The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-03-17
4 CLOUDBURST.

elem and | had been married just fou,
years when ! malc up ms mind 10 leave hiris
NV heart told me was wrong, but would
not draw back Two years before We wer
married Glenn went to Colorado, and all ts
time he was away wrote me loving lctte.
full of his home in the new country, TIN
glorious climate and scenery, his struggles
and his failures longed to be with him.
the quiet village life grew distastefu, home
monotonous and each day so like en-
other that hated TO 60 to bed Mt night.
dreamed of mountains and plains and, OF
course, of Glen. At last the time came when
he thought best 10 come for me- and we were
married one August morning remember
he was pale and quiet, only look in his dark
eyes that shall never forget. When l was
getting ready to run away from him that look
haunted me.
When saw my new home my heart went
back with a great throb of anguish to my
fathers house, the trees and flowers and the
pretty eastern village. Before me was
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 scorcbed plains with gay
cardinal flowers, or miles OF sunfiowers
quivering in the hot, dry air. The fiat dis
lance ended in rugged brown foothills, but
Glenn said | could see the Rockies on clear
day
] laid my pretty gowns aside, donned
somber calicoes and sun bonnet that our
hired girl at home had made me for a wed
ding gift. had laughed little ut 1t then,
hut now it was my greatest comfort. took
up the weary life Of routine and labor that
falls to the rancher's wife in this land of sand
and sunshine. was not unhappy, for had
Glenn. put my wedding presents around
the cabin giving il "A lived in look, but the
furniture was very limited, anil all my cook
ing lessons were of no avail for there was
nothing to cook with.
Glenn and thc man worked all day IN tue
fields harvesting with the Wild young horses
that bad hrou -, me and NY fiery from the
town INV nj S o.. nui ! ,,Jt,d alone.
Tl,rcNyis not even dp no ,ra 4, -, thnJ ~
Gem had collie witt tie lno uvrucr miles
away. he couida't uad,rs, nj "ly ,hnu,d
want n do to bring IN DIRT and make mo
more work. 81 | never asked g"aiu Ny
hands grey rough ard hrl a. ,hc aiItali
water. aaj ~, face tnI'i "l tlt docp
brown psgu.,ai. so Co.oigdo lcold uudcr
s:lud ualtu i,'i' Western "I hul lid 10
ra Ia rag cas-. RI bone ssh % ,on gr.r.l rd.
,m'mncly: "Why, ,.u%aod, b, 50 white
J. ret
Stil Glenn loved me, h, thon,lt mr as
pretty uscy,r. ond onr FIRST winter waa the
hapiie.t mll litr Tn, man was .olo aii
we wcrg al aia'r Wurui aloud c,cuh'gs,
drove t,J,r apetpH rt ro0ty mil away Tor
az f..ft,
lInrroubod ,uuull nave u slGdi lu the
spring aad rdc "ith hint, tbeu ha would
build porch around the hor.c, and my SISTER
should come out and visit me
In the sYlug the horses were needed fur
ulowlug. Glen was too busy to go to town
for the lumber for the porch, aud We wcr"
;. too poor 70 entertain any one. Vet ! never
thought Of complaining then. | had 'xst
NY fate with tlemS, and ] worked for his
interest never ouce longcd for the old
ras, DAYS at home II he said, 1--WE got the
snnrtcst little wife in the world, ! would
work myself nearly To death for week; hut
lie seldom talked or p"ttcd me, h" was too
busy with bis farm work
That second winter n baby came, and the
Young German widow who stayed with me
six months sid II was the prettlesi hoy she
ever saw thought IL looked like Chem, an.
Of course be thought il was my image. Like
all Young mothers | was easily scared, aud
think ! had some cause for the doctor WIS
City miles or may have been over anS.
ipus hut the lir>t >hndow thar came between
Glenn and me was his indifference to my
worries about baby He would hugh at me
aud go about his work. while | carried the
child all day soothing its fretling That
SIMMER was not strong and may have been,
a. Glen said "hNs crcy."
Gem rev broad ,hnulderci and manly
bro.Nrd Uilh ruddy health aud lifc but
WIS WEAKLY aHd dreaming, with hag%arl eyes
and hollow cheeks saw It plain enough,
and ! lad no ambition 10 alter my shabby
guNr, :" Ct me- nor Ia look neat grew
slattor.ly and careless Was 60 hamei |
had - cook Tor two men, tend n Sichly baby,
and vasl, 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 sitting ! was on my feet from sun up
TO sun down. for somehow | never learned &c
get through with work; il was always ahead
N me
Then Glenn would say: "You are getting
cross, little woman. YOU seem 81 spiritlcsS.
Are you soiTy that you married me, Your
life Is no harder than any ranchcr's wife IN
lures, it viii only last short time, then we
ran get better things and some one TO help
YOU That 10 me, when ! had never ro,u.
planned. He gave all his love words and
petting TO baby now, and used to wonder in
dumb despair. why IL was so. Was it that
he had changed or II
The third summer Mrs. France came Size
was the widow Of cattle king who owned
all the land about us but our little homo
stead. She had been in Europe, but usually
spent her summers at her ranch ten mites
from my home. ! was washing that morning
on the shady side of the house, when heard
the sound OF horses hoofs, and u handsome
woman, with bold, black eyes came dushing
around the house on a fine thoroughbred
mare noticed her perfectly fitting habit,
her exquisite gloves and hat. her beautiful
face. No need TO introduce herself from
Mrs Bohms the German widows descr p
tion-l knew my visitor was Mrs France.
II thought I'd fluid somebody" she sa,d,
"wheres Clemin
He went over on the range 10 see afs'r
his sheep at daylight stammered
"a re Won his Wifarl