The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1920-03-05

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the heat of the day she Sought
shady spot to partake OF the simple
'"hch she carried. Occasionally. an.
other berry-plcker would attempt to be
sociable, but Rretna refused to re.
spond. But one very hot noon hour
eray'halred woman. hent and tired.
looking awakened her sympathy: she
| "hered the stranger cup of cold cot.
Zee. The woman extended her red
work-stiffened fingers, staring, but
made no move to grasp the cup.
AS live. it's Rrctna Sterrettr'
Brefna opened her eyes very wide
| she honestly did not recognize the
hollow-eyed, shabby dressed woman.
"Bretna. don't you remember me,
Nancy Dover"
Nancy Dove!" she gasped, and all
the old bitterness sprang to her lips.
You. who stole" and stopped quick.
ly, flushing.
Yes, ! took Clifford away from
you" finished the woman lfstlcssly. 81
got him and MI that went with him,
All Ia" hcnriachcs. the misery. the
gambling. the debia, disgrace and
shame, even abuse! And you'll know
somebody In the village met May
Hr"wnlcy; they told me how happy you
were, how the whole Brnwnlcy family
ndored you. how you brought M the
children, won their love and respect
oh, what's the use of talking about
it,"
Bretnn, who stared in amazement
suddenly felt something In Nancy's
tired voice pull al her heart. She took
one of the roughcned hands within
her own. Nancy" she asked softly,
you have not been happy?"
Happy" interrupted the other
woman rising. "Bretna. such poverty.
such wretchedness as mine. you have
not known must be going. No
don't live in the village. won't tell
you where; don't come. I'd rather you
would not see my home life"
And when she had disappeared Bret.
ma still sat there with wide open eyes
and parted lips. Like racing steeds
thoughts came and brought clear,
bright pictures of her wasted years
of little May cuddled in her arms, the
boys couched around listening to some
fairy-tale. Oh, she could feel their
warm, childish kisses! Again. she
saw herself tucking Jimmie in bed,
hearing Stuart's tale of woe. Then n
candy pull on a stormy night, how the
old kitchen echoed with laughter!
And the halloween parties! Oh. the
time William had insisted upon her
dressing up as Old Mother Hubbard!
The Christmas dances when the chill
dren were older, how the boys had al
ways Insisted upon her dancing, too
| And their love affairs Jimmie had
fallen In love so often and she alone
| knew how to sOOthe his broken heart
or mend his enthusiasm over the
"new" girl And when the boys had
married came Mays admirers. She
could see herself crOuched on the girls
bed hearing the recital of an evenings
triumph And when May was at par
ties, she and william had sat In the
old comfy living room talking and
planning. She remembered now how
he had come to her with each little
| problem about business or the chill
! uTtll. lHtN Iul anu "tpl
gether.
Wasted years she had called them
| Those years so golden with love and
| 10y! What memories to feast on in
the years to come! How rich she was
Twenty years full to overlooking of
happy days Furnished with the love of
sly persons, surely such remembrances
I,,;,r I,t to 1nS httT
years
To the first villager she must speak.
| for the warmth of her heart demand
ed communication with fellow-beings,
and happy with the success of the
cheerful smile she had won. walked
quickly up the lane to her little lonely
cottage.
At the porch steps she stopped short
incapable of moving, for there stood
William, big, handsome, smiling visit
fully.
And when he had led her to the hard
| little bench, he asked rcprOachfully:
| "DOn't YOU ever go to the post office
for mail? We worried we waited.
Something was the matter. We knew
| YOU cOul1 not forget us. i'it'iu' "''''
"A pauSe. at didn't work. my living
with the honeymoon couple. I've been
lonesome, homrsick. the kind that Is
slow death Every moment. every
where | was looking for you. and
was lost. Rretna. and | suffered. Too
old to transplant, guess" His voice
rraw low and tender with pleading. u
wanted the evenings back again when
we two sat by the sitting room lamp;
40 YOU remember, Bretna? They were
happy evenings; outside, the ram ana
wind: inside, the warmth and light;
YOU mending and l reading aloud.
Don't you miss 1t at all, BretnaF he
asked anxiously. Then, when she
nodded ever so slightly, he went on:
"Tye arranged with the tenants to
move next week. VIII you come back
TO the old home with me us my