Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-12-16

many Things you ought TO 90 Ddck at the
house,
She had never called ii home and the
fact had stung him many a time.
Very well. dear, IL you wish IL. but III
telegraph your people before / go"
Robert, IL you don't mind. I'D like TO
do that myself. TIN help pass the time.
and. besides, | want 70 send as funny and
jolly a message as possible.
Certainly, dear, and here's a note ]
wrote YOU last light. j was rather wake
full Read IL sometime along on the way.
Well. goodby. then dearest one: have a
good time and be happy. Goodby." de
kissed her with trembling lips and then
turned quickly, climbed as hurriedly into
the wagon, and drove away without once
looking back.
Elizabeth gazed after him with some Of
the brightness gone from her face. She
tapped the sill of the station door discon-
tendedly with her little foot.
There really isn't much pleasure In gor
ing without Robert" she thought, and
then looked cur.ously at the note in her
hand. II believe I'll read II now" she
decided. "He said any time" She went
into the station and sat down upon a hard
bench. There was only one other person
In the room. a gaunt, flat-chested Ger
man woman.
Elizabeth tore open the note and read:
This is 10 be only a few words 20 bid
my little wife God-speed, tell her how
much ] love her, and a few other things
thae want to say now while I see them
clearly. It has come upon me lately that
| have wronged you in bringing you to
this lonely place. My boyhood was
passed In the country and / love il. 1t
seemed to me that there could be no
freer, happier life than here in this virgin
land. | knew that there would be pri-
%yations, of course, but 1 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 sinew 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
a ta1r 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 a small thing 10 say that
| would die for you. rather 1 win live for
YOU. and In the way that is most pleasing
to you. IL your uncle's offer is still open
TO me. ] will accept it. If You so desire.
But, dear, IL o could find 1t in your
heart TO give this life a few more months
trial. should be so glad. I feel sure that
the crops will be as good this year, as
they were poor. last. aud then we could
make this home more like your old one.
Just until the autumn comes, Elizabeth.
and you can stay with your mother as
much of that time as you wish. But &c
you feel that you do not desire 70 make
the trial. then say SO. dear, and your
wish shall be mine For. after all. wher-
ever you are IS the sweetest. spot in the
world for me-.
Have a happy visit, dear; stay as long
as YOU like, and God keep your
Elizabeth's tears fell on the note before
she had finished. There is not another
In all the world as good as Robert" she
thought; won't try to decide now
about the farm. I'll wait until I reach
hone.- I'd better telegraph now
She turned toward the litt,e room where
the operator sat and then hesitated; some
how the keen edge OF her eagerness was
dulled. The home vision was not SO RAJ
diant. so fascinating. as IL had seemed
earlier. She remembered her brother Dick
and his friends. with their well-groomed
persons, their polished fiippancy, and then
she thought of Robert in his worn ulster.
his cheeks glowing from the wind of the
prairie, but with loneliness in his sober
eye. She drew her and across her fore
head with a childish gesture off trouble
and Dissatisfaction, and then her eyes
fell on the German woman who still sat
moveless On the other bench.
A dull, colorless creature she was, who
might have been anywhere between rs
and 10. He complexion was of an I'M
healthy yellowish hue, and a few wisps
LofMtha -sama uallowish-hIlad hair-stra1-
gied stringily down her thin temples. One
would hardly nave noticed her a second
time, but for the expression OF grief that
dign.fied her unlovely face. Every once
In q while a slow tear fell from her eyes,
cheeks. and. rolling drearily down her
faded cheeks. dropped upon her hands
which were folded in her lap. Elizabeth.
always tender-hearted IN the presence OF
suffering. rose and ak over to her.
rs there anything 1 can do for yeu?"
she asked tim.dly.
Nobody can't do nottings." replied the
woman with simplicity. My man been
dead" !.
"Oh!" said Elizabeth helpiessly, I'm
sorry" then as the woman moved
over a little. she sat down beside her. The
pathos OF this bald statement touched the
girls already ov~erwrought feelings I'M
speakably, n 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 a
relief to poar out some of the trouble in
her heart to this kindly stranger.
mo. miss: one week he has been dead.
Ten years Chris and mes been married.
Chris hadn't no learning. but he was
good looking. yes. I had learning. r
could read. and some / could write. 1
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 ssked me WON'T / marry
matt him and I did. But he Amt high
toned like me, and he want TO lave a
farm, and we did come way our here
But / never did like ii. 10. 1t sads me 10
hear the wolves IN the night-time, and
everything Is that still. And I don't like
never TO see nobody. / want to see Tina
and Gussie and work IN the canning fac
tory again already. and 4 ask him to 60.
but he say no. And I sass him and sass
him. and he don't say mooch, and never
don't beat me. and now ne been dead. MY
man been~ dead.
She paused. her stopped shoulders
hakei, With sobs. Eliaabeth's face
ftwiched oddly. but she struggled to MAIN
tain her composure.
And now what are. o going, to do?"I
! she asked hushily.
I'm going 10 try TO get into the can
Ming factory again already. But / don't
want TO work la the canning factory. no.
Tx want to live out on the prairie nit
Chris. Ii wouldn't sad nae no more. Nein
Gotf: I been one fool, Wolves don't mat
Ter. Never seein' nobody don't matter.
Nothin' matters but your man.
Elizabeth aross and graxped the wom-
ans hand. The light that never was on
go or land was In her <yes,