The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-10-15


IN way. Your pa would be just as
we'll satisfied with hired cook
Myra shook her head in negation
even while she knew that what Jim
! said was true In the summer when
the crops were in there were half a
dozen men to cook for, and from morn
ing until late in the night she toiled In
| the hot kitchen. In the winter Sackett
spent much of his time In the nearest
town, some eighteen miles away, leay-
ing Myra alone in the homestead.
1t was of these things she thought
as she looked out across the pillows of
unlovely earth and wondered II per-
haps the sacrifice was not in vain. 1t
was much as Jim had sald-Robert
Sackett would be as happy and as
comfortable under the ministratlons OF
hired housewife.
Day after day she had stood In the
doorway after Jim's train had passed,
wondering If perhaps she had not
made more than the sacrifice that her
mother had demanded and seeking
some sign by which she might be
guided. No sign came, however, and
there was only the dreary prospect of
an unending round Of drudgery, with
no compensating words of thanks and
affection.
Her hands cinched as she thought
of the last two years. those years In
which she might have been Purdy's
wife, when she might have exchanged
the dreary round Of the quarter sec
ton for a coy home in town where
the Rockies lowered above them aud
all was not fiat aud deadly monotonous
OF outline.
She still stood there as the familiar
team attached to the heavy farm wag-
on crept over the edge OF the nearest
blllow OF earth. Sackett, In the driv-
ers seat. gave no heed to Myras sig
mailing, but drove stolidly on until at
last he had turned into the home In
closure and numbered down from the
seat, tossing to Myra a couple of let
ters addressed In Purdy's familiar
handwriting
ut was late when got through last
night" he said sheepishly as he re-
moved with care n demijohn from the
wagon box and took 1t into the barn.
Myra nodded Understandings. 1t al
ways was late when her father con-
cluded his simple business errands, too
late to make II worth while to get back
to the homestead that night He salved
his conscience with this time worn
fiction and spent a roisterous night at
the Eagle hotel. She left him to put
up the tired horses, while she hurried
into the house to read her letters and
prepare dinner.
Her soul stirred at the thought of the
drHdgery before her young life for the
sake OF q man who left her alone In
the sod house while he spent the night
dissipating In town. Jims pleadings
were hard to resist, and as she tucked
the letters into her workbox she prayed
for a sign for her guidance.
When Sackett came In dinner was
smoking on the table, and he pulled up
his chair with grunt Of satisfaction.
The meal was enlivened by no gossip
Of the town. Sackett ate in stony ST.
lence now and then regarding his
daughter from beneath his bushy eye
brows. Myra's hands clinched under
the tabecloth as she noted the sign.
1t was a certain indication that he
had to confess some indiscretion which
he knew he could not conceal from her.
The last time 1t had been the loss of
RI Of ian n
a card sharper at three card monte.
Sackett carefully finished off a sec.
ond helping of pie, but he did not push
back his chair as a sign that lie was
through The wrnklcd cheeks red
dened under the tan, and his eyes grew
small and cunning.
81 got to go to town again tomor-
row." he announced Il met the Wild
ow Lusk. and she says she'll marry
me. She don't think it right that you
should be left alone SO much with no
mother to look after you"
"Are you marrying the widow on my
account?' asked Myra coldly.
1.-THE widow is n fine woman" de-
clared Sackett, twinkle of apprecia-
lioh III HIS DGui9 Cyto' VI NOhioS 4 ~
admit that kinder like her, but she's
right when she says you're left too
much alone. III drive in tomorrow and
bring her out"
an go in with you" announced
Myra as she gathered up the plates be-
fore her and rose from the table. 81
was praying for sign, but l didn't
think that the Widow Lusk would be
the sign"
"Sign for what?' asked Sackett curl
ously
"a sign that 1t would be right for me
to marry jim" explained Myra. "He
wrote the other day that any time de-
cided to say yes only had to build
two bonfires where he could see them
and be In town the next night when he
pulled the eastbound overland over the
division. I'm going out to fix the fires