The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-30


that his face showed the struggle he
was going through
The day came at last. Tom and Mil
dred stood within the little waiting
room In the station at Mlllbrook, and
she realized that she was really going,
She was radiant with happiness; she
was going home; back to clvillzatlonl
Mildred was handsome woman again,
bright.eyed and rosy-cheeked, and her
hands trembled with excitement. She
felt n momentary pang of conscience
when Tom came back after getting his
grain tickets cashcd and handed her a
bank draft for $500, besides some bills;
.'Oh, Tom!' she exclaimed, Il Will
not need all this. 1t seems too bad to
take it, But Tom insisted.
eyes. you win" he declared. 81
want YOU to get some nice clothes TOR
yourself in Winnipeg-it is bad ad.
for the country if the bride has TO come
back in her going-away dress after
three years stay, and, besides, there are
wedding presents for you TO get, and
dear knows what all. If you need more,
Just let me know.
"What about the new disk harrow
you were gettinga" she asked.
'sOh, am going to see the agent to,
day about it, q he said, truthfully; but
it was to cancel the order.
The train was late snowstorm up
the line, tho operator said, "and Il
looks as il it might hit us tonight, he
added. as he looked out at the tiny
flakes that whirled between him and the
dull red of the tall elevators that stood
in line along the track. Tom thought
he had better not wait for the train
Mr.. Greene, the operator, would see that
everything was all right. 1t would be
late before he could get home now, and
the stock had to be fed.
'"I II write every week, Tom, she
said. as he kissed her goodbye. And
| Will issue a daily" he laughed "and
keep you posted on all local happen
ings Now, Millie, have the best time
possible. ~
He was gone. and Mildred wiped the
mist from the window to watch him as
he went up the street. lie was a hand
some fellow, but Mildred couldn,t t help
noticing that he looked a little shabby.
Tom should have full coat. The snow
flakes were growing larger and the wires
sang in the frosty air. Tom would have
10 face the wind on his way home: and
she shuddered as she thought of the
long ten-mile drive. Yes, Tom should
have fur coat. Then the bank draft
in her purse Troubled her a little.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the
entrance of a middle aged man and his
wife. They shook the snow from their
fur coats as they stood by the little up
right red stove, IN which coal fire
glowed.'
Going to have that trip AT last, eh,
Mrs. Moore9' the station agent said,
after he had greeted them warmly.
She was n stout woman, with good
natured brown face and hair the color
of dust. Mildred thought.
''Yes,'i she said. 81 guess we re
going for sure. Pa and / have been
looking forward TO this for quite
l.. l.,,t In ~ an n
until now, and one of MS wouldn't go
without the other
She wouldn't let me 90 without
her. her husband laughed, as he
counted out the money for their
tickets.
''Just listen to that" she ex-
claimed "And | often coaxed him TO
if | could stand it without seeing the
folks he guessed he could. But it's
twenty years. she went on, laughing
norvouslY; ''twentv years since I've
seen my mother or a soul belonging to
me. Twenty years, Mr.. Greene! But
she is still alive. and we re going.
.Tim's father and mother are both
dead now. but he wouldn t 90 without
me- She looked lovingly up at him.
H'WeH. 7 COULDN'T he said, as he
folded up the long blue tickets and put
them iE a well-worn purse, "Who
would keep the pickpockets away from
me. or tell me when TO get off the train
if mother wasn't therel And she
couldn I 20 without me, for / might get
sick or play with the fire or do some.
thing"
They laughed delightedly like two
children-the years had fallen from
them like garment. They were going
home
"'The people will be taking you folks
for the bridal party If You don I look
out, - the station agent remarked as he
shovcled more coal into the dirty little
stove.
"Is there a wedding todayl' Mrs
Moore asked
eyes, ma am, the first real church
wedding in Mllbrook. Jim Brown has
lust come back from Prince Albert to
marry the eldest Taylor girl. 1t s 90.
ing 10 bc over in the new church and
eyerybody's going. | am going to close
up and 90, too. so you had better all
come along. The tram won I be here
until dark
Mildred looked mp with sudden inter
est 4 weddingl That would be some.
thing To tell Edith about. The bride
will probably be dressed in that dread
ful hot pink and have paper roses in
her hair, and say, eyes, SIR to the
minister
"Thcre has been great times getting
ready for it Mr.. Greene was saying,
''My wife has been there nearly all
day II beats all how interested women
are in wedding
Half an hour later Mildred found
herself in the little new church. with
it's unpainted walls and seats and it's
pleasant piney odor. IT was nearly
filed with excited-looking women, with
here and there an apologetic-looking
man.
Evcrereens were banked at the
windows and wreathed around the
altar rail. and in them lunches Of rose.
berries glittercd warm and red.
'It is pretty" Mildred murmured
TO herself. al wonder who thought Of
tho color scheme, But the bride will
probably spoil it all -
The women behind her were talking.
MARY won t see white woman until
the spring anyway, and they will only
get their mail once month. But she III
stand it all right, Mary will. She Is
good stuff, like her mother She may
get lonesome, but nobody will know
it,
"Poor Mary" Mildred thought.
I