Upon her mother's death, a girl is now burdened with caring for her family. Her decision to not marry until the younger children are grown sends her lover to the West, who is soon killed in a beginners clumsy attempt at blasting. The news of her lover's death does not reach her for a long time, as she watches the younger children grow and marry one by one. She is all alone in her house when she finally receives the news, at which point she drops dead.