Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-15

tatlngly marked ner as a ' ere ue ' ere
The accident, which in itself hardly de
serves the name of incident, caused heI
to seat herself by my side about o'clock,
and to my utter amaZement, because the
We're de We're are not Il confding set, as
rule, to talk TO me about herself.
Il am one OF those dreadful creatures, q
pre-emptionist," she began, with frank
laugh. "See my hands, how brown they
are have been working for my board
all summer. carrying water twenty rods
for washing, and doing the cooking fol
five men and two women, and WAS never
so happy in my life"
have no doubt that my face was s
temptation to continue revelations, for
was intensly interested and astonished,
not so much at her words as the rare JOY
in existence which rang in her voice, was
written on her face and made the whole
woman as inspiring as a bird song i'll the
morning.
Il never meant to do it," she continued;
"never in the world. | have taken care
OF myself since | was l6. Then ] worked
for my board and went to school Then
taught school in Illinois-fifty or sixty
children at time. That was pleasant
enough, but after three years Of 1t
seemed To break down, and the doctor said
that must die before winter.
The only person in the world who be
lOnged to me was brother, whom / had
not seen for five years.
"He was a Dakota farmer and kept
writing to me to come there, but | re
fused, declaring that one mania from
which | would be utterly free was the
land craze, which seized everybody who
set foot on prairie soil. | should not pay
taxes and groan under weight of Dor
rowed money TO be the proprietor of end
less acres. But that summer | made up
my mind that the doctor was right about
my dying in the fall, and il occurred tC
me one day that the memory of visit
with my brother might possibly be s
pleasant thing to take to heaven, and
wrote to him that | would come and stay
two weeks
hardly believe myself when l tell il
but had not been there twenty -fouI
hours before had pre-empted the claim
next to his. iGO acres of land.
Il can't describe it, but felt like a new
creature with the first breath of that clear
prairie air and the first touch of the blessed
ground.
AT the end Of the two weeks ! returned
to Chicago to make arrangements foI
coming back TO keep house for my brother
but before came again my brother was
dead. After that / felt that could moi
live away from Dakota. Because of the
law could not have his claim; he had moi
paid all that was due-so it went back tc
the government
But had my own. That fall | had q
little shanty put up and hired myself tc
the people on the next place In that way
| earned my living and enough more tc
pay for breaking my land in the spring
Every night used to go over and stanC
on my territOry-mine every blade OF
grass and grain of sand, down to my cen.
trail spark OF fire, which it is hard to be
Heve exists during Dakota winter.
grew strong every day, and in a little
while could build fires in the morning anG
milk cows, and think nothing of It. die
feel so rich every time | remembered my
estate, with my fine castle in the middle
of it-not in the least like maid-Of all
work or broken-down school teacher.
Not much of castle, either. Iwanted
to have a lack on the door as a slight con,
cession to conyentionality, but the car.
penter looked so surprised that did not
insist. | will confess TO you, though, that
/ rigged up kind of button arrangement
to use nights.
Il had a mighty struggle with that car
penter about the window, but that point
Iwould not yield. Eight big frames OF
glass let in the sunsets to me, so that ]
have daily glimpses OF as much of the
New Jerusalem as 1 am capable OF ap-
preciating.
Il do feel real pity for the people who
don't know from experience what il Is tc
be of more value in an honest, CONNER,
90 to sustain life.
Il have had such a good garden this
summer, three kinds of tomatoes, two
kinds Of beans, lettuce, peas, quantities
of things TO eat, and have set out three
baby apple trees and planted lots of maple
seeds"
do you intend to live there alones" ]
said in some dismay, for TO me solitary
life in Il palace would be utter barren
ness.
Yes. shall have so mach to do, fixing
up my house and cooking. that | shall
not be lonely. l shall read Goethe this
winter. / have never had time to LOOK
out German words with a clear con
science, but the owner of acres can afford
such luXuries as time and leisure When
| get so trightfully rich that have more
money than spend | shall invite us ed
up, discouraged women out for a breath
Of life. | wish you would come and see
me. will give you three kinds of to
matOes and two kinds of beans Ny berth
is ready, | see; good night, | always re
gard this sleeping car business as a piece
OF extravaganza on my part, frightfu
enough to warrant a smash-up by way OF
judgment, but it is really cheaper than a
two-days's sick headache wish YOU
would come and see me. Good night!n
thought about her during the night
and again early the next morning when
| stepped ont of the car, while the cur.
tains hung straight and still before every
section but my own.
The absurdity of her invitation had not
struck me before, but as the morning all
cleared my thoughts laughed 10 remem
Der that she did not know my name moi
dwelling place, nor hers.
1t was extremely improbable that
should ever know the rest Of her history.
Indeed, rs frequent repetition of her story
proved so interesting | came at last to re
gard the young woman as merely al
insignificant factor in my highly insight
ticant tale.
Fivs years later l stumbled unnn tn,
sequel 1t was October, and l Was stop
ping at a sham watering place in Dakota.
charming because of its abso-
lutte freedom from the first essential of a
watering place.
Tired one day from a long horseback
ride, | stopped at a farmhouse on top of
one of the prairie knolls, which people
there call conteaus.
My knock was answered by my fellow