The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-08-06

Nickerson rode Up to the barway the
cloud wall that had risen from the
west was halfway across the sky and
dusk was falling.
"Rain in ten minutes" said Conway
laconically.
They tied their horses to the posts,
swung themselves over the low bars
and advanced to the house
The door was open, and the men
saw the children gathered about the
fainting woman. There were Lyddy,
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, and Jimmy and
Johnny were 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. Bas
com weakly, but gratefully, raising her
head from the shabby old lounge where
the children had placed her. at will
soon pass away; it always does"
IF we can do anything began
Nickerson slowly.
won't you come in?' invited Mrs
Eascom, with a 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 If we can't be of any
help well ride on. Is there any place
dations for the night"
THE nearest house is two miles
away" said Mrs. Bascom "You can't
ride on In the storm. You are welcome
to put your horses in the barn and stop
here"
| The men made a show of remon-
STRANGE.
"We needn't eat much" Nickerson
whispered to his comrade. can we can
pay for what we git.'
| The horses were hardly under shell
ter before the rain increased to down
pour.
"Where," began Conway-"that Is,
is your husband comm home soon?"
"He is dead" answered Mrs. Bas-
com.
| BY this time she was able to sit up
on the rude lounge.
"Lyddy," she said, "set out a bite
for the gentlemen to eat. We haven't
got much, but you're welcome to what
there Is"
"Thank ye, mom," 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 it off little
Jackson advanced gravely and climb
ed on Conway's knee.
"W'ere you doin', mister?" he asked.
"IIush.. Jacksonw said his mother.
"Oh, jest leave s tell as not momw
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 pitiful eagerness.
"Green county-Spencerville
The woman's eager look faded away.
I'VE are from Burtis," she said.
can we're dom back dere pretty
soon.' spoke up Jackson cheerfully.
"That so, mom?" asked Conway
heartily. That's good!"
'1-I-we"- began the widow weak
ly.
She glanced at the children, and
there was an undercurrent 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 a heap of
money. fright heavy rain fallin',
hain't it?"
II dot money" Jackson uttered tri-
umphantly. lin my bank! We doin'
pretty soon."
lie scrambled down from Conway's
knee.
LIN LILY jain, Suuy. uc NolL-
manded. When it was handed down
to him he brought it triumphantly to
Conway.
Money!" he chuckled. "Doin' back
to Indiana pretty soonw
Nickerson saw that there were tears
in the widows eyes.
want to look at my knife, Jack
SOM" he asked, producing a huge
many bladed affair, with a corkscrew
in the back.
Jackson grasped 1t, marveled and
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 to the one sub
ject ever in her thoughts-the old
home.
II have been hoping for years to
CO." she said, but