The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-02-15

- "bo hAS Aio olCSScul
The men looked at her in dull amaze
ment. One of them vouchsafed an an
swer:
Some kind of a pink frock, all rufles
from tor, to bottom. Looked like rose.
l seen her playin' round the car this
mornin'," he added. half apologetically,
as if to extenuate his poetic smile.
"Twere a three-year old girl"
His closing information was addressed
to the crowd. The roma was forgot
ten and turned to the door with q sud
den determination. The d m recollec-
ton had taken shape md form at last.
The men sprang to their horses and set
tons.
Over the trackless plain. with its
clumps of mesquite and ~sreasewood' q
woman went swiftly along. Stumbling
over the rough ground, her feet pierced
the minute needles oil cactus or stabbed
With the, hafsher thrusts of
Spanish bayonet, she v
once faltered. The cool nipbt
winds played about her bare head, and
refreshed and restored her heated brain.
Her step grew firm and steady, and, ere
long, she left far behind her the circuit
within which a hundred men were beat.
ing every foot of ground.
She had progressed several miles UP.
on her rough pilgrimage, when her pace
siackened and she commenced to wan
der to and fro, her head benz in anxious
scrdtiny, c-lling on. at times in a soft,
low voice, which her rough companions
ever moved on in the direction of the
Big Floridas.
She was taking a line as straight as a
bee" she said to herself. 81 see it all
she was running away to the mountains.
Don't l know? | must have been Just
about her age when | set out foIyMount
katahdln. | had gone down 70 Aunt
Jones's on a visit with mother'-
Something choked her with that word,
forbidden herself even in thought for so
many ear Yet she pronounced it
over and over again, moaning all the
time. Out upon the desolate plains, far
from any hum n habitation, with only
the mountains, the sky and stars in
sight, she was nearer the old life than
she had been for gears.
A sharp cry in the distance, multiplied
until it became a discordant chorus, ar.
rested ner attention.
The cswardly coyotes!" she muttered.
They'd never harm the child, but
they'd brighten the little thing to death,
out here Alone"
A sudden recollection made her shud-
der: The Ftoridas out there were said
to have lately harbored another foe,
coward.y and ~treacherous as the wolves
of the plain, but sparing neither babe
nor woman. A band of maraudine
Apaches had been lurking in the neigh
borhood. What if, attracted by the
bright raiment of the child; they had
swooped down upon her? The frail
mother, helplessly wripging her hands
as she wandered up and down the car,
or sobbing as she placed 70 her lips some
battered toy or little garment belong
ing to he lost child, hardly felt a deep
er anguish III her heart than swayed the
abandoned woma at the terrible vision
che had conjured.
Suddenly she stopped short. What
was that faint wall that echoed in the
distance? The moon had risen aud
stood high above Cooks Peak, a silver
globe in the sky, lighting up every clump
d bush. hardening q moment. she
then went swiftly toward a small object
she deserted afar oil, and came at last to
where a little child SAT, frightened ard
exhausted, beside bunch ofsage-brusb,
and lifted her tiny arms appeallngly.
Mammal me want mamma"
Eyes, CARING, | will take You straight
TO her"
The woman's voice was fine and low,
with a strange, affectionate thrill.
She took from her shoulders the tat
little one; then lifted her in
words and tender assurance,
turned back toward the town. In the
bright moonlight her path was plain as
day, and she picked her way carefully
to q V the child any unnecessary Jolt or
jar. From time to time, as sine looked
down upon the little creatures face and
met the gaze of innocent, inquiring eyes
strange emotions stirred in her heart.
All. God! bad it been her lot to fold as
her own such q baby to her heart! What
tailsman could be so mighty against evil
as the love of an innocent child! She
did not heed the cold night air, which
chilled her through and through. For
gotten were her thorn-pierced feet, her
torn and bleeding hands.
As she neared the town, q mounted
horseman spurred forward to meet her,
in eager inquiry. Then he lifted his re-
volver and sent up into the air the glad
signal that the child was found.
The child, warns and safe in her nest
in the tawdry shawl, held out her arms
with a glad cry, and the mother, her
eyes shining through her tears, snatched
the baby to her breast and covered her
with kisses. Then she turned with gem
tie gratitude to the I'M who stood
watching her, with her souls hunger
speaking through her eyes.
By the time she reached the settle
ment and turned down the main street,
the scattered searchers had all fallen in,
and a crowd surrounded her and fol-
I ,,,-1I - l,1- Ia,ia. pr$ ror,ntl~, .
was it the pure child that nestled in her
arms, or the new look that had been
born into her face?-created q subtle
barries which protected her from any
rude approaches.
Under the bright glare of the lamps in
the sleeper the two women met-the
one with the blight OF disease wasting
her body: the other with the pitiless
curse of a moral blight fastened upon
her soul.
"Poor girl! You must be ccld-you
are not half clothed. What can we do
for you! 1t Is a priceless service you
have rendered"
Some tender cord had been touched
that night in the fallen woman's heart
vibrated sharply again. The softened
look beca ne more marked upon her
face. AS the two ome sazed at each
other, q slow recognition dawned in the
mothers eyes.
"Msry!"
The voice was tender aud forgivjns,
% if with that word she would bridge
some terrible cha m tn It had widened
between the two sisters lives.
The woman of the town put ont her
hand with an inploriug gesture, and
half turned away as if TO free her eyes
from some phantom of the past.
"Don'ti / q not bear it." Uncon-
econciously to the other, she too was
holding out the sceptre of mercy, re-
solved no. to betray, by look or tone,