Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1903-07-23

a little"
The sunfiower nodded encouragingly
It's a long way" said Joan. I've
run miles and miles, pretty good lady
oh, miles and miles-miles'-hel
voice trailed off into a drowsy murmul
-"miles!' she said, with a sudden
jerk and sitting upright. She gazed
up at the sundower reproachfully
Il mustn't go to Sleep" she said. give
got to find Man Daddy in the big
place where they took Fido when he
was lost. It's JUS there" pointing
down the road. "Goodby, gold lady.
l must be quick, cause Man Daddy
will be lonesome without me and moth
er, you see, and mother will be lone.
some, too"
She started at a run, then looked
back over her shoulder at the nj
flower with a troubled little laugh.
My legs won't work %propelly," she
said, and struggled on. The sun had
gone behind great threatening clouds,
but Joan took no heed. All her mind
was centered ON getting n She took
no more rest till she came suddenly
upon a group of peoples growing in
the grass at the wayside; by them her
legs stumbled and gave way, and she
sank down on to the grass. She whis-
pered to them in a little voice that was
breathless and full of tears. Il want
mother and Man DaddyI!' she said, and
then she lay still and set all her teeth
presently she sat up. ''Dey's coming
she gasped, her grammar growing
weak in her extremity. A sudden
CLEAN lit her face.
"Grown-up angels cry to give the
flowers water" she said, as q great
tear rolled down her cheek, and kneel-
ing, she bent yer the peoples and sob
bed her heart out, while the tears
splashed on to the flowers. But other
drops came and mingled with hers
great angry drops from dark clouds
overhead-drops that beat the poppies
~shuddering to the earth. The angels
are crying, too" murmured Joan. sleep
lily, and rolled over and lay still
The angels crying was long and We
hement. 1t woke Joan several times,
but she was dazed with WEAKNESS.
Once she murmured with a smile:
Its most a cold bath stead of a
teppy to-day, MOTHER" and went to
sleep again.
In the dimly lit room on the white
little bed Joan tossed YEARLY from
side to side. You see, little blue
ladies. it hurts bad in your stummick
jus here" laying one hot little hand
on her chest, "but I'm not crying, you
know
No, my brave little darling" MUIR
INJURED the woman, bending over her.
But you is, mother!" in an access
of utter surprise. Il felt it on my
head. L observation-disclosures
never-Oh, it-hurts, mother" her
fingers clinging around her mothers:
1t hurts, you see," drawing a long,
sObbing breath.
Presently she began anxiously:
THAT did sound like crying a bit, but"
with a tremulous little laugh, lit
wasn't-it wasn't, really"
No. no, dear-I know-try to go
to sleep" and she began to sing a
lullaby.
You sing very nice, all of you"
babbled the restless voice. Il do like
flower singing-you can hear the wind
shaking their voices-but Man Daddy
won't come! One day, it was years
and years ago, little pink ladies, | ran
and ran-yOu see, I'm not really a
butterfly, but, then, when butterflies
use their legs they go quite slow, and
L haven't any wings, you see"
a f~rock-cOated figure bent over the
bed now, and the woman's eyes never
left his face.
Fever high-she must be soothed."
Il want Man Daddy-you're not Man
Daddy-do you know, one day, when
was ker-wite little-I cut mine finger
cried-wasn't it funny? But Man
tied it up and 1 laughed, cause
he said it vas a dolly. Would he tie
my stummick up if he was here? 1t
hurts. you see-oh, it hurts."
Anguished and broken came the wo-
voice: Il do not know where
be is"
The doctor looked grave, and pres
he went.
Darling, you are so brave and good. |
will you try to go to sleep, toto be
well when Daddy comes back?'
rs he coming back, mother? Oh,
it hurts!,' with a sob. 1T hurts so,
mother"
IF you go to sleep, dear-oh, do
try. Joan. do try"
L will shut mine eyes-tight, mother,
So"
The restless little body lay rigidly |
still.
Think Of the sheep. dear" said the
mother. using Il recipe she had found
with Joan in & former child
Ssh illness. Count them as they come
up to the gate and jump over it. See, |
they go-One, TWO, three"
Presently the great eyes opened with
a nitaDnSly wn,,.ioI IooE |