The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-12-23

then looked cur:ously at the note in her
hand. Il believe I'll read it now" she
decided. "He said any time" She went
into the station and sat down upon hard
bench. There was only one other person
in the room. gaunt, flat-chested Ger
man woman.
Elizabeth tore open the note AMI read:
| This is to be only a few words to bid
my little wife God-speed, tell her how
much ! love her, and a few other things
that want to say now while see them
| clearly. 1t has come upon me lately that
| have wronged ,ou In bringing you to
| this lonely place. My boyhood was
passed in the country and I love It, 1t
! seemed to me that there could he no
freer, happier life than here in this virgin
land l knew that there would be pri-
vattons. OF course. but I did not fear
them. and you. catching a little Of my
enthusiasm. were willing to come So I
| refused the kind offer of your Uncle
| Henry. The sitting round of the office
| the struggle Of the world of men, fevers
me. To grapple with wind and dust and
| famine-that was the battle at thought Of
which every sirew Of me thrilled
but you were differently made. You
were born for the easier more sparkling
life OF the city. All the pleasant and
gracious things which society offers to
tair and sweet woman, were yours by
right
Therefore, dearest. beg your forgive
ness. The happiness OF you is the happi-
ness of me. 1t IS small thing to saw that
| | would die for you; rather will live for
you. and In the way that Is most pleasing
| to you. If your uncle's offer Is still omen
to me- | will accept 1t. If you so desire
! Fut. dear. If you could find 1t in your
| heart to give this life few more months
trial. I should be so glad feel sure that
| the crops Will be as good this year as
they were poor. last. and then we could
make this home more like your old one,
just until the autumn comes E,izab beth,
ana you can stay with your mother as
much of that time as you wisk But II
you feel that you do not desire to make
the trial. then say so, dear, and YOUR
wish shall be mine. For. after all. wher-
ever you are is the sweetest 500, in the
| world for me.
Have a happy visit, dear: stay as long
as you like. and God keep YOU"
| Elizabeth's tears fell on the note before
she had finished. There is not another
IN all the world as good as Robert" she
'hought: won't try to decide now
! ABOUT the farm. I'll wait until I reach
home. I'd better telegraph now"
sfe turned toward the little room where
the operator sat and then hesitated: some
| how the keen edge Of her eagerness was
| dlllled. The home vision was not so ra-
diant, so fascinating. as it had seemed
carter. She remembered her brother Dick
and his friends, with their weIl-groorned
persons. their polished tippancy. and then
she thought of Robert In his worn ulster
! his cheeks glowing from the wind of the
prairie, hut with loneliness in his sober
eye. She drew her hand across her fore
mead with a childish gesture of trouble
| and dissa tisfaction, and then her ewes
fell on the German woman who sill, sal
moveess on the other bench.
| A dull cDlOrleSS crea t,,r, cb, we, .,..
| might have been anywhere between %
and 40. He complexion was of an nm
| healthy yellowish hue, and a few wsps
| OF the same yelowisil -hued hair strag-
gled stringily down her thin temples. One
would hardly have noticed her second
| time. but for the expression of grief that
dign.tied her unlovely face Every once
in while slow tear fell from her eyes,
checks, and, rolling drearly down rer
faded cheeks dropped upon her hands
which were folded in her lap Elizabeth,
always tender-hearted in the presence of
suffering. rose and walked over to her.
is there anything l can do for your"
she asked tim.dly.
Nobody can't do nottngs," replied the
woman with simplicity. My man been
! dead"
"Oh!" said Elizabeth helplessly, I'm
sorry, and then as the woman moved
over little. she sat down beside her. The
pathos Of this bald statement -ouched the
girls already overweight feelings un-
| speaka bly,. and her face was very sweet
with sympathy as she questioned gently:
HAS he been dead long?" The poor
creature began to talk eagerly. 1t was
relief to pour out some Of the trouble in
her heart to this kindly stranger.
NO miss; one week he has been dead.
Ten years Chris and mes been married.
Chris hadn't no learning but he was
or bod
could read. and some l could write
worked in the canning factory nit Gus
sic and Tina and lots of other girls and
sooch fun we been having Then long
come Chris and asked me won't l marry
nit him and DID. But he amt high
toned like me. and he want to have
| farm, and we did come way out here,
But l never did like it. no. 1t sads me to
hear the wolves IN the nighttime, and
everything is that still! And | don't like
never to see nobody. l want to see Tina
and Gussie and work in the canning fac
tory again already. and l ask him to 90,
but he say no. And sass him and sass
him, and he don't say mooch, and never
don't beat me, and now he been dead, NV
man been dead.
She paused. her stopped shoulders
| shaken with sobs. Eliza beth's face
twiched oddly, but she struggled to MAIN
tain her composure.
| ana now what are you going to do?"
she asked huskiy.
I'm going to try to get into the can
ming factory again already But l don't
want to work in the canning factory. no
l want to live out on the prairie mit
Chris. 1t wouldn't sad me no more. Mein
Gotr l been one fool! Wolves don't mat
ter. Never seem nobody don't matter,
Nothin' matters but your mani"
Elizabeth arose and grasped the wom-
n 'ol 1t,rl,t
sea OF land was in her eyes
Yes, you're right. Nothing matters
but your man. Thank you'll And good
by!
1t was Christmas eve. Robert sat alone
IN the Ettle house and looked into tho
iire The hook where Eliza beth's Jacket
mad hung was empty. Her little over
SHOES were gone. too. He was acutely
conscious of this and dared not turn his
eyes in that direction. Suddenly he bowed
his head in his hands. Strong and rallant
soul that he was. there had come upon
nm tonight an utter Inconsistencies and
despair
Il am failure" he told himself bitter.
~, a failure. have failed with thu
farm; | have failed with Elizabeth
thought / could make up to her for the
.nli il, she would lose ] thought my love
would be enough. But # was not enough
we viii leave the farm. PERHAPS ] SHAH
succeed after fashion. Perhaps Eliza
hesn VIII be happy again. But shall
Know 1t is not who have done it. [ shall
see myself for what am a shastlv fail
ure.'' . 'ias ny iaii-
-, lears 1eli upon his tanned cheeks-not
~. .ie qutch bright tears of childhood, but
the awful tears of manhood, that start IN
me deeps of the heart and come by a
SLOW burning pathway to the ewes
Then Elizabeth came.
her. cheeks giowed with the cold. her
eyes eye were two dazzling love-lights. She
ie .hn upon MN with divine ferocity, She
submerged him In her arms. she ovar-
whelmed him with kisses. sAe osef-
on, robert she cried. IT couldn't eor
4 g was no use to try. 1 couldn't endi,re