The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-17

you when you get lonesome"
The next morning was bright and sunny, but
of course windy.
"What a wind! Does it blow often like this9"
asked Carrie, as they rolled along over the
smooth prairie.
''Wind9 Why, this is a calm day, my dear"
said Uncle Tom. Just wait until you have
seen a Dakota blizzard, my dear, before you
talk of wind"
By and by they came to Carries quarter sec
ton as Uncle Ton called it,
Carrie could not see where it began or left
off" she told Uncle Tom. 1t was like all the
rest of the e~ountry-just land, and nothing more;
prairie melting into prairie as far as the eye
could reach.
well, but | know where the invisible lines
lie, responded Uncle Tom, "Now-ov yonder
on that knoll your cabin will be bnilt after we
have attended to the legal formalities, and that
is the extreme southern limit of your claim. A
little south of it there is Il slight ravine, and
then another knoll. The ravine is the dividing
line between two quarter sections"
who owns the other Onefa asked Carrie, anx-
ious to know who might be her %neIghbor.
Il don't believe it is taken, though I heard
something about it the other day. Some fellow
was looking it up 1 believe. There are some
dozens of them around almost daily. That was
the reason l was in a hurry for you to come"
A few days later, after the legal formalities
hadbeen attended to, Uncle Tom drove Carrie
out again to look at the cabin that was in pro
cess of erection on the opposite knoll.
why, that claim has been taken, too won
der who will be my neighbour queried Carrie.
II can find out at the land Office Uncle Tom
replied.
He did so and gave Carrie the desired infor-
nation the next day.
Its some fellow named Hall-A Shall, he
said. He's just sold out his interest in some
claim about fifty miles north Of here, and now
he's taking UP this, which he intends to keep as
a homestead. They often sell out at a nice figure
after staying a few months on a claim. Some
fellow pays them a good sum for their chance,
and they go elsewhere
"A. Hall"
Carrie felt a sudden leaping of her heart and
a curious excitement. But 1t was not likely that
this was Alex. 1t would he too wonderful to be
true.
Yet it was Alex! She saw him at the postof-
fee the next day, aud passed him without so
much as a glance.
Alex. looked as if he had seen an apparition,
and took a step forward and then stood still,
chilled by her cold glance in which there was no
recognition.
After ali, it was his own fault. He knew
he had conducted himself like a brute and
an idiot when he left Smithtewn,
He had realized it a dozen times since-real-
lied it constantly, in fact-with a dull heartache
whenever he was alone with himself.
But he had never been quite brave or manly
enough to write and ask her pardon. believing
ere this Mr.. Parker had the first place in her
heart. And now she was here in Dakota! How
strange!
A greater surprise awaited him in the knOwl-
edge that Carries claim and cabin were just op-
posite his own.
The two cabins were completed and furnished,
and the occupants moved in. Alex was the
more pretentious. of the two in the exterior, and
Carries the more SumptuouS within. For she
had brought her books and she had a few plants.
and with those indescribable feminine knlck-
knacks, which some women seem to create by a
turn of their hand, her rooms were very cosy.
Yet she was not very much at home. She
passed a great deal of her time at Uncle Toms,
setting his 'bachelor half to rights, and mend
ing and darning for him.
But she went to her desolate little house to
sleep. She was not timid-she knew that no
harm could come to her there.
She knew that the law of kindness prevailed
in this new country, which was better than any
law, ito keep the peace" to bind the people to-
gether.
She occasionally saw Alex, but they never rec
ognized each other; yet there was to her a sense
of protection in the knowledge that he was so
near.
SCOT acquainted with your neighbor vet, Car
riel' asked Uncle Tom, after a month had
passed.
'sNo. and I don't want his acquaintance, 7 an
swered Carrie, rather Jelly.
mice fellow, | think" said Uncle Tom. Hes
got business in him, and will make a successful
man. He's taken up a tree claim now. l was
talking with him today"
What's a tree claim asked Carrie.
"Oh, you plant so many trees and have EN-
SlOhtAlS at q NNA ttAlA GhotbC0 OhLC GNg WV y NttAH
and the land is yours. He said you might do
that, and be worth just so much more. 1t
would cost you but a tritfe to have the trees
planted
Well, nobody thanks him for his advice, snapped
Carrie, in a voice very unusual to her.
Uncle Tom wondered what had come over the
| girl, usually so sweet tempered.
The weeks went by, and Novemhercame. Car
RE was on the third month Of her six. She had
made a great many friends, and had read, and
sewed, and made her uncle'S cabin and her own
very tasty, and comfortable, and neat with her
h~andiwork.
She felt that her time had been well employed
and the days had not heen long, And yet she
and Alex. had never exchanged a word. No
one-not even Uncle Tom-knew that they had
ever been friends.
One November day Carrie was "tacking a
comforter, which she had pieced together out of
bits of calico. The wind had been blowing with
increasing fury from the northwest all day.
Toward evening it became terrible, and a
sleety SNOW began to fall. 1t seemed to shake
the little cabin to its foundation.
Carrie felt her heart sink with fear. This was
something beyond any other former experiences.
and she remembere what Uncle Tom had said
of q 'blizzard."
''This must surely be a blizzard. she thought.
Higher and higher rose the wind, louder and
louder it shrieked. The walls of the house
shook, trembled and then
Carrie was conscious OF being lifted up into
the air by some unseen force, and whirled
through the darkness and then falling. After
that she knew nothing for a brief space.
She was only stunned, and when she opened
her eyes she found herself still in her own room,
but with everything still in a confused mass Of
ruin about her, and Alex. Han kneeling by her,
rubbing her hands and calling her name.
1T was not necessary to come over, she said.
Il am not hurt in the least"
Alex. broke into a laugh.
Come overl" he repeated 1T is you who
have come over, Miss Carrie; you made the first
call in spite of yourself. And very glad l am to
see you, even in this unceremonius marItr
What do you meant" she asked.
II mean that you came, house and all, and
planted yourself right in my d~ooryard with a
thunderous clatter. 1 thought the whole village
had arrived. 1t is a wonder your neck was not
broken, my dear. Are you sure you are not in
jured!' he asked with a tender concern.
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