Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1922-05-04

AAo" De ye, ucuflcI IeT NUN
wanted fer nothin,, now, have YET" she
asked.
mot thing, Harr'e'st = returned
cheerily. 'I'm s tn al pert, too.
Was there lots there? An did Parson
Drew say a heap o. fine things7"
Mrs. Clayton dropped into chair
and pulled listlessly ut thee black
strings Of her bonnet.
"Twas a beautiful fun'ral, Thad-
deus-a beautiful fun'ral. IL most
wished 1t was mine."
"Hnrrieti"
She gave shamed-faced laugh.
well, l did-then Jehiel and Han
nah Jane would a come, an 1 could
"a seen EN-"
The Mortified look on the old mans
face gave way to broad smile.
ooh! Harriet-Harrietv' he chuck
led, chow could we seen 'em If you
was dend7"
"Huh? Well, ILThaddeus"-her
voice rose sharply in the silent room
every single one Of them Perkins boys
was there, and Annabel, too. Only
think what poor Mis- Perkins would "a
given ter seen 'em fore she went
But they waited-waited, Thaddeus,
jest as everybody does, till their folks
Is dead"
"Bnt. Harriet" demurred the old
man, surely you'd "a had them boys
come ter their own mothers fun'ral!"
"Comel I'd "a Toasted her eyes on
'em. Thaddeus"-N1rs. Clayton rose to,
her feet and stretched out two gaunt
hands longingly--"Thadde get so
hungry sometimes for Jehiel and Han.
nah Jane, seems as though 1 Jest
couldn't stand It'll"
u know-I know, dearie," qunvered
the old man. vigorously polishing his
glasses.
Fifty years ago my first baby came"
resumed the woman in tremulOus
tones; "then another came, and an
other, till I'd six. loved 'em an
tended EN-, an cared for 'em. an didn't
have thought but was fer them
babies. -Four died'-her voice broke,
then went on with renewed strength
"but I've got Jehlel and Hannah Jane
left; at least, I've got two bits of paper
that comes mebbe once a month, an
one OF ems signed your dutlful son,
Jehiel, an the other, from your loving
daughter, Hannah Jane.'"
"Well, Harriet, they-they're pretty
good ter write letters" ventured Mr.
Clayton.
"Letters!" walled his wife. II can't
hug an kiss letters, though / try to.
sometimes.
swell, well, wife, mebbe they'll come
-mebbe they'll come this summer:
who knows?"
She shook her head dismally.
you've said that ev'ry year for the
last fifteen summers, an they hain't
come yet. Jehiel went West more than
twenty years ago, an he's never been
home since. Why, Thaddeus, we've got
grandson most eighteen, that we
haint even seen! Hannah James been
home jest once since she was married.
hut that was nigh on ter sixteen years
ago. She's always writin' Of her Tom
my and Nellie, butt want ter see
'em, Thaddeus; want ter see 'enir'
Eyes, yes; well, We'll ask 'em, Har-
rict, again-we'll ask 'em real urgent.
like. an mebbe thatll fetch EN-" COM
forted the old man. well ask 'em
ter be here the Fourth; that's eight
weeks off yet, an shall be real smart
by them
Two letters that were certainly cur
eent-like" left the New England farm
house the next morning. One was ad-
dressed to thriving western city, the
other to Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In course Of time the answers came
Hannah james appeared FIRST, and was
opened with shaking fingers.
Dear Mother (read Mrs. Clayton aloud:
Your letter came two or three days ago.
and I have hurried round to answer it.
for you seemed to be SO anxious to hear
I'm real sorry. but don't see how we
can get away this summer. Nathan is
real busy at the store; and, some way, 1
cant seem to get up energy enough to
even think of fixing up the children to
take them SO far. Thank you for the in
yitation. though, and we should enjoy
the visit very much: but guess we can't
go just yet. OF course II anything serious
should come up that made It necessary
why. that would be different; but know
you are sensible. and will understand how
1t is with US.
Nathan Is we'll. but business has been
pretty brisk. and he is in the store early
and late. AS long as he's making money,
he don't mind: but tell him think he
might rest q little sometimes and let
some ore else do the things he does.
Tom il a big boy now, smart in his
studies and with q good head for figures.
Nellie loves her books, too; and, for a
little girl Of eleven. does pretty well, we
think.
must close now. We all send love.
and hope you are getting along all right.
Was glad to hear father was gaining 10
fast
Your loving daughter,
HANNAH JANE.
The letter dropped from Mrs. Clay.
toms fingers and fay UNDECIDED on the
floor. The woman covered her face
with her hands and rocked her body
back and forth.
There, there, dearie," soothed the
old man huskily; "mebbe Jehiel's will
no NfApsronf Thorn $hovnt YN0nsk <nIr~