Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-12-04

ginning to filter in through the Ola
mond-paned windows, where heaVy-
alden rose-sprays nodded. From Inside
the little room sounded the vail or a
child, but the woman crouch1ng over
the dead fire uttered no sound, maze
no movement. Her whole tortured soul
quivered with a pain too deep for "orus
the while she listened fer the sodnd OF
footsteps.
It was only one of many nights that
she had listened for the sound or her
husbands return, waiting with stralh-
inge ears for the report Of a gun down
on the Grange estate, dTeadlng "hat
might happen to him. Month a1ter
month, as his Indifference n neslect
deepened, she had hoped and prayed
that he would alter, that his love would
return. But that hope had changed to
despair only the day before when, It'll
tated by the wailing of h puny baby'
he had cursed it and struck her when
she demonstrated. That blow had
killed the last flicker of her patience
had helped her to arrive at a decision.
And she was but waiting for his return
to tell him that she intended to leave
him., to endure him nc longer. For
seven long years h had suffered IN
s,lence. and now she would be silent
no longer.
A pale ray of sunshine stole in and
rested on the cradle. She picked up the
baby and Rugged 1t to her p~assionateiy.
It was the only one that was lett TO
her Of her four children. The three
others had faded out Of life. too fral!
to survive the troubles OF a world OF
poverty, and on this mite she lavished
all the love of her nature. 1t ceased
moaning. and fell asleep in her arms.
Would he never come back? IT he
did not come soon, she would go With
out a word, back to her old friends In
Frome, and start life afresh. The u
grew stronger, and a bird hoped on
t. the window sill and chirped for the
breakfast that was usually there.
Still no sound of q footstep or a
voice. Then her heart beat fast, and
something frightened in her throat as
she heard a step coming up the tagged
path. Would she have the strength to
face him? She stood up, clasplng the
child. her eyes wide with dread, but
determination on her pale mouth. The
step paused at the door.
"Be you in, Mrs. C~ummings?' a voice
said.
She could have laughed aloud at the
sudden revulsion Of feeling. For a mo-
ment, remembering her bruised cheek.
she hesitated to reply, but decided that
silence would be useless.
"Come in, Mrs. Giles" she said,
drawing away from the sunlight that
revealed the bruise so mercilessly.
The door opened. and the opening
was blocked by a substantial figure in
a white apron.
"I've a-brought zee a few O my Leg
harms eggs" she said, the little twin
king eyes noting the empty CRATE. the
tired face, the bruised cheek. ''They be
real beauties. I be anyways lucky WI
my fowls"
Its very good of you, Mrs. Giles"
Mary Cummings spoke family. The
shock Of finding that the newcomer was
not her husband, together with the
fatigue of waking through the long
night, proved almost too much for her
strength, and for a second the room
swan round her. But she knew that
keen eyes were noting every detail Of
he bare little room, scrutiniZing the
shameful mark on her face. and mas
tered her weakness.
"And the babby be asleep2' the volu-
BILE tongue wen on. "Aah. tits good
fer un t. get plenty O. sleep when his
teeth be worrying. But ave zee yeard
TIL news?'
"What news2'
"Why, sqdire's men ave 'ad a fight
wi poachers, and a gun went off and
poor Ned Robins was killed. Dead as
q doornail zee were when they found
m. TIL poachers got clean away. but
squire 'av sent up t. Bridgewater fer
tn police and they'll ave 'em safe 'nuf.
"Tis a cruel shame that a fine young
chap like Ned should be took off like
that"
Mary was conscious that she was
staring at her visitor stupidity. She
strove to say something to break the
awkward silence that followed the 9th
er's words. The woman would suspect
something If she did not speak.
"What-what a terrible thing she
said at last, with dry lips.
"Aah, that it's Mrs. Giles answered.
Apparently she had noticed nothing.
""Twere only laast night l passed I'M
going up t. tn Grange wi is thick
stick. What be that forF I asked un,
and er called back So c~heery-like. 'Tis
fer they poachers II they a. come wor.