The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-12-22

NNN1 Ai~'Sl NailCo I otIl dklh tklC
fact had stung him many a time.
very we'll. dear. if you wish it, but I'll
telegraph your people before I 60"
Robert, If you don't mind. I'd like to
DO that myself. 1t'll help pass the time,
and, besides, I want to send as funny and
jolly a message as possible"
Certainly dear. and here's a note I
wrote you last hight. 1 was rather wake
fui. Read it sometime along on the way.
Well, goodby, then dearest one: have a
good time and be happy. Goodby." He
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 go
ing without Robert" she thought. and
then looked cur.ously at the note in her
hand, Il believe I'll read 1t now she
decided. Fl said any time" She went
INTO the station and sat down upon a hard
oehch. There was only one other person
IN the room. a gaunt, fiat-chested Ger
man woman.
Elizabeth tore open the note and 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
tnat want to say now while I see them
clearly. 1t has come upon me lately that
l nave wronged you in bringing you to
MS lonely place. My boyhood was
passed in the country and I love il. II
seemed to me that there could be no
freer, happier life than here in this virgin
land. l knew that there would be pri-
Nat1ons, 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 TINA ctgl;r~ $780, - "
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 We're differently made. You
We're born for the easier. more sparkling
i1te or the city. All the pleasant and
gracious things which society offers to
a fair and sweet woman, were yours by
light. -
therefore, dearest. 7 beg your forgive
ness. The happiness OF you is the happi-
ness OF me. 1t is a small thing to say that
l would die for you; rather I will live for
YOU, and in the way that Is most pleasing
70 you. If your uucle's offer is still open
to me, l will accept it, If you so desire.
But, dear. II you could find 1t in your
heart to give this life a few more months
trial, I should be so glad. I feel sure that
the crops will be as good this year. as
they We're poor. last, and then we could
'H"NS Sii9 icAiS il!UIe ike your OLD one,
just until the autumn comes. Eliza beth.
ana you can stay with your mother as
much or that time as you wish. But If
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 spot in the
world for me.
.Have a happy visit. dear; stay as long
as you like. ard God keep you:"
EliZabeth'S tears fell on tho No a bofora
she had finished. There Is not another
IN all the world as good as Robert" she
tnought. Il won't try to decide now
about the farm. I'll wait until I reach
home. I'd better telegraph now"
Size turned toward the little room whore
the operator sat and then hesitated: some
how the keen edge of her eagerness was
duiled. The home vision was not so ra-
diant. SO fascinating, as IL had seemed
earlier. She remembered her brother Dick
ana his friends, with their well-groomed
persons. their polished h%ippancv. 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 hand across her fore
head with a childish gesture Of trouble
ana 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
@fts '1'F "NSti oAiy j " "a
and 10, He complexion was Of an un-
healthy yellowish hue, and a few wlsps
of the same yellowish-hued hair strae g.
gled stringily down her thin temples. One
would hardly have noticed her a second
time. but for the expression of grief that
~dign.fied her unlovely face. Every once
in a while a slow tear fell from her eyes.
cheeks, and, rolling drearily down her
faded checks, dropped upon her hands
which were folded in her lap. Elizabeth
always tcnder-hearted in the presence of
suffering. rose and walked over to her.
rs there anything l can do for you ?'
she asked tim,dly.
Nobody can't do nottings." repred the
woman with simplicity. My man been
dead"
OH" said Elizabeth helplessly. I'm
sorry" and then as the woman moved
over a little, she sat down beside her. The
pathos of this bald sta tement touched the
girls already overwrought feelings un-
speakably, 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 a
RELIEF to pour out some of the trouble in
her heart to this kindly stranger.
INC. 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. ] had learning,
could read. and some I could write. I
worked in the canning factory init Gus
sic and Tina and lots of other girls, and
sooch FUN we been having. Then long
ccme Chris and asked me won't L marry
NIT him and I did. But he amt high
toned like me, and he want to nave a
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. / want to see Tina
and Gussie and work in the canning fac.
tory again already, and ask him to go,
but he say no. And 1 sass him and sass
him, and he don't say mooch, and never
don't beat me, and now he been dead. M,
man been dead"
She paused, her stopped shoulders
shaken with sobs. Elizabeth's face
twiched oddly, but she struggled to main.
tain her composure.
And now what are you going to dor
she asked huskily.
I'm going to try to get into the car
ming factory again already. But I don
want to work in the canning factory, no
l want to live out on the prairie mi
Chris. II wouldn't sad me no more. Meir
Gott, l been one fool. Wolves don't mat.
ter. Never seem nobody DONE matter
Nothin' matters but your man,
Elizabeth arose and grasped the won,
ans hand The light tina. never was or
sea or land was in her eyes.
Yes, you're right. Nothing matter,
but your man. Thank you! And good