Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1902-04-10


placed it for him. 1t did not seem
proper that the lately bereaved nus
band and chief mourner should sit on
the woodpile or the END of the horse
though as did the half dozeH men
who had dropped in to condole and
smoke with him.
There was jest three things she al
hIs had her heart set on" remarked
jack, taking his pipe from his mouth,
and looking with an air of mild rem
iniscence at the floating smoke. "One
was to quit the farm and live in town.
Any town would suit her. Shed never
Eved in a town-Only on a farm. And
the farms we rented when we come
cut here to Nebrasky thirty-five years
$50 was pretty lonely places. She
wasn't but q young thing, an she was
sxeered to death of redskins. She
might well be-might well be-"
Tho hand that held the pipe shook.
~There wasn't never a time when l
had to be away but she kept her white
pony saddIed at the door. an the rifle
loaded"
They'll be a heap Of folks into the
funeral" ventured the village carpen-
ter. Most everybody in the county
knowed Mis- Harrowsby."
~She was a good woman" said Jack
Harrowsby; 'slews too good fur me-
You was never mean to her, Jack.
You let her feed the hull Salvation
e. A -ru- oh ~ fhnp1 tho< cou,n m fnun
for revival. You let her so on the
train to st. Joe when you was goin'
in with cattle. You met her there, an
let her see the shops, an buy what she
wanted. You even left the farm to
please her."
That's so. But-great Scott! all the
nights I've come home full. An l new
er could keep from swearin'. Never
meant nothin' by lit just come nat
ral. Then, when l used to go to Chi
cage with hogs-but We won't talk
about that. An the way | laughed at
her mission-meetin's. IN her prayer
maetin'S, an all! 1t wasn't the square
ahing-she bein' a Christians full
FLOODED one. I'm glad now l bought
this house, though she amt had but
one months wear out'n it. She's goin'
to have the second thing she wanted,
too. It's a little late, perhaps. but
she's going to git it."
The agent tipped his hat back and
shifted his quid Of tobacco from n
cheek to another.
~Wnat was that, Jacky"
"a silk dress-a black silk dress. Hat
often said the genteelest thing she
knoWed of was a black silk dress
trimmed with beeds-the shiny kind"
A woman Icarryidg a bulky bundle
under her arm was turning in at the
side gate.
81 telegraphed to Omaha fur the
goods night before last when Hat died.
There wasn't any goods in town nice
enough. That cost a hull dollar a
yard. An | tOld 'em to send The shin
lest beads they had. The things come
yesterday, an Mrs. Magee's been sew
In sense. | told her not to spare any
frilis-to git any help she wanted. an
make it the latest style-I'd pay"
There was a murmur of approval
from his listeners.
What was The third thing. Jack?"
asked the lumberlhan.
1.-The third gifts met jest gifts me.
Its about Cleo. She's the only one
that growed up you know. All tile
others died. Hat allus wanted as how
Cleo should grow up to be a ornament
90 SasSiety. Them's her own identical
words. I've heerd her say hundreds Of
times as how she hoped her daughter
would be a ornament to sassiety. I'd
like awful well to please Hat about 1t,
but-what fetches me is-what is a or
pament to sassiety?"
a buggy drew up before the pailings
of the house of mourning. Figures
came trickling from different parts Of
the town, and passed in at the little
swinging gates. Chickens fiocked
around the group In the back yard.
Harrowsby looked induirinsly from
one to the other of the half stolid. half
sympathetic faces surrounding him.
Harrowsby sighed helplessly. II got
10 figure it out some way" be said.
eff l can be sure just what's a Orna-
ment I'll see she's made one. Here
she is. now. Halo, Cleo!"
Hello. pap"
She crossed over from the back door
10 where the men satan angular,
awkward young creature in her ILL
citing black gown. A sun bonnet
shaded her face-a tanned. girlish
countenance that at once attracted. re-
PEELED. provoked. There was evidence
Of her fathers coarser nature in the
heavy line Of her chin. and the square
fulIness Of her red lips. But this was
contradicted and redeemed by the look
In the gray eyes-a look of ignorant
spirituality. of reserve. Of loyalty.
Isis 1t time to git ready?" Har.
r0wsby questioned.
Farm wagons were rolling up beside !
the fence. women were climbing down
over the wheels from their board seats
covered with homemade bed quilts.
A block of the minister could be seen
walking In the direction Of the church.
~'Most time" she answered. She did
not lift her eyes. She was looking at