West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-08-12

falnting woman. There were I.yddy,
an old faced. anxious looking girl OF
twelve or thirteen; Jimmy and John
ny, grave little fellows OF about ten
and eight, and Jackson. the capitalist
Lyddy had bathed her mothers wan
face with cool water. aud Jimmy and
Johnny We're tanning her with their
tattered straw hats. Jackson stood
back and looked solemnly on. and his
distress was none the less great be
cause he was not crying.
'Can we do anything?" asked Con.
way as the two looked In at the door
81 am better now" said Mrs. Bias.
com weakly. but gratefully. raising her
head from the shabby old lounge where
the children had placed her. lit will
soon pass away; II always does"
IF we can do anything began
Nickerson slowly.
Wont you come inT" invited Mrs.
Bascom. with feeble attempt to be
hospitable. "Lyddy, set chairs for the
gentlemen"
The dusk was fast deepening. The
cloud wall had spread across the sky.
and few great drops OF the coming
storm were FLASHING down.
much Obliged TO you. mom." return
ed Conway, but II we can't be OF any
help Wen ride on. Is there any place
near here where we can git nccommo-
dations for the nightT"
THE nearest house Is two miles
away" said Mrs. Bascom. You can't
ride on I'm the storm. You are welcome
a mn horace In. fh., l,..t n
here
The men made Il show OF remon.
STRANGE.
I'VE needn't eat much" Nickerson
whispered to his comrade. IAN we can
pay for what we git"
The horses were hardly under shell.
ter before the rain lncrens ed TO n down
pour.
where" began Conway--"that Is.
is your husband comm home soonT"
HE is dead" answered Mrs. Bias.
com.
BY this time she was able to sit up
on the rude lounge
"Lyddy." she said. "set out n bite
for the gentlemen TO eat We haven't
got much. but you're welcome to what
there IS"
THANK we. NOM" returned Conway
awkwardly.
The children were shy at first but
when the frugal meal was over and
the men were sitting back from the
table while Lyddy cleared 1t of little
Jackson advanced gravely and climb.
ed on Conway's knee.
tfNVfnra Won Hpfnf a., nat..H
Hush. JacksOnw said his mother.
"Oh, jest leave 3 tell as not. NOM"
said Conway. ME an Nickerson are
on our way back TO the old Indiana
home we left twenty-five years ago"
What part OF Indiana" asked the
widow. with pltlful ehgerness.
Green ty-SpencervIlle."
The woman's eager look faded away.
I'VE are from Burtis." she said
AN we're dom back dere pretty
soon" spoke up Jackson chcerfuly.
THAT so. mom?" asked Conway
heartily. That's good"
"T-I-we"- began the widow wenk.
ly.
She glanced at the children. and
there was an undercurreut OF hope
lessness in her low voice that told the
men that. though she did not wish to
destroy the hope Of the children. she
felt little for herself
Yes. mOm." interrupted Conway.
understanding. 1T costs heap Of
money. fright heavy rain fallln'.
hnin't it2"
II dot money" Jackson uttered trl.
umphantly. Gin my bank! We dom
pretty soon"
He scrambled down from Conwny's
knee.
did my bank, Yyddy! he com
manded. When It was handed down
to him he brought It trIumphantly TO
Conway.
Money" he chuckled. "Doln' back
10 Indiana pretty soong
Nickerson saw that there were tears
In the Widows eyes.
Want TO look az my knife. Jack.
sonT he asked. producing a huge.
many bladed affair. with n corkscrew
I'm the back.
Jackson grasped It. marveled aud
was silent. Presently he fell asleep
IN Conway's lap. with the huge knife
In his clutch
The men. with awkward kindness.
tried TO talk OF other things. but Mrs.
Bascom kept returning 20 the one sub.
ject ever IN her thoughts-the old
homie
u have been hoping for years TO
60" she said but
Same way with US. momw returned
Conway. NC an Nlckerson got 10.
gether four years agO-we came from
the same old town at about the same
time, but never happened 10 meet
again tlll four years ago-an' ever
since we've been 6ggerin' on takin'
ja'nt back there. but never got 70 Il
till now We've finally managed to
save up enough 10 make the trip"
Presently the widow told them q
part OF her story She CLOSED over
the failings Of her dead husband. but
word or phrase let fall here and
there told Conway and Nickerson what
Kind or man he had been
Jackson RascOm the elder bad been
neither depraved nor vicious. lie had
been simply a combination OF over.
bopefulness and lazlness-a cOntented
walter for something 10 turn up.
In the meantime ne farmed the
homestead IN half hearted fashion.
which brought scarcely enough to live
miserably upon.
The years passed on, but the rail-.