The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1884-11-06

Far belowsin the meadow, among the
bushes that fringed stream, ,whippoor.
wills began to send forth plaintive calls,
and, the song finished, Miss Allen left
the piano, crossed the room and went
out to the starlight. f.
Come" she called ;"let us go out
side; I want to hear the whippoorwills;
it is year since I have heard them,
cousin Alice" KISS. 42s2 & 81
They followed her, all save Mrs.
Lawson, who settled herself for nap
inS her chair; and presently Grant
asked his friend tof sing. Miss Allen
turned from watching the clouds that
were mingling their feeces above her,
and looked down to where her cousins
guest sat on low seat, almost at her
feet. Was it the soft light, he wondered.
that made her eyes so soft and dreamy,
her lips SO red and sweet II
"Let it be something plaintive, she
said and he obeyed her, singing Scott's
beautiful gem. ITO Mary" i$j
'eThe heath hisnight must be my bed,
The bracken curtains for my head,
My lullaby the warder's tread,
Far, far from love and thee, Mary" n
Below, the whippoorwills still sang,
the mans voice echoed softly on the
silent night, and when he had finished
he looked up. Was he again mistaken,
or had the girls eyes gloomed to mid:
night and were her lips trem!ulous9
- - III, II ~ II ' r f I So
Three weeks. had gone and Hal Els
comb wondered why he felt 80 reluct-
ant to go back to his home. He did
not see very much of Grant, for that
young man was very deeply in love
and spent much OF his time with
the girl who was to be his wife,
leaving his friend to idle as he pleased,
knowing that this would please him.
He-z-Hal had made many J, sketches;
but his pencil was very willingly laid
aside when Ethel would allow him to
be her companion in her walks and
rides, or when she would bid him read
for her on the wide veranda, or under
the, trees of the lawn. On this part;cu-
lar day he had failed to find her, and so
had gone aimlessly rambling about.
Suddenly, coming upon cottage
which stood quite alone, nearly mile
from the village. OH the edge Of which
Grants home was, he saw her black
pony AZ the door. J, + 2t5|
aIll surprise herr and walk back
with her through the shad ows, !" he told
himself, not stopping to analyze tile
pleasure which this thought gave him
and he went swiftly toward the open
door. u S, - 5, ,. u; H. r..
On the threshold he paused paused,
drawing his breath sharply, and barring
his head with sudden reverence.
a woman, bent by time, and shrunk-
en- from suffering, was sitting in large
chair, pillows about her, and at her
feet, sitting on low stool, was Ethel
Allen in all her glorious beauty. She
had removed her hat, and her dark
hair shone under. the sweet touches,
There was an open book on her knees.
and her clear voice foated to him.
touching him as no voice had since a
child he had SO sat at the knee Of his
mother while she read, as yEsthel read
now, the word Of God. The voice was
like music-sweet, low, fervent. His
heart throbbed, his eyes moistened
while he listened; and all the hardness
that had enveloped his life for half q
dozen years melted from it in that mo-
ment; as though + the mother-hand
again lay, softly on his hair, the mother
lips whispered him, Ny son |" st}9s 7.
He turned silently away, going back
through the shadows alone; and one
thought went with him, one purpose
grew strong in his, bosom-if she was to
De won, he would 2win this girl for his
wifel What blindness had possessed
him While dreaming his idle dreams
he had passed this beautiful life BY with
Its silent beauty and womanly gentle.
ness. While looking for an ideal he
had closed his eyes when the reality
had been met by him. His pulses were
throbbing when he went from his rt,om
that evening to Join the others at din.
ner. he met her in the corridor above
and went straight to her; she wore q
costume Of thin black, from which arms
and neck shone dazzlingly; she carried
cluster Of white roses in her hand and
looked ct him with q smile as he ap-
preached her. .sg ,s7s, 80
Miss Allen, = he said, his tones Vi
brating, 1T man should tell Won that
his future lay in; your hands. what
would you do n 81 ss77gi
Is She looked az him with darkened
eyes, and her lips qnivered slightly.
Surely those We're the eyes he had
sought for his great picture, those the
delicate, earnest lips $50 -. s
Should . man lay his heart AZ your
feet, what would you do ~ he question:
cd and her dark eyes lighted With
womanly strength as she answered him
I u would lift il, !" she said softly. az
would tell him that at the feet 81 \
Woman like myself was not ia nlaca !.
and ! would take it as Gods best bless.
ing granted to my life. =
q il were nnine2" he questioned.
taking her hands eagerly and hoiding
them against his heart. r.
u It was yours, she whispered snft.
y; and hetlaid his lips on the beantifnl
hands, In which the white i osas7 waray
still unwithered. go r.
MY love- he said, softly. and tba,n
q door opened near them and s ! s1.sn
whistle greeted them. e 50"
30 you have found your ideal ii 81
last? Grand cried, triumphantiv,,
Now, what d bore you'll sbeeh, Hal J
And you rather take that back ahnnt
banishing all women to the South San
Islands, i suppose n s
Unless ] be allowed to; follow n HaI
Laughed. coloring q little, as Ethel drew
her hands from his, leaving him. how.
ever, one Of the white roses. 81 n sS;