West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-12-06

"No'm" And Judy heroicnlly stlncl
the longing 20 o., 3 i-r hair. like Topc-
ka's. with iic vet hairlrush. There
Were casicr tness .lln washing the
face OF beer younger brother.
When Topcsi ANA her mother were
alone I'm the r. chen. Topeka grinding
the coffee and All wconsciOusly work
Ing her jaw 10 an accompaniment TO
the coffee mill. her mother bent over
her and said:
did you dream OF anything last
nightT"
Topeka simultaneously stopped work
Ing the coffee mill ana her jaw and re-
gardcd her mother sOlemnly. She did
not remember having been thus ques-
toned about her dreams before.
Nom" she answered. after laborl.
Gus consideration. But something IN
her mothers face held her.
you're sure you didn't dream moth
mgr
Yes. nav"
did judy or Jim say that they
dreamed nnythingf'-
'Jlm said be dreamed he had n n
WAS thnt all2 Think hard. Topeka!"
Topeka held Che handle OF the coffee
mill In her hand. Her jaw continued
to work with the labor Of her mental
process. 1--WE thought hard. nav. and
all he told WINS about the pup"
Aida went back 10 her bedroom and
again felt the brown bureau. whats
the matter with me. anyho,y? It's the
lonesomencss. and they hC'n' ag,n Jim
the way they are. Lord, this country's
hard on women and horse3!'
When breakfast was over and young
Jim had received the reward of his
valor I'm presenting a brave face TO his
nblution and Judith the reward of her
skill, the evidence OF which almost pre-.
vented the young martyr from smiling
while he enjoyed his treat. their moth
er sent them ali TO play I'm the canyon.
She told them not to come home till she
should CONT for them. and !f any one
should ask about their father to say
that he was away from home. And
this, az well as the mystery OF her IA.
Their getting his sleep out" reused
some slight apprehension In Topeka.
who was old for her age. They were
seldom sent to the canyon to play. To
peka looked at her mother as she had
when questioned about the dream. but
there was no further confidence be.
tween them.
you do as your sister Topeka tells
you and remember what | said about
your papa Aida said to the n
children. Jim and Judy clasped each
other hands in mute compact nc the
edict. Their sister Topeka had a real
genius for authority. They were mind
ed all too well when she swayed the
maternal scepter vicariously.
Aida made fresh coffee for Jim when
he children had gone. She mnde 1t
carefully. There was this morning. I'M
consciously, about each little thing that
she did for him the solemnity of n fu-
neral rite. Struggle as she would she
could not diyest her mind of the con.
viction that what she did this day she
did for the dead. She would 80 to the
door and listen TO his breathing and
tell herself that she was n fool. then
wiring her hands at the remembrance
Of the dream.
As he tossed, half waking, she heard
him groan and curse the cattlemen
with oaths that made her glad she had
sent the children from home. Then
she bent over him and woke him from
his uneasy slumber.
Jim, don't you want me to battle
your head? And here's some nice hot
coffee all ready for You"
Jim woke slowly TO n realization of
bis troubles and his blessings. His