does!'
There were hearty hand clasps ex-
changed a few minutes later. Then the
prairie schooner, with its freight Of hui
man love and anxieties, rolled slowly