Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-26
THE Y0DLER'S CALL.

in a mining town of New Mexico. One had
a pale, sorrowful face, and her widows
mourning dress told Of recent bereavement.
The other was bright and fair, and her young
face was as yet unclouded by sorrows OF her
own. Though plainly dressed, they had an
air Of neatness and refinement, and il was
apparent at glance that they did not be-
long 10 the rough mining settlement. Al
| though II was near the end Of December. the
air was 50 mild that there was no need of
outdoor wraps. The pigs and cows of the
settlement were browsing along both sides Of
the struggling street, and barefooted chill
dren were playing in front of the adobe
houses and little plank cabins that made the
homely village
Presently the sound of horses hoofs was
beard coming down the road leading from
the mines half "A mile above the town. near
which the offices of the mining COMPANY
were located. The younger womans ewes
! frightened and "a smile OF welcome came to
her lips; and even the widows face showed a
| faint ray Of pleasure as the horse with its
| rider came into sight around a curve in the
road
! He was well built, good looking Young
man, picture Of athletic strength, perfect
health and CHEEKY good temper As he
caught sight Of the waiting young women he
lifted his hat and swung it in greeting, and
the pleasant smile which accompanied the
] gesture made his face almost boyish in its ex-
/ preston of merry good nature.
! We'll how does 1t go, Andrew. Z" asked the
elder Of the sisters, as he refined hi, horse in
| front of the door
'FamouSly, Alice,r he answered Il shall
finish those endless accounts tomorrow, and
IN two days after, if you can get ready so
soon, girls, we can say good-by to this ranch
and start for New England. How will that
please you, Helenf' and he turned with a
bright and tender smile toward the younger
of the sisters.
'Oh, am so glad!n she exclaimed only
think, Alice, We can spend New Years day,
perhaps IN the dear old home. How pleased
father and mother will bel'
I'VE shall find cold weather there by this
time" suggested Andrew. You know it is
winter In New England now
Il don't care replied Helen, with energy.
"A snow bank twenty feet high won't terrify
me. IL will be a sight Of beauty
Andrew laughed
We'll, don't believe we shall any of us be
sorry to see home again. But am of now
for ride over the plain. After being shut
up in the Office all day l want a breath OF
fresh air and bit Of exercise So does Cap
tain; he is spelling for gallop."
You won't be gone long, Andrew sug-
gested the one who he had called Alice.
On, no! will he back ia time for supper;
just n ride out two or three miles and back. "
And with another smile and nod for Helen
the young man turned his horses head and
cantered away over the plain.
''How well he rides said Helen
YES iu.lsad rarl,aJ Al.
everything well that he undertakes. How
quickly he Strengthened out that dreadful
business middle. don't know what We ever
should have done without him. You're for
tunate girl. Helen.n
As Helen was Of the same opinion She made
no reply, and both stood watching the active
young rider as he sped over the plain
Alice was the widow OF Albert Hudson who
had been part owner and superintendent of
the Good WIZ silver mines, which had lust
begun to pay good dividends before his sud
den death. Six months before he had fitted
up house in the mining village with the
best that the section of the country could
supply, and sent for his wifa, who had come
from the east, with her young sister, Helen.
girl Of 10, 70 bear her company. EVERY
thing was strange and many things uncon-
genial and uncomfortable 20 the young New
England women; but they made the best Of
matters in their temporary home and looked
on the bright side Of the fortune that was
coming until one dark day when Albert was
brought home from the mines. where an acct
dent had happened. fatally injured.
There was no hope from the first: a few
hours Of sharp suffering, a few Of uncon-
sciousness, and then the young wife was q
widow and her little one was fatherless
The vyapLs that foilou-aI ,,o-a f,,u -
bic, grief and anxiety. With the exception
Of her sister and her little child, Alice was
surrounded by strangers Early In the DAYS
OF her bereavement she was compelled To
arouse herself 10 claim her rights In the min
ing property where her husband had invested
his labor and his money. Unfamiliar with
his business affairs, she was troubled and be-
wlldered by this new care. She had written
in her Perplexity, 70 her husbands brother. a
bright young lawyer, who was engaged in
the practice Of his profession in New Eng
land city. He had responded very soon in
person 70 his sister-n-law's appeal, and In a
remarkably short time had Strengthened out
tine troublesome business tangle. Deyotipe
his quick mind, legal knowledge and energy
To the task, matters had progressed to the
sale, at "a fair price, os Albert Hud-on'- share
iu the mine, and IA satisfactory settlement of
al the claims against him. There was an
other result Of his trip 10 New Mexico A
pleasant friendship had sprung up between
the young man and the pretty New England
gfrl-Alices sister Both were young and at
tractive, Of similar tastes and ideas. Friend
ly companiunship soon grew into a warmer
attachment. Alice and Helen were to return
to Their fathers home in New England fnr
the winter and in the spring Andrew and
Helen We're TO be married. This was their
story, in brief up 10 the warm December af-
ternoon when the young girl stood watching
her sweetheart a. he went riding OFF across
the prairie.
The plain over which Andrew was riding
was one Of the fiat, unattractive stretches OF
country common In New Mexico. The only
heritage was the scant sage brush, and here
and there growth OF thorny cactus. The
direction that he took was a different one
from any which he had tried in his former
rides. on TO the east a curious ridge or line
OF differing color from the surrounding lev
els broke the monotony Of the prairie. IL
appeared not more than a mile or two away;
but Andrew knew the Elusive distance of
these prairie objects, and in bis short rides
had never explored In that direction, though
he had often looked curiously toward the
odd colored line and wondered what il might
be. Now, as there were fully two hours Of day
light remaining, and his horse was fresh nd
willing, he decided to ride in that direction
feeling sure that he could satisfy mis- cnrios.
ity and reach home again by1iirhtfa1
As his horses hoofs sounded over the
ground, dozens of Prairie rabbits darted up
from their haunts in the sage brush and
went sour over the plain; moccasin
snake "riggied slowly across the path and
sIls,. .nto a hole made by one Of the burrow-
ers; n bird SKINNED the air overhead; but,
so far rs he could see, there was no other
sign oriife on the prairie when the settle
ment had been left behind
IL was not lively OF inspiriting view; but
Andrews heart was light with the thought
OF his just completed task and his hopeful
plans for the future. His brothers affairs
were in better shape than he had anticipated.
Alice and the baby would be amply provided
for; and when they were once settled In a
comfortable New England home, Andrew
could turn his attention 10 his own interests
aud begin the preparation ~ house for him
self and Helen. la the solitude OF the plain
he burst into singing, and tine sound Of his
strong young voice rolled out over the prairie
IN snatches Of college songs, plantation melo-