The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-12-23
TLMhn FELL On ny kNttjAND
BOWED ab GREY HfAp AND WEpL
AoDM9 IN Ms Arms Tuf 0lap
BODY Of Ms Wifi
BODY Of Hlj WIFE.

His body was hideously MANNED and
broken; n leg hung limp from the
hip; his hands were cruelty twisted
and crushed. A shock Of matted white
hair pulled Town over a scared and
deeply SCARED forehead, half con-
Behind him, on a ragged piece Of car
pet that rose and fell with the wind
that blew up through the cracks of the
floor. squatted the withered hulk of
a woman, her skull bald with age, her
sightless eyes staring into space.
Clasped to her sunken breast she held
a creature of her own sex-a woman
pallid, haggard n pitifully emaciated,
evidently in the last stages of some de-
vouring disease. Clinging to the mans
legs stood a small boy Of s, his tiny
hand already callous with labor, his
thin face pinched from scant food and
long weary hour Of work, while two
little girls, dirty n half naked,
crouched, whimpering %piteously, on the
wet floor in a corner.
In horror, Bullion turned from the
window. He had always made 1t a
point to avoid the sight of suffering.
WHO are these miserable c%reatures?' %
he asked Of his guide, who stood silent
ly at his elbow.
"A miner and his family employed
in a free country and by Christian
men,"
"Impossible!" exclaimed Bullion.
Such a state of things could o ex-
list. 1t Is evidently a picture conjured
up by the fevered brain of some de-
mented demogague. 1t amt actually
be true"
ITO these helpless victims of it," re-
piled his guide, ut Is. alas, too true"
Impelled by a mixture Of pity and
morbid curiosity, Bullion once more
approached the window and looked in.
He now Cor the first time noticed the
presence of another person in the room
"a heavy-browed man holding in his
hand a paper marked with a red seal.
The old miner faced him, standing be-
tween him and the frightened women
and children in an attitude expressive
Of impotent defiance and sullen fear.
The look of apathy on the wan face Of
the sick woman a loo stamped there
by slow years Of accomplishing drudg-
cry, was more fearful in its pathos
than the most violent demonstration of
grief.
The miner moistened his cracked lips.
Gimme q chance" he said in a quay
| ering voice, holding out his manned
hands in an awkward gesture of APP
peal. I've worked for the company
these 16 years the best l know how,
/ and / sent the boy to the breakers as
soon as his little fingers vas strong
enough to pick the coal from the slate,
instead Of putting him to school. 1t
amt my fault If | still owe 'em for rent
and food. We had to live"
The sheriff shook his head impatient
ly wit hthe air Of a man anxious to get
through with an abhorent task,
That's none of my business he said.
My orders was to give you six days
notice and then put you out, n out
you go"
For a moment the old miner was 81
lent; he seemed to be struggling to
overcome the paralyzing sense of i'm
potence and despair that numbed him,
body and soul
Gimme a day." he begged, brokenly;
Just a day. My wife Is sick. 1t would
kill her to go out in a night like this.
You can't have the heart to put her and
the old oma out to die in the rain
and ~sleet."
For answer the sheriff kicked open
the rickety doGp. ''Git!" he said,
angrily. The ruined n broken old
man cast a look at the pathetic group
behind him and brushed a tear from his
Scared cheek with the back of a shak-
ing hand.
II guess we'll have to get out" he
said, simply. The sick woman raised
herself with difficulty on her red ell
bows and finally struggled to her feet.