The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-12-28

ner own, a bright pink calico 10 hang
In it's place, after which she tied on
her ven aud went back to Mary
AIMS.
Presently John Anderson came in to
his lonely supper, stamping the wet
snow from his boots, his head down M
usual. but the warmth and glow
struck his dulled senses, and he looked
up In daAed wonder. "Mirandyw he
gasped. The clock licked loud through
the silent house; the golden sides Of
the copper kettle winked in the fire
light and kept up a coutented singing
to- itself. The truth dawned on him
slowly. She had been there and gone.
He crawled over to his accustomed
chair that Granny usually monopo-
LIKED. Mirandy's stood opposite with
a fresh red-striped towel on the back.
He leaned his head against the wall,
and brushed with his grizzled cheek
the crisp folds of q pink calico dress.
Then he broke down and sobbed out
all the misery Of six unhappy weeks.
Two days later, and the day before
New Years, he drove up to Mary
AIMS gate In q new cutter. He did
not get down, but waited for Mlrandy
to come out.
"Mirandy," he said, "the settle
ments are made ready for you to
sign.
Yes" she answered, "but you'D
have to take me as / am Mary AM
got that money. She needed 1t worse
than 1 did wedding clothes" HI
meekly assented.
Going back to the house she OBJ
served:
MARY Ann, me and your father are
going to town, and I reckon as tomor'
row is New Years you and Jake and
the children had better pile into the
bobsled and come over to dinner. J
guess you'll hear some good news"
These two undemonstratiye women
kissed each other aud Mirandy went
away without telling anything more
At II o'clock the next morning Mary
Ann and the children appeared at the
big farmhouse. The women busted
themselves in the kitchen and ex.
changed condolences.
II never saw such a house In all my
born days. 1 had to get new milk
crooks yesterday. Granny Simpson
spoiled all the old ones a-letting milk
soul in them. And the table knives
are ruined by rust. Your father said
that, as we had to get new ones, we
might as well have them silver
plated. The others were lots Of trou-
BILE to keep bright. Amt they pretty?"
Mary Ann looked sympathetic and
admired the silver. II reckon We'll
have to trade peaches and cherries,
since you didn't get to preserve any
cliDgstones."
THANK you. We got pretty tired Of
peaches last year, but Ii you want the
cherries. all right. I reckon yori fatI-
accounted for John Andersor's cheer
Guinness. When they sat dc wn to the
table the host bowed his head and
prayed! For these and ell other bless
lngs the Lord make us truly thank
full
He looked around upon the little
family and said in a gently, explana-
tory wayi land the other blessings
are that I've got some dear children
and a dear woman, who don't stick at
anything to show me how mean I've
been. Amen"
Mary Ann was bewildered. Miriam
dy was blushing brighter than her
pink dress, but she managed to say:
me and your father have been get
ting married, and he's got something
for you and Jake"
John Anderson handed ONE papers
to Jake, who was slow about some
things. and Mary Ann, leaning over
his shoulder. could make out nothing
for the blur before her eyes. At last
Jake sprang to his feet and waved the
papers over his head.
MARY Ann he cried excitedly, ats
a deed for the forty acres, with stock
and $1,000 for machinery and stock
sheds. Its given to us for good and all
by-why-it's from Mirandy. l don't
understand"
Yes, it's from Mirandy," said his
father-in-law. ""Them's her settle
ments, for her and the children, and
she lowed that meant Mary Ann"
He smiled ~benevolently and proceeded
to help the children to drumsticks and
gravy. There is no knowing what ex-
plantations might have followed, but
the women were busy with the chill
dren, and after dinner Jake and his
father-in-law talked about a hired
hand. who must be secured to take
Jake's place, now that he had q farm
Of his own to manage. AS they were
going home in the evening the chill.
dren in the new cutter with grandpa,
Jake said: Mary Ann, what's settle
mentsY"
Mary Ann shook her head. II never
heard of them before, but Mirandy
knows, and she's learned father. 1t
went kind O. hard with him, but he
seems relieved like, now it's over, and
thankful. We've al got a to be