Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-01-11

Duane went often to see Mrs Lara
ME and her children. One afternoon
while he was there he saw Miss Long
streth and Ruth ride up to the door.
They carried "a basket. Evidently
they had heard of Mrs. Laramie's
trouble. Duane felt strangely glad,
but he went into an adjoining room
rather than meet them.
Mrs. Laramie, I've come to see
you' said Miss Longstreth, cheer
fully.
The little room was not very light.
there being only one window and the
doors. but Duane could see plainly
enough Mrs Laramie lay, hollow
checked and haggard, on a bed. Once
she had evidently been q woman of
some comeliness. The ravages of
trouble and grief were there to read
IN her worn face; it had not. however.
any of the hard and bitter lines that
had characterized her husbands.
Duane wondered, considering that
LOngStreth had ruined Laramie. how
Mrs Laramie was going to regard the
daughter of an enemy.
$50 you're Granger Longstreth's
girl?' queried the woman, with her
bright, black eyes fixed on her visitor.
Yes replied Miss Iongstreth.
simply. "This IS my cousin. Ruth
Herbert. We've come to nurse you,
take care of the children. help you in
any way you'll let u.s."
There was long silence.
"Well, you look little like Long
streth," finally said Mrs. Laramie,
but you're not at all like him. You
must take after your mother. Miss
Longstreth, I don't know if l can--if
L ought to accept anything from you.
Your father ruined my husband"
Yes, / know" replied the girl sad
ly. That's all the more reason you
should let me help you. Pray don't
refuse. 1t will-mean much to me-"
If this poor, stricken woman had
any resentment it speedily melted in
the warmth and sweetness of Miss
LOngStreth's manner, and no sooner
had she begun to talk to the children
than both they and the mother were
won. The opening of that big basket
was an event. Poor, starved little
beggars! The havoc was wrought in
that household. The needs now were
cheerfulneSs, kindness, help, action
and these the girls furnished with a
spirit that did Duane good.
"AIrs. Laramie, who dressed this
baby?" presently asked Miss Long
streth. Duane peeped in to see
dilapidated youngster on her knee.
That sight, if any other was needed,
completed the full and splendid es-
innate of Ray LOngstreth and wrought
strangely upon his heart.
'"The ranger" replied Mrs. Laramie.
'The ranger! exclaimed Miss Long
streth.
eyes, he's taken care of US all since
since" Mrs. Laramie chOked.
ooh! SO you've had no help but
his" replied Hiss Longstreth, hastily.
mo women. Too bad. I'll send
someone, Mas. Laramie, and I'll come
myself"
at II be good OF you" went on
the older woman. "You see, Jim had
few friends-that is, right in town.
And they've been afraid to help us
afraid they'd get what poor jim"
"That's awful" burst out Miss
Longstreth, passionately "a brave
lot of friends! Mrs Laramie. don't
You worry any more. Wen take care
Of you. Here, Ruth help me- What
ever is the matter with baby's dreSs?"
1ianifestly Miss Longstreth HAD
some difficulty in subduing her emo
ton.
"Vhy, it's on hind side before" de-
clared Ruth. 81 guess Mr. Ranger
hasn't dressed many babies"
Gle did the best he could," said
Mrs. Laramie. Lord only knows
what would have become of US"
"Then he isis something more
than a ranger?" queried Miss Long
streth, With a little break in her
voice.
Hes more than I can tell" replied
Mrs. Laramie. "He buried jim He
paid our debts. He fetched us here.
He bought food for US. He cooked for
us and fed US. He washed and dress
ed the baby. He sat with me the
first two nights after Jim's death,
when I thought I'd die myself He's
so kind, so gentle, so patient. He has
kept me up just by being near. Some
times I'd wake from a dOze, an, see
ing him there, I'd know how false
were all these tales Jim heard about
him and believed at first. Why, he
plays with the children just-just
like any good man might. When he
has the baby up [ just can't believe
he's a bloody gunman, as they say.
He's good, but he isn't happy. He
has such sad eyes, He looks far off
sometimes when the children climb
round him. They love him. His life
is sad Nobody need tell nie-he sees