The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1922-02-17
XII.

Which Continues the Romance Of Abe
and Ann Until the Former Leaves
New Salem to Begin HE Work in
the Legislature. Also II Describes
the ColoneIina Of Peter Lukins.
The next day after his return, Abe
received a letter from Ann. She had
come over to the store on the arrival
of the stage and taken her letter and
run home with 1t. That Saturdays
stage brought the new suit Of clothes
from 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 vas not the cheerful, Quick-footed,
r~osy-cheeked Ann Of old. Her face
was pale. her yes dull and l~istless,
her step e!ow. Neither spoke until
they had passed the Waddell cabin
and were come to the open fields.
II hope your letter brought COED
news" said Abe.
1T was very short" Ann answered.
HE took a fever in Ohio and was
sick there four weeks and then he
went home. In two months he "
wrote a word to me. And this one
was only a little bit of a letter with
no love in it. l don't believe he cares
for me now or, perhaps, he is mar
ried. l don't know. I'm not going
to cry about it any more. 1 can't. I've
no more tears to shed. I've given
him up
"Then l reckon the time has come
for me to tell you what is on my
heart" said Abe. Il love you, Ann.
have loved you for years. l would
have told you long G but l could
not make myself believe that l was
good enough for you. l love you so
much that If you can only be happy
with John McNamar l will pray to
God that he may turn out to be a good
and faithful man and come back and
keep his promise"
She looked up at him with a kind
Of awe in her face.
"Oh, Abel" she whispered. u had
made up my mind that men were all
bad but my father. l was wrong.
| did not think Of 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 thar you
think him. l want you to be fair to
John. If you conclude that you car
not be happy with him give me 9
chance. I would do my best to bring
back the joy Of the old days. Some.
times l think that l am going to dc
something worth while. Sometimes ]
think that I a see my way far ahead
Ann, are always walking beside me
in 1t. Before we take another ster
l wish you could give me some hope
to live On-just a little straw OF
hope"
You are a wonderful man, Abe,'
said Ann, touched by his appeal. my
father says that you are going to be
a great man."
II can not hold out any such hope
to you," Abe answered. "Tm rather
ignorant and badly in debt, but
reckon that I can make a good Twins
and give you a comfortable home
Don't you think, taking me just as
am, you could care for me a little?"
"Yes; sometimes / think that
could love you, Abe" she answered
II do not love you yet, but I may
some time. 1 really want to love YOU
"That is all 1 can ask now" salt
Abe as they went IN. do you hea
from BIN Kelso?"
81 have not heard from her sine
June"
II wish you would write to her ant
! down to St. Louis and that 1 woul'
like to go and see her."
"ITl write to her tomorrow sal,
Ann.
They had q pleasant visit and Will
Ann was playing with the baby sh
seemed to have forgotten her troubles
They stayed to supper, after whicl
, the whole family walked to the taverl
with them. When Ann began to shoy
WEAKNESS, Abe gently lifted her 1
, his arms and carried her.
That evening Mrs. Peter Lukin.
called upon Abe at Sam Hills stor
where he sat alone, before the fire
reading with two candles burning OF
the end of a dry goods box at hi
, elbow.
; II wanted to see you private 'bou
, Lukins," she began. There's ther
that call him BOny Lukins, but
, reckon he amt no bonner than tn
, everidge run O. men-not a bit-an
! if he was, l don't reckon his bone
Orto be throwed at him every tim
+ he's spoke to that away"
> "What can l do about it?' Alb
asked.