Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-02-19
Woman s Way y

The gray morning light was just De
ginning to filter In through b dia-
m%ondpaned windows, where heavy
laden rose-sprays nodded. From ihsIue
the little room sounded the Waii Oh u
child, but the woman crouching o'eS
the dead fire uttered no SOUND maue
no movement. Her whole tortured soui
miyered with a pain too deep for Words
the while she listened for the sound Oh
footsteps.
It was only one OF many nights nat
b had listened for the sound OF ner
husbands return, waiting with strain
Ing ears for the report OF a gun do"n
on the Grange estate, dreadtng What
might happen to him. Month aiter
month, as his Indifference n neeiec.
deepened, she had hoped and prayed
mat he would alter, that his love Wouio
return. But that hope had changed 70
despair only the day before when irri-
tated by the wailing OF the puny oapy'
he Ind cursed 1t md struck her When
she demonstrated. That blow had
Killed the last flicker Of her patience.
had helped her to arrive at a declsloh.
And she was but waiting for his return
10 tell him that she intended to leave
him. to endure him no longer. For
seven long years b had suffered IN
silence. and now she would be Silent
no longer.
a pale ray OF sunshine stole IN ana
rested on the cradle. She picked up the
baby and Rugged 1t to her p~assionateiy-
II was the only one that was lert 10
her Of her four children. The three
others had faded out OF life. too iran
10 survive the troubles Of a world o.
poyerty, and on this mite she lavished
all the love OF her nature. It ceased
4moaning. and fell asleep in her arms.
Would he never come back2 1t ne
aid not come soon, she would go with
ont 4 word, back to her old friends IN
Frome. and start life afresh. The
rev stronger, and a bird hoped on
q the window sill and chirped for the
hreakfast that was usually there.
Still no sound OF a footstep or q
voice. Then her heart beat fast. and
something frightened In her throat as
ehe heard a step coming up the tagged
path. Would she have the strength to
face him? She stood up. clasplng the
ehild. her eyes wide with dread. but
determination on her pale mouth. The
otep paused at the door.
"Be you In, Mrs. Cummings !" q voice
aid.
She could have laughed aloud at the
sudden reyulslon OF feeling. Fol- a mo
nent, remembering her bruised cheek,
che hesltated to reply, but decided that
silence would be useless.
III, Mrs. Giles" she said,
drawing away from the sunlight that
revealed the bruise SO mercilessly.
door opened. and the opening
was blocked BY q substantial figure In
! white apron.
..Isve a-brought zee a few o my Leg
harn,s EGGS she said, the little twin
King eyes noting the empty crate, the
tired face, the bruised cheek. "They be
real beauties. l be arlways lucky WI
ny fowls.~
..It's very good Of you, Mrs. Giles"
Mary Cummings spoke family. The
ahock Of finding that the newcomer was
not her husband. together, with the
fatigue Of waking through the long
nleht. proved almost too much for her
ekrenefh, and for a second the room
IVAN round her. But she knew that
hoen eyes were noting every detail Of
hare little. room. scrutinizing the
shameful mark o. her face, and mas
tered her weakness.
And the babby be asleepy" the volu-