The Ordway new era., 1909-12-24

T.ndcrly no laid her by her brother.
Now for that undertaking job. he
sighed. He found n box OF tools ana
began tearing up tho rough noor anu
screaming out a grave. BEST place l
know Of" he murmurcd. cant let IL
stay in this warm room. can't lay II
out or the coyotes will come: and can't
dig a grave out there in this blizzard.
Hastily he made box OF the rough
floor and placed 1t In the ground.
bad enough job anyway" he said
couldn't do 1t at all with that girl
looking on" and wrapping the body
in a quilt he tcnderly lowered 1t TO
It's last resting place and covered the
box. There. he told it as he ie-
placed the dirt. maybe you deserve
better. but that is the best can DO
for you: but don't you worry, I'll look
after those babies OF yours and you
bet they will get the best that's going
His work finished he took an inven-
tory OF stock. He found n cave well
filed and plenty OF fuel. He made
search for Information about the rela-
lives OF the owners but found none.
While preparing supper the children
uwokc Where Is my mammal the
! little girl asked. missing the silent
| form. Did she wake up and go way.
too?" and the brave lips began to
! CULVER. This was the hardest task OF
all for the blur spoken man. Tcndsrly
IftIng the heart-broken child he told
her how some times people were so
tired and sleepy they could not wake
up: OF a snug. dark room beneath the
floor where mamma could sleep ana
rest: how Santa Claus had sent him to
make presents. and help take care OF
baby Henry. Bessie listened and was
pacified. Supper over. and the chill
drcn again In bed. he sat down to
whittle out ships. guns. windmills ana
jumping Jacks: never had a little girl
received such strange Christmas toys.
He would keep up fire that his charges
might sleep warm--and whittle. and
dream new dreams. Thus passed the
night: and,-tomorrow was Christmas
day.
For seven days the clements ragged
and once again the sun was king-sevcn
happy days to this silent. hardened
man: but duty bade him return to his
cattle. Reluctantly leaving the chill
dren. he rode rapidly to his ranch for
wagon to move his little ones to his
home. His men were starting on .
search for his frozen body.
Refusing to answer their questions
he bade them to clean and furnish the
best shack. and to see that they KEEP,
, | rrln n is
fastest team hitched. he left his men
as soon as possible.
} The little ones welcomed him with
glee: this decided him; he would keer
them with him always: who had q
l better right to them? and he could moi
e think of the long evenings without
their cheerful prattle. He tucked then
$ in bed and began to pack the unneces.
J sary articles. He found small bo,
which he had failed to see before. HI
r opened It, and the contents-papers ant
pictures-fell to the floor. The frs
picture he picked up revealed the fac,
u of his mother. his father. the children
the other relatives followed in rapi,
e succession: he opened letters nd
S dressed to. MY dear daughter Bessie.
It He sprang to his feet and caught th
d sleeping girl in his arms kiss Unc
e Henry. Bessie, kiss him quick" h
X cried. The little one slcepily obeyed
y He rushed about the room in an ex
y cess of joy and thankfulness. Finall
y he knelt above his sisters grave.
"Bessie." he whispered. sister Bes
" sic. can you hear me? l Will do it
will take your babies back to mother;
1t and II the spirit of the dead sti
hovered near to care for the dear one,
In 1t could now go to rest.
lie His men waited and wondered !
y. vain.
ID Joy mingled with sorrow when tn
I prodigal returned. The father did nc
e. eat that dinner with the family. an
re the relapse left him a broken mar
,e the mothers strength was not sui
Id ncient, 30 Bessle and Billie Boy ha