Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-04-29
Then" said Mr.. Euwood with vour

Aadge thanked him and invited
him TO stay for supper. In view If the
fact that he had furnished the supper
she could not we'll DO otherwise. ~
had she 50 desired. which most ernphat-
ically she did not
He looked al Cicely & good deal while
they ate-Cicely was very good 70 look
upon-bur his conversation was adj
dressed for the most part to Madge.
AS q matter of fact, it had TO be
that way. Cicely's accumulated woes
pressed SO heavily upon her that she
was utterly Incapable Of anything be-
!ond an occasional subdued Yes and
No
Madge, however, chatted gayly. To
her mind the situation was decidedly
tolerable and growing more so every
minute. And when next she looked
upon the bleak vista Of rocks that
made up the Immediate landscape she
found it almost attractive.
The only hope" observed Madge.
has come home again"
Ctcely joined her in the doorway.
"And he's thinner than ever" she de-
clared pessimistically.
Then Nj. Ellwood came into view.
Re was doing an elaborate imitation
# a maj who has been running fast.
He got loose" he painted. And
I've been following''-
Yes" Madge broke in genially. Il
know you have. I've been watching
you down the road for the last FIVE
minutes" She waved q hand toward
the mule. Il never in all my life" she
said, saw anybody so reluctant to
take advantage Of a handicap. How
on earth did you induce him to get
here first"
Mr.. Ellwood had the grace to blush.
Tits q very warm day" he STAN
mered, tactfully trying to shift the
conversation to a safe topic of general
interest.
1T is" Madge agreed. And don't
believe 50 much exercise is good for
the mule. Besides, it will take a lot
Of your time to lead him home with
you every night and dri-follow him
back here every morning. Why don't
you bring his meals to HING
Every day. inquired Mr.. EIwood
hopefully.
We'll I really think he ought to be
fed every day, but I'll leave that to
you"
Cicely, who wondered mtscrably at
her friends high spirits, had retired
into the other room, mopping her eyes.
"She doesn't like it," Madge observed
confdcntially to Mr.. Enwood.
and no wonder,' he rejoined sym
pathetically. You're going to stay
he added.
I'VE must" said Madee, for we've
no money to get away on. And any
way she added after q moments
pause. Il believe it isn't going to be
half bad"
"lf 1 can help it." said Mr.. Euwood
heartily, its not"
He was as good as his word. and
better. For Cicely he brought a ham
mock and flowers in pots and many
little comforts that helped to render
her life more tolerable. lie treated
her as might an elder brother a low
able but incapable sister.
But Madge was his comrade and
friend. She had assumed the burdens
Cicely was incapable of bearing. and
he very naturally thought her the own
er Of the farm. He liked her pluck
that wrested her hardly won garden
from the rocky soil and her sturdy in
dependence that always returned favor
for favor. His little place took
on an added value because she had
approved it. He gave the house a
new coat of paint and planned when
the crops should have becn harvested
to build a bigger porch. And be
evolved little conve.iences for the
kitchen, shelves and closets and Il -four
bin, things of which his masculine
housekeeping had not felt the need. He
whistled as he worked. and before him
there was eve a girls face. a laugh
ing face growing daily roster and more
sunDurned-and happier.
The only hope" Observed Cicely
complacently. lis certainly CROWN.
fat. If we could sell him by the pound
as they do beef on the hoof.' | think
they call ii. we'd get quite q lot for
him"
Hes too fat" Mad@e objected. lie
looks stuffed 1 think You feed him
too much. Ciccly, If Mr.. F.llwood were
at home I'd ask him to take Il look mt
him. I'm quite certain his eyes ought
not 10 have that CLASSY stare
Later in the day the only hope sue
cumbed.
81 don't really blame him for dying
said Ciccly, who was weeping over the
remains. II suppose he was just nat
urally tired and discouraged and didn't
care whether he lived II died-I've felt
that way myself-but do think it was
most inconsiderate of him.
"He might at least" said Madge
"haye zone off and done it somewhere
else. Then we could have pretended
he wasn't ours. AS it is, Wen have to
bury him, and how on earth were ever
going to dig a hole big enough to hold
him Pm sure / don't know"