La Junta tribune., 1915-01-09

the gaIlefy, WneTe ITlenu OF btTdnB-
er alike ever found ready well
come.
house represented community OF
interest and of toll.
Each one OF the inmates-mother.
father and two daughters-ha con-
,ribu,ed to its upbuilding and main
,enance. and to the varied comforts
clustering about It's hearthstone.
hut over this abode OF content
ment a cloud had fallen. The ia
ther. the strong right arm. had been
suddenly stricken To death--friends
had prepared his body for burial.
and later had borne II to the church,
yard near. The love. help. strength
and sober counsel upon which three
women had leaned. as upon a staff
OF iron. seemed shriveled 10 heart
breaking memory, when. one week
later. they sat stunned and bewil-
dered before the open fire. II was
not OF death they were thinking.
There was no terror In that. The
Good Book had lain open morning.
noon and night before the one who
had just left them: II was many
years since he had first placed his
hand. confidingly. In the Masters.
The past was safe IL was the fu-
ture-their future with its earthly
burdens. so brutal. 80 miserably
rcal-which confronted them.
The little home, paid for through
strict economy in the early days of
tho long domestic climb up the hill.
had. later on, served as the incen-
tive TO further the effort. The am
b'tion to own five acres adjoining
the three already In possession seem
ed justifiable. and to pledge the
three In order to secure the coveted
five. appeared no less simple and en-
tirely safe. IL meant but $500. II
looked like duty. II was talked
over. prayed over. II was done.
Five hundred dollars had been paid
when the strong man sickened. leay-
ing to his loved ones a heritage OF
care which he would gladly. lovingly.
have borne forever. II Was bur
den which fell not alone upon moth
er. but upon each sorrowing child.
One daughter had opened a kinder
sarten In the village. with rental TO
be paid and needed furnishings TO
b. supplied. The other daughter
had purchased n sewing machine.
pledHing the labor of her hands to
pay for II as we'll as for material To
he used.
The burden of on. was the con-
ccrn Of all. and they now strove
patheticaliy. as women will. TO de-
wise ways aud means for earning n
triple livelihood. meeting existent
obligations. most grave Of all. the
Nhs'"" p"f h'ht t'uhihhhk "u th'
mortgagc From whatever side ,h.
subject WAS viewed II became more
hopeless and desperate.
The mother pleaded: III the
worst comes To the worst. IN. five
acres can be- sold. no matter what
ih. loss. Perhaps enough viii be
saved TO cicav tn. roof over our
heads"
Daughter Margaret urged: And
can give up my school now. before
am too deeply Involved"
Dorothy added: - viii return
my machine and cancel the order for
ih. goods"
Hut this was simply sacrifice piled
on sacrifice. leaving nothing. not
even employment. by which 10 live.
I, meant mental drudscry. service
elsewhere than at home. the sever
Ing Of countless precious ties and
separation from haiiowed memories.
Tears began to flow. In spite os
brave efforts 20 suppress them. un.
III the dauGhters. crushed In spirit.
crept 10 the weeping mothers side.
ciinsins each 10 . dear hand ~ they
had been won't In childhood.
Il Was March. The sun had shone
by day and nos the broad moon
made dreamisnd Of the night.
A quick. alert step sounded upon
the walk aud then light tap as The
door. Dorothy ran TO admit the
snsss. ushcssns him In mos, gladly
and seating him BY the side Of the
good mother. Il was John suany.
side. . man whom every living cree.
tur~ In the country knev BY slsht.
and many cs them by heart. - his
own heart encompsssed the vossl
and for evesythiss on Il he had .
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