Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-11-02
Bs- told Of Jacks sudden illness

N
and the great need of hell.
"And now" she SAID, Il want to hire
out to Jack. and l want you to help
me-
You want TO hire outr" Mrs. Len.
nox gaspel. What do yen mean,
child:'
Il know there's not much can do"
she said humDiy, but | found some
boys clothes hanging Ia the wash
house. and ii you Will help me take
them up Il little I'm sure we can make
them fit Don't say you won't help
me, for there's nothing | can do for
Jack if l stay home" And In spite
of Mrs. Lennoxs objections Beth won
her consent
After dinner, while Aunt Hitty rest
ed grudgingly resigning her patient
to his wife's tender mercies, mes
sengcr came with q note for Beth
urging her immediate presence at the
Lennox farm,
Come prepared to stay two days"
Mrs Lennox had written. She read II
aloud to Jack.
Il suppose you want to go?'' he
asked
"Oh, so much, dear
Very we'll But if / were In your
place, Beth" he said dryly ''Td drop
the dear 1t doesn't sound well under
the circumstances"
Beth's lips quivered. but she tried to
smile.
Perhaps 1t does sound silly. now
that our honeymoon's over" she said
bravely, and then hurried from the
room.
lover she said. Yes, It is over.
he murmured feebly and turned his
face to the wall.
In the middle of the afternoon one
of the hired men came to the house
and asked to see Mr. Bradley.
There's kid here" he said, that
wants to hire out"
Where does he come FROM" Jack
asked in surprise.
Prom some place beyond Lennox's,
guess. He says he wants TO sleep
an eat home, SO II can't be fur off
Shall tell him he can stay, sir?'
Il am only too Glad to get him."
Jack replied.
When the men left the field at sup
per time the new hand was very tired
''IIe seemed likely to drop before he
got home, they told Jack.
Poor little chap" said one of them.
HE amt used to workin' so hard. If
the rain holds off a day longer, sir.
Wen get the wheat all cut"
The rain did hold off until evening OF
the next day, and the wheat was cut
and shocked when one of the men
came running to the house for help.
1.-THE little chap is down there in
the field, with ,Iiln-sick,' he said.
'Shall | hitch up and take him home!'
NO" Jack said Bring him up here.
1t will rain before you could get start
ed"
There was something strangely IA
miliar in the pathetic little figure they
laid so carefully on the bed.
IF we can do anything for him. jest
call u.s. Jim said.
Jack stopped and united the big
straw hat from the boyish head; then
his face grew white, for Bcth's soft,
brown hair, released from bondage,
streamed over the pillow, and Beth's
blue eyes gazed into his, without the
faintest sign of recognition.
Beth he cried, my little Betht'
The restless head turned on the pill
low, and the pale lips murmured
''Say you'll help me. Mrs. Lennon.
want to help jack
Kneelng beside her, Jack kissed the
little hands and sobbed aloud. Then
the voice went on, with many pauses:
Eyes, the honeymoon is over, but Jack
loves me just the same. Sometimes
l wish-he'd tell me so-just once
more"
Aunt Kitty had entered the room
unnotlced. She started now at the
sound of her own name Beth was
living it overall the WEAKNESS and
heartache. aunt IIltty," she walled,
'I've tried so hard TO please her-so
hard; she doesn't love me-she never
will!'
The tears rained down Aunt Hitty's
face. 81 didn't know" she said, Il
never realizedw All that night she
watched with Jack beside Beth's bed,
while the rain beat against the win
dows, and the wind moaned through
the trees. But when day dawned all
was sAd; the sunlight touched Beths
face and Weakened her. Her eyes
sought Jacks inquiringly, then rested
there, in sweet content.
II Dreamed she said, while he held
her tenderly in his strong arms y
dreamed that our honeymoon was just
beginning" And Jack said reverently
please God ii Is"