The Red Cloud chief., 1921-09-15

NcW SditU 10 bcBIW TITS WoTN w
the Legislature. Also II Describes
the Coioneiino OF Peter Lukins.
The r~yt day after his return, Abe
received letter from Ann. She had
come over TO the store on the arrival
of the stage and taken her letter and
run home wkh II. That Saturdays
stage brought the new suit of clothes
ircm Springfield.
1t was an Indian summer day Of the
first week In November. That after
noon Abe went to the tavern and asked
Ann TO walk out to the Traylors' with
him. She seemed to be glad to go.
She was not the cheerful, quick-footed,
rOsy-cheekCd Ann of old. Her face
was pnle, her eyes dull and listless,
her step slow. Neither spoke until
they had passed the Waddell cabin
ana were come to the open fields.
II hope your letter brought good
news said Abe.
1T was very short" Ann answered.
"He took fever In Ohio and was
sick there four weeks and then he
went home In two months he never
wrote . word to me. And this one
was only little bit Of a letter with
no love in it. don't believe he cares
for me now or, perhaps, he is mar
ried. | don't know. I'm not going
TO cry about ii any more. | can't. I've
no more tears TO shed. I've given
him up"
"Tlcn | reckon the time has come
for me 10 tell you what Is on my
heart" said Abe. IL love you, Ann
have loved you for years. l would
have told you long ago but l could
not make myself believe that l was
good enough for you. love you so
much that IL you can only be happy
with John McNamar ! will pray to
God that he may turn out to be good
ana faithful man and come back and
keep his promise"
She Looked up at him with a kind
Of awe In her face.
'Oh, Abew she whispered. IL had
made up my mind that men were all
bad but my father. was wrong.
i uIu nOt thflh VI you.
"Men are mostly good" said Abe.
"But It's very easy to misunderstood
them. In my view It's quite likely
that John McNamar is better than you
think him. ! want you to be fair to
John. II you conclude that you can
not he happy with him give me a
chance. rwould do my best to bring
back the Joy of the old days. Some
times l think that / am going to do
something worth while. Sometimes |
think that can see my way far ahead
and 1t looks very pleasant, and you,
Ann, are always walking beside me
In 1t. Before we take another step
l wish you coulA give me some hope
TO live on-just little straw Of
hope"
You are wonderful man, Abe"
said Ann, touched by his appeal. MY
father says that you are going to be
u great man,"
~ can not hold out any such hope
to YOU" Abe answered. I'm rather
ignorant and badly In debt, but ]
reckon that I can make good living
and give you comfortable home
Don't you think, taking me Just as l
am. you could care for me littleT
"Yes; sometimes I think that l
could love you, Abe" she answered
81 do not love you yet, but I may
some time. ! really want to love you. y
THAT Is all l can ask now" said
Abe as they went on. "Do you hear
from BIN kelsof"
81 have not heard from her since
June"
II wish you would write to her and
tell her that ! am thinking of going
down to st. Louis and that would
like TO so and see her"
"I'll write to her tomorrow" said
Ann.
They had pleasant visit and while
Ann was playing with the baby she
seemed TO have forgotten her troubles
They stayed to supper, after which
the whole family walked to the tavern
with them. When Ann began to show
WEAKNESS, Abe gently lifted her II
his arms and carried her.
That evening Mrs. Peter Lukins
called upon Abe at Sam Hill's store
where he sat alone. before the fire
reading with two candles burning or
the end Of dry goods box at his
elbow.
~ wanted to see you private bout
Lukins," she began. There's then
that call him Bony Lukins, but
reckon he amt no bonier than tho
everidge run O. men-not a bit-an'
II he was, l don't reckon his bone,
orto be throwed at him every tim,
he's spoke to that away"
"What can ] do about itY' Alb,
asked.
1--WE been hopin' an wishln' som,
kind of decent handle could be pu
ON to his name" said Mrs. Lukins
with her eye upon knot hole In th'
counter. Something with a goot
sound to II. You said that anything
you could do FOR the New Salem folks
you was goin' to Go an thought may