The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-07
SAVED BY A FLASH OF
 LIGHTNING.

thony Hunt. I am settler and drover on this western prairie. Wilds? Yes, sir; it's little else than wilds now, but you should have seen it when and my wife first moved up here. There was not house within sight for miles. Even now we have not many neighbors, but those we have are downright good ones. To appreciate your neighbors as you ought, sir, you must live in these lonely places, so far removed from the haunts of man.
 What am about to tell happened ten years ago. I was going to the distant town, or settlement, to sell some fifty head of cattle-fne crea- lures, sir, as ever you saw. The journey was & more rare event with me then than it is now, and my wife had always plenty of commissions to charge me with in the shape of dry goods and groceries and such like things.
 Our youngest child was sweet lit- tie gentle thing, who had been named after her aunt, Dorothy. We called the child Dolly. This time my mis- sion included one for her-a doll. She had never had real doll ; that is, a bought doll; only the rag bundles her mother made for her. For some days before my departure the child could talk of nothing else-or we, either, for the matter of that-for she was great pet, the darling of us all. It was to be a big, big doll, with golden hair and blue eyes. I shall never forget the child's words the morning was starting, as she ran after me to the gate, or the pretty picture she made. There are some children sweeter and prettier than others, sir, as you can't but have mo- ticed, and Dolly was one.
 "A very great big doll, please, daddy" she called out after me; "and please bring it very soon."
 turned to nod yes to her as she stood in her clean whity-bro pima. fore against the gate, her nut brown hair failing in curls about her neck and the light breeze stirring them.
 "A brave doll" answered, flor my little one-almost as big as Dolly"
 Nobody would believe, dare say, how full my thoughts were of that promised doll as rode along, or what nice one l meant to buy. It was not often 1 spent money in what my good, thrifty wife would have called waste; but Dolly was Dolly, and I meant to do it now.
 The cattle sold, I went about my purchases, and soon had no end of parcels to be packed in the saddle bags. Tea, sugar, rice, candles-but need not weary you, sir, with telling of them, together with the calico for shirts and nightgow1fs, and the delaine for the children's new frocks. Last of all, went about the doll-and found a beauty. It was not as big as Dolly, or half as big; but it had faxen curls and sky-blue eyes; and by dint of pulling 8 wire you could open or shut the eyes at will.
 "Do it up carefully" said to the storekeeper. "My little daughter would cry sadly ii any harm came to it."
 The day was pretty we'll ended be- fore all my work was done and just for moment or two I hesitated whether l should not stay in the town and start for home in the morning. It would have been the more prudent course. But thought of poor Dol ly's anxiety to get her treasure, and of my own happiness in watching the rapture in her delighted eyes. So with my parcels packed in the best way they could be, mounted my horse and started.
 It was as good and steady a horse as you ever rode, sir but night began to set in before was we'll away from the town; it seemed as if it were going to be an ugly night, too. Again the thought struck me-should turn back and wait till morning? had the price of the cattle, you see, sir, in my breast pocket, and robberies, aye, and murders also, were not quite unknown things on the prairie. But had my brace of sure pistols with me and de- .c cided to press onward. The night came on as dark as pitch, and part o1 the way my road would be pitch dark besides. But on that score had no s fear. I knew the rood we'll, every inch of 1t, though could not ride 60 Inst e I should have done in the light.
 ta