Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-13
MR.. BASH'S LITTLE SCHEME.

loneliness and vastness.
For several hundred miles the James river
cuts wavering channel through the plain; and
at certain spot on the low bluff overlooking
the stream stood, some five years ago, a soli-
tary settlers hut-a small structure of vertical
planks boted to a square frame Of pine stud
ding. The homesick .stenderfoot" in his all
day drives over those grassy regions of space,
would come, at long intervals, upon these rude
dwellings,, and bless the gods for the sight of
the plump familiar-looking fowls that were
always to be seen in their vicinity. They. the
chickens, seemed link between this OUTLAW
dish treeless world and the amenities of civil
cation.
There were the usual number of those crow
ing, clucking, feathered folk about the shanty
to which we allude. There was also a small
COW, tethered to a stake few rods distant,
cropping over the area of wild grass accessible
within her ropes length. This same buffalo
grass had an odd look on the warm June after
noon OF which write. 1t looked disheveled,
like the fur of an animal which had been
brushed the wrong way. There had been a re-
cent heavy rain, and there were many gullies
or washouts, trending riverward in the loose
SOIL The natural outlook of the little house
would seem to be upon the river; but it pre-
sented to the sluggish stream a cold shoulder
or rather bare corner.
Outside the open door. on a low wooden
bench, sat young Swede girl plying crochet
nook upon large piece of cotton knitting
bed-cover, window-curtain, or the like. She
seemed to have an eye upon the COW, and sang
softly to herself as she worked. Her yellow
hair hung in two thick braids to her waist and
she had on boys palm-leaf hat. Her atten-
ton seemed absorbed. and her hat brim shaded
her eyes, but her quick ears discerned the
sound of distant wheels. Without looking up
she called to some one within the house, miss
Parkman, think he comes to see us now-Mr
Bash"
The mistress of the small domicile came to
the door; tall dark-haired young woman,
wearing loose white gown confined at the
waist by black velvet girdle. She looked
northward, where man driving a single buggy
could be seen approaching. Some inward
sense of amusement kindled her face into a
brilliant smile, she said, what do you sup
pose he will say, Rita?"
The Swede girl answered the smile with one
of her own. He will say, ''What ever made
the house turn round?'"
Miss Parkman came out and sat down on the
bench beside the girl, awaiting her visitors
approach. few minutes later he was walking
his horse up to where the two girls sat- He
had pushed his wide felt hat far back on his
head, and was curlously regarding the prem
ises. He answered their CHEEKY salutation half
absently. knot Of perplexity between his blue
eyes. When he had alighted and thrown down
a hitching weight, he looked again at the
shanty and remarked:
The smart work of the wind devil, Ell? When
did he strike you?''
''Who-the cyclone?" queried Miss Parkman.
Then went on: Monday afternoon about 4
O'Clock. 1t was only baby tornado and did
Just what you sect lifted the house, turned
it halfway round, and set it down gently"
Where were you and Rita?"
1--WE saw 1T coming. the funnel and could
easily make out its direction. So we turned the
md Sfo tod hxr 4
then we slipped over the bluff, and sheltered
ourselves In little hollow we knew of. There
was hardly breeze down there, and I'D here
all that roaring! When it was over we came
back, and found the house turned this way.
The door was open. and lot of my books and
papers had flown away. Nothing else was dis
turbed."
Aren't you about ready now to go back to
town and stay there?" asked the young man.
and give up my claim? Not bit of it!
We were not much frightened, were we, Rita?
And now shall feel quite secure. My cyclone,
the one 1 have been expecting, has come and
gone; there will not be another this summer,
feel sure
You are cool. brave girl, and admire you
intensely" said Bash, with open-eyed frank
ness.
Thank you kindly" she responded. answer
ing his direct gaze with her own. Then they
both laughed.
Rita shooed the chickens away from the door:
then went and led the little COW to a fresh graz
ing ground.
October, and in the shanty on the prairie since
the LIST OF April. The year preceding her re-
moval to the northwest had been one of trials
In the first place she had lost her father. who,
though long confirmed invalid, had always
planned that his only child, motherless since
infancy, should not know want care. 1t is
probable that he died in entire ignorance of
the fact that false friends and dishonest part
ners had been steadily undermining ais for
tune. Pauline was glad of that ignorance
when the disagreeable knowledge came to her.
She had many admirers, and shortly before
her fathers death one Of them obtained the
promise of her hand. He urged speedy mar.
rage, but Pauline, absorbed and anxious about
the failing old man, had gently put him of. In
the first days OF her bereavement she had
she and the world discovered that, instead Of
being wealthy heiress, she had barely a few
hundreds to call her own, she turned to him
with simple trust, counting the world well lost
If love were left. She was astonished at the eff
feet which the discovery Of her fathers in
solvency had upon her lover. He was per-
turbed and angry. He consulted lawyers and
ransacked records and business files His
chagrin and disappointment we're so painfully
evident that one day Pauline freed herself
with a wrench.
What do you mean?" he asked
II mean," she replied, THAT / am wofully
tired of hearing about that lost property. Sup
posing there has wrong been done, it is past
our power to right it now. / have been long
ing for the day when you could give it all up,
and we could find little peace and happiness
with each other, independent of all outside.
That day will never come. Go your way and
I'll go mine."
And he took her at her word She had hardly
expected such promptness, and was panied and
Inundated beyond expression. But she was
! M H.
had one dear and intimate friend, a Mrs. ely
mer. When that lady was about to Join her
husband, who had been for year in Dakota,
and begged Miss Parkman to accompany her,
the latter did not hesitate an hour.
She spent the almost arctic winter snugly
housed with the Clymers in their new home
George Clymer was land agent and when
spring came, and Pauline expressed a wish to
pre-empt quarter on the James, some
miles from the village Of COrnhill, where they
had settled, her friend said:
"You can certainly do it, if you have the
nerve to hold it down the required time. In
Six months you can prove up at small cost,
and in less than five years the land will be worth
$50 per acre."
Her life on the claim, with her COW and
chickens, and the Swede girl as companion and
servant, had not been unpleasant; and now,
even with the terrors of O recent cyclone in
mind, she was not ready to abandon it.
Howell Bash was partner Of Clymer's in the
real-estate office. He was originally from the
same fair city in Ohio. Miss Parkman knew his
family, and had known him slightly when boy,
before he went to college. He had been on the
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