The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-01-11

those who lived in The same condition. She
had never seen town or city; yet in the set
Elements through which they had passed, she
had seen enough of backwoods finery to
know that her wardrobe was scantily fur
nished. At last, one by one the tears gather
ed slowly in her eyes, and she leaned her
head on the edge of the bed where her sister
lay, still asleep, and sobbed till Sis woke up
and looked at her with wondering eyes.
In the course of the day, Dora went to the
river two or three times, Bose always close at
her heels. Whatever may have been the
character of tn. mysterious consultations
they held, in the afternoon the dog was miss
ing. until near shutdown, when he dashed III
to the station, painting and with protruoinSS
tongue. Unobserved, she stole away anu
when quite distance from the house, Pose
came tearing through the cactus ai.ef ner.
The little cloud of dust seen IN the distance
cerna nearer and nearer, and, as soon as The
horsaman was distinguished, the race be-
tween Dora and Bose began, and wnen the
J;earent narties met, Bose was fain tn lean
IN a d salute the horses face-beca,ise the
rider was otherwise engaged. The horse con-
tinued the Journey at a slow walk, while Do
IA looked the que ton she was too timid to
ask Yes, Darling, think your aunt will be
satisfied answered George.
lnen you have brought a man?' Her
1y A''" SoH4uereu, lOr she could see no
human being besides themselves.
II have" His laugh made her shrink a lit.
little, like the mimosd sensitira, when touch
ed by ever so dainty finger-and he added,
soberly: 1.-Two of them; one is the station
keeper at Kenyon Station. Their wagon
will come into sight directly, but don't
want them to see my little girl out here with
me-"
An hour afterward, heavily-lad n wagon,
drawn by two stout horses, came rolling into
ella Bend, followed by George. A hearty
welcome was extended to all by the new ar
rivals-Even Bose, the hypocrite, barked and
capered as though he had not greeted his
master two mil IS down the road. Supper
was served by the mother and aunt, the lat
ter being narrowly but turtiveiy watched by
the station keeper of Kenyon's Station. All
thoughts of business or departure seemed
banished for tina. night, the aunt and the
newly arrived station-keeper, enj ying their
pipe in quiet harmony little apart from the
rest The next morning the second an was
offered to the aunt, by George, as a substi-
tute tor Dora; but as the Kenyon's Station
keeper had offered himself to her as a hus-
band earlier in the day, the substitute was
declined. Neither George nor the second
man, however, seemed disappointed; indeed
there was something suspicious about the
readiness with which he went to work on the
halffnished corral at the station.
That night they all set out under the trees
together; there was no more reserve or Sc
cresy maintained. A dozen papers of the
choicest brands of tobacco, and half dozen
bottles of Colorado River water from Fort
Yuma, had wonderfully Modified the STEP
father. As soon as possible Justice of the
Peace was imported from Arizona City, to
which place he was faithfully returned, after
having married fwp pnunlac of CiIo
\
Many months after, on my way back from
Tucson, we came quite unex >ectedly be-
tween the latter place and Sacatcn, on new
shanty. twas built of unhewn logs of cot
ton wood and mesquite trees, the branches
with their foliage furnishing the root. A Ger
tain cheerful, homelike air about the place
made me surmise the presence of woman.
| was not mistaken; for, though the only
door Of the hut was closed, and could see
no window, loud pleasant treble voice rang
out directly: "Dad-Bud! come right by ere
to me. l know that's her comm thar; jest
know it ISL and little, 1.-the body rushed
out of the door and up to the ambulance A
rough looking man came slowly from behind
the house, and Bud, wit I a selection of dogs
at his heels, clambered over piece OF fence
merely for the sake of climbing, as there
was plenty of open space to cross.
The delegation insisted on my alightlng.
which [ did, in consideration of Doras motif
er being at the head of it. The family had
moved back here from Oatman's Flat, where
they they had given Sam the Indian scare on
our way out. Once in the house. I no
longer wondered how she had discovered the
ambulance, with no windows, and the door
closed. The wall, had not been "chinked,"
so that between the logs was admitted as
much light and air. as the most fastidous
could desire. All around were the signs of
bnsy preparation; it was near Christmas,
and they were expecting company for the
holidays. A family moving from Texas to
California had sent word, by some vehicle
swifter than their ox-teans, that thew would
o. with them by Christ nas-day.
Beyond the half-fenced clearing, the will
lows and cottonwood grew close Y the river,
and the mild, December sun If Arizona "
ing on the rude homestead, seemed to give
promise of future peace and well-doing to
those who had planted their roof trees on
the banks of the ella
Some days later. arriving at ella Bend. 1
got ont Of the ambulance there and stopped
to admire brood of little chicks, just out OF
the shell.
How pretty they are" said I, looking up
into Georges honest face.
"AhF' he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up,
''but go inside, to Dora
He led the way to the room; and there, in
little cradle, lay sweet, pretty girl baby
the first white child, so far as history records,
that was ever born at ella Bend.