The Press., 1888-04-19
A CLOUDBURST.

not draw back. Two years before we were married, Glenn went to Colorado, and all the time he was away wrote me loving letters full of his home in the new country, the glorious climate and scenery, his struggles and his failures. l longed to be with him, the quiet village life grew distasteful, home monotonous and each day so like .an- other that hated to go to bed at. night. I dreamed of mountains and plains and, of course, of Glenn. At last the time came when he thought best to come for me, and we were married one August morning. remember he was pale and quiet, only a look in his dark eyes that shall never forget. When I was getting ready to run away from him that look haunted me.
 When l saw my new home my heart went back with great throb of anguish to my fathers house, the trees and flowers and the pretty eastern village. Before me was a wide desert, dotted with low huts, so far apart could not tell even if they were in- habited, and close at hand was @ three roomed log cabin. Not tree, brook a bit of green grass, only scorched plains with gay cardinal flowers, or miles of sunhowers quivering in the hot, dry air. The flat dis tance ended in rugged brown foothills, but Clem said could see the Rockies a clear day.
 I laid my pretty gowns aside, donned somber calicoes and sun bonnet that our hired girl at home had made me for we'd ding gift I had laughed a little at it then, but now it was my greatest comfort. l took up the weary life of routine and labor that falls to the rancher'S wife in this land of sand and sunshine. I was not unhappy, for I had Glenn. Iput my wedding presents around the cabin, giving it lived in look, but the furniture was very limited, and all my cook ing lessons were of no avail, for there was nothing to cook with.
 Clem and the man worked all day in the fields harvesting with the wild, young horses that had brought me and my finery from the town fifty miles off, and 1 stayed alone. There was not even dog to speak to, though Clem had a collie with the sheep herder miles away He couldn't understand why should want dog to bring in dirt and make me more work, so I never asked again. < My hands grew rough and hard in the alkali water, and my face tanned with that deep brown peculiar to Colorado. I could under stand what little western girl had said to me in my eastern home when she cried ad- mirngly: ''Why, everybody is white here!'
 Still Glenn loved me, he thought me as pretty as ever, and our first winter was the haDpiest in my life. The man was gone and wa were all alone. We read aloud evenings, drove to the postoffice twenty miles away for our mail and took long walks over the plains. II promised I should have saddle in the spring and ride with him, then he would build porch around the house, and my sister should come out and visit me.
 In the spring the horses were needed for blowing, Glenn was too busy to go to town for the lumber for the porch, and we were too poor to entertain any one. Yet l never thought of complaining then. l had cast my fate with Clen's, and I worked for his interest. never once longed for the old easy days at home. If he said, "Ive got the scnartest little wife ill the world" would work myself nearly tc death for week; but he seldom talked or petted me; he was too busy with his farm work.
 That second winter 8 baby came, and the young German widow who stayed with me six months said it was the prettiest boy she ever saw. thought it looked like Glenn, and of course he thought it was my image. Like all young mothers was easily scared, and I think had some cause, for the doctor was fifty miles off. I may have been over anx- iouS, but the first shadow that came between Clem and me was his indifference to my worries about baby. He would laugh at me and go about his work, while I carried the child all day soothing its fretting. That summer was not strong and may have been, as Clem said, ''hystericy."
 Cl6m grew DrOaQ SnOulQoreO ana many, bronzed with ruddy health and life, but was weakly and dropping, with haggard eyes and hollow cheeks. I saw it plain enough, and I had no ambition to alter my shabby gowns to fit me, nor to look neat. I grew slatternly and careless. Was to blame? I had to cook for two men, tend sickly baby, and wash and iron. All day long the fierce sun beat down upon our little home, where the kitchen was like an oven and our bed room stifing. I was on my feet from sun up to sun down, for somehow never learned to get through with work; it was always ahead of me-
 Then Glenn would say: ''You are getting cross, little woman, you seem so spiritless. Are you sorry that you married me? Your life is no harder than any rancher's wife en- dures, it will only last short time, then we can get better things and some one to help you" That to me, when I had never com plained. He gave all his love words and betting to baby now, and I used to wonder in dumb despair, why it was so. Was it that he had changed or l!
 The third summer Mrs. France came She was the widow of a cattle king who owned all the land about us but our little home stead. She had been in Europe, but usually spent her summers at her ranch, ten miles from my home. I was washing that morning on the shady side of the house, when heard the sound of horses hoofs, and handsome woman, with bold, black eyes, came dashing around the house on a fine thoroughbred mare. I noticed her perfectly fitting habit, her exquisite gloves and hat, her beautiful face. No need to introduce herself; from Mrs Bohms-the German widows descrip- tion-I knew my visitor was Mrs. France.
 q thought I'd find somebody" she said, "where's Clem?'
 "He went over on the range to see after his sheep at daylight" I stammered.
 ''Are you his wifeg'
 "YeS." I was possessed then with a mad jealousy of her, and wondered if Glenn knew her we'll He had never said 8 word. Just then Glenn came galloping up.
 "Corrigan said you were here," he said eagerly, q sent my man on and came back. Are you well9 Of course you are, the picture of health.'
 She laughed merrily, showing her pretty teeth, while he lifted her off her horse, and there stood with my hands in the suds, like 8 scrub woman.
 ''This is my wife, Mrs. France" said Glenn, then he looked actually ashamed of me. I felt it. Luckily, the baby cried, and ran into the house.
 Fl heard you were married, Clem," heard her say, "I was talking to your wife" In my anger I fancied there was touch of ridicule in her tone. sat and rocked the baby and listened to their talk in the other and i11n O rubi