Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1904-01-15
@nN~%@00C
& TWO CHRISTMAS MORNINGS =.
BY EeEN E. BEDFORD. ~
By EeEn E. BEDFORD.
NONNN~-~N~N~

told her that these two peculiar persons
were going to marry each other They
ought TO be happy. Anyway, they de-
serve TO be. Not many girls, now-a-
days, would have taken such care OF two
old people as Olive has OF her father and
mother She's given up all her plans i'll
life for them. and her two small souled
brothers willing to let her do it. I'd like
to tell them what | think OF them, and
Aunt Rachers eyes scintilated with in.
dignation. She'll carry the load as long
us she can without u word Of complaint,
I'm glad. since she must bear 1t, that
Hadley liz going TO help her with it."
When John Hadley asked Olive to be
his wife, she did not answer his question
at once Her father was a helpless par
slytic, and her mother, worn out with
years OF waiting on her husband, was n
querulons, faut-fnding woman. Be
cause of these things she felt MS II she
hardly ought to answer as her heart die
tated. John demanded her reason for
delay. When she told him he put his
hands upon her shoulders and looked
frankly into her troubled eyes and said
Don't you suppose | had thought of
all this before l asked you to marry me :?
Four hands are better than two for bear
lug such a load as yours. Because Of
this, and because | love you, | want to
tighten your load all | can
Perhaps you are right, John she
said. Butt want you to be sure"
Il am sure" he answered.
''Wel then, II You are quite sure it
shall be as you say" she said But if
you find that the load proves heavier
one than you thought it, you'll not forget
that warned you
Love will tighten the load, dear he
said softly, and bent down and kissed
her. And it seemed that the kiss lifted
great weight from her heart.
They were to be married at Christmas.
1t was to be the quietest of weddings.
John would come over on Christmas
morning, and they would go to the par
sonage on the HILL and when they came
back they would have started on the
path OF u new life together.
Only two months to Christmas"
Olive said, one day, as she busted her
self about the kitchen. And then
then" 1t seemed as II her heart was a
nest of singing mirds and the music
they made in 1t came surging up to her
lips, and she gave utterance to it in the
words of an old song that told OF love,
and faith and trust.
As she sang man on horseback came
down the hill. riding at breakneck speed.
She ran to the door and stood looking
out as Jared Frost sped by. He saw her
and slackened speed long enough to cry
out:
There's been an awful accident. Joe
Blake's killed they're afraid" and then,
before she fully realized the meaning of
his words, he was out of sight.
Joe Blake killed" She said it over
in a dazed way. Joe Blake was Johns
brother-in-law, the husband of his only
sister.
II must go over there. They may need
me-" She went to the sitting room and
looked In. Mother. they say Joe Blake's
badly hurt I'm going over to see il
there's anything l can do
Joe Blake hurt?" cried her mother,
sharply. Dear me, Olive, whatll you
do il he should die? John'd have to take
care OF his family, for of course Joe
won't leave dollar for 'em. He never
had cent ahead In his life."
Olive did not pause to answer her
mothers question. Apparently she ig
nored 1t. But all the same it kept re-
peating itself over and over in her ears
MS she went swiftly up the Hill road. Joe
Blake's death meant separate paths for
them for years, If not forever.
John Hadley met her on the threshold
of Joe Blake's dilapidated home, and
though he said not word, she read the
truth in his face. Joe was dead.
Poor Mandy" she said, softly. Then
aha mt nut har baud opd lo;d IL an
Johns, and the act was like one of un-
conscious renunciation. He must have
felt it so, for he shivered as if sudden
blow had been dealt him.
She put him aside and went into the
room where 'Mandy's waiting voice was
heard. 1t was a sorrowful sight to see
this suddenly widowed woman with
her six small children clinging to her.
"Oh, Olive" she cried. I'm glad
you've come. May be you can do some
thing with the children. II seems as il
they'd drive me crazy" Then she be-
gan TO sob again. Dear me! I'd like to
know what's to become of us? The last
thing he said was. 'John'll look out for
yon and the children, Mandy but I'd
like to know how he's going to do with a
family of his own on his hands,
There was much TO be done in the
home of the Blakes that day, and Olive
resoutely set herself to the work before
her. and would not allow herself to think
of anything else. Time enough for that
by and by" she thought.
Two days later there was new grave
in the churchyard. John and Olive walk
ed home together from the funeral
Neither had much to say, But sometimes