Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-02-09

tracked him down 70 say that she wa
terrible near her reckoning. The doe.
tor started or with him rather an.
xious, for Faxgie was through ither,
and It was Joanna,s firsk.
Dr.. John had floundered into wors;
drifts. but the wind was lashing his
face and the visibility was 50 bad that
they soon lost each other. ne stumbled
and rlmbled down In q way &C which
he is q master hand, and reached the
Smelling hours before the husband
who Is q decent stock but very unusual
IN the legs. The distance Is a short
mile when the track Is above ground
Dr.. John was relieved TO smell smoke
for he dreaded that Fargie might not
have had the sense 20 heap on the peat
and that the woman might be found
frozen.
told him I knew the house, which
is lonesome one roomed cot Of double
stone and divot I asked II he had
found Joanna alone. but he had taken
the opportunity Of my making a re-
mark 10 fan asleep again. got his eyes
open in the manner recommended by
him, and he said with even q little
leer at me, -She was not quite alone;
but may be you are one Of those who do
not count an infant TIL It be christen-
ed"
IF there is any haste for that.
cried, looking for my boots.
There Is none" he said.
But who had been with her? Was
she in such a bad condition that she
could give you no information about
thatP"
"she was in fine condition, and she
could and she did" he said. II was
with her tin Fargie, who had gone back
! TO the farm, brought down the wife,
and have no doubt Joanna is now
giving the particulars to them. They
are such uncommon particulars" he
went on, that I can fancy even the
proud infant sitting up to listen to-
them"
Then who was it that had acted IN
his place. asked, not daring to be
more prolix lest he should again be
overtaken.
That, he said. was what he was ask
ing me.
Or. john"
''Be assured" said he, that am too
dung over with sleep to be trifling
with you; but this win become more
your affair than mine. It is not to
me they viii look to be told who she
was but to their minister"
II hope shall not fail them" ] said
loftily. Nevertheless dreed was what
coming. and insisted on his keep |
f,,c- o,voi~, t, rr,r.,,fS gn,r a aar,k sv,v, ~,
the beard" He said he had found
kettle on a bright fire and Joanna In
her bed with the child, who was fit
tingly swaddIed In q shawl. he would /
not let her talk until he had satisfied /
himself that everything necessary had /
been done, and then (for the curiosity /
was mounting In his brain) he said
with pretended casualness, II see you
and your friend have been having q
nice cup Of tea"
and merry she was at the making
Of it" replied Joanna, turning merry
herself.
II forget" said ne, III you mention
ed who she WASP"
"Of course 1t was one Of the Strang-
ers,T she said.
"Of course IL would be one Of those
" said he, but never chanc-
I'd TO fan in with one; what was she
Iike?"
co. said Joanna, Hshe was like the
little gentleman that sits under his
all meaning q squirrel
Il thought" she would be something
ike that" he said, but had you no
ear Of her?"
Never" said Joanna, eth the BARN
vas born, and then for Just a short
lime, when she capered about mad like
Nth giee, holding it high In the air and
iressing and undressing 1t IN the shawl,
% as to have another peep at 1t, and
lery proud Of what she had done tn
i queer change came over her and
lad a sinking that she was going to
lite it. I snatched IL from her"
'sTo bite them is not my usual pro-
edure at q BIRTH" the doctor had said,
but we all have our different ways"
Joanna gave him q fuller story Of
he night than, as he said, would be of
ny profit 10 O sgnnph Of bachelor like
Adam Yestreen, but he told me some Of
Is events. The door had blown open
con after Fargie's departure, leaving
taught but reek to heat her, and when
be fire went down she would have been
lad to cry back the reek. She thought
he cold candle Of her life was at the
ticker.
The Stranger re-lit the fire, but there
as no way she could conceive Of heat
IL that body on the box-bed. Then
ne grand thought came to her. %She
Ertppit herself naked" Joanna said.
and lay at my feet and made me keep
lem on her, as If she were one Of them
~ bottles for toasting the feet Of the
entry. and when my feet we're warm
be lay close to me, first on one side
nd then on the other. She was as
arm as a browning hammock when
1e began. but by the time the heat
| her had passed into me Use uphaud
Ne was as cold as q trout"
AS TO the actual birth. though this
IS Joannajs first child. she knew more
boat the business than did her Wis
,-.t.2 n~m~.., -. H.arpo honra tVH q