The San Francisco call., 1904-02-28

Don't tell any more II you don
want to" said the man. hearing his
voice slightly husky.
oh / don't mind" she answered
with her colorless. International intona-
tior: II couldn't ever come to feel she
was his wife. too. ! hadn't them no
fions. My father was 4 preacher. /
mated il ali. but couldt seem
10 think OF anything else to
do had TO stay. There
was no one 90 go to. Dad was
dead and he didn't have no relations
Then we started 10 come here, and on
the way my little boy died. That was
all ] had. and / didn't care then what
happened And only for the other baby
I'd er crep' cut er the wagon some night
and run away and got lost on thee
plains. But
she stopped and made'a gesture Of
extending her hands outward and then
letting them faI at her sides. 1t was
tragic in its complete hopelessness. OF
gratitude 10 Moreau she seemed 10
have little. she had been so beaten
down by misfortune that nothing was
left in her but acquiescence- Her very
service to him seemed an instructive
AIIlLE. INC LEeAaL GA lEJADNAS AAfAAAA4A6-
Vel " he said after pause, you've
had hard time. But it's over now.
Don't you think about it any more
You're goir- to rest up here, and when
you're strong ana weH again we'u think
about something for you to do Time
enoueh f0r that thea. But you can al
ways get work AID high pay in Hang
town or Sacramento. Or if you don't
fancy 81 al amy of those places III see
10 81 that YOU 20 down to san Fran
cisco. Don't bother any more anyhow
YOU'D al bout got 10 the bottom Of things
and BOW you rc coming up"
she gathered Up her pans and said
DULY. Thank you. sir
The CRY of the baby struck on her
ear and she scrambled to her feet, and
without more words turned and walked
10 the cabin.
Al dinner she again made her appear
snce on the bank and called the two
men Again they were greeted by a
meal that was singularly appetizing,
considering the limited resources. Obey
ing MOreau's order. she sat down with
them but ate nothing, at intervals
starting TO her feet to return TO the
cabin. then restraining the impulse and
sitting rigid and uncomfortable on the
upturned box. To wait on the men
seemed the only thing she knew how to
do or that gave her ease in the doing.
The child cried once or twice during
dinner. and. in the afternoon. working
IN the pit which was in the stream bed
Just below the cabin window, Moreau
heard it cry again. 1t seemed louder
and more imDerious cry than it had
given previously. Tie miner, whose
knowledge Of infancy and its Ills ~as Of
the most limited. wondered If it could
be sick.
At sunset. the days work over. both
men mounted the bank, their takings Of
dust in two tin cups. from which it was
transferred to the buckskin sacks in
the box under the bunk Moreau en-
tered the cabin TO get the sacks and
found Lucy there curled on the end of
the bunk where the baby slept. As his
great bulk darkened the door she
started UP, with her invariable fright
ened look Of apology.
Don't move-dOn't move he said.
kneeling by her: I want TO get the box
under the bunk"
She started UP. and being nearer the
box than he. thrust her hand under and
tried TO pull it out 1t was heavy with
lnE SACKS OF uuNl anu ltQulLtu a
wrench. She rose from the effort, gave
q gasp, and. reeling. fell against him.
He caught her in his arms, and as her
head fell back against his shoulder saw
that she was death white and uncon-
scious.
With terrified care he laid her
Fletcher's bunk, and, seizing a pan Of
water. sprinkled her face and hands,
tr-- ,e = he ~, off ire oil
and. pouring whisky into it, tried to
force IL between her lips. A little en-
tered her mouth, though most Of it ran
down her chin. As he stood staring at
her. Fletcher appeared in the doorway.
"HuU0," he said: what's the matter
with her? BY gum, but she looks bad"
And then, with quick and practiced
hand. he pulled her up to a sitting pos
ture and. prying her mouth open with
a fork poured some Of the whisky
down IT revived her quickly. She sat
Up. felt for her sunbonnet, and then
said.
i hadn't oughter have done that. but
II came so quick"
She tried 10 get up. but Moreau
pushed her back.
"Oh. ] amt sick she said, trying to
speak bravely; I've been took like that
before. It's just tiredness. I'm all
right now"
She gain tried to rise, stood on her
feet FOR a moment. then reeled back on
the bunk. with white lips.
Its such a weakness" she whis
pered such a weaknessi"
At this moment the baby woke up,
and. lifting Up its voice. began a loud.
violent wall The woman looked in
terror from one man TO the other.
"Oh. my poor baby" she cried;
''whatu ] do? Is that one goin' to go
too?"
"The babys all right" said Moreau.
Don't begin 10 worry about that. All
babies cry. don't they?"
''Oh. my poor baby" she walled. un-
needing, and suddenly beginning to
wiring her hands. "It'u die like Willie.