Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-11-20

land village, but be bad the western
fever before they became engaged
and after that it revived again. al
though be knew Miles parents would
not give her up to such exile; be
could not ask it, either, for she was
their only one. But q few months
after the marriage, both parents had
died, be Of an accident, and she of
a chronic disease; and then there was
no barrier to the westward move il
Mile was willing, and she, dear girl,
said: Anywhere with Jackp so they
had been settled in their prairie home
for over q year. They had not ex.
pected to be isolated, but the man who
owned the section next to them had
been bereaved of his wife, and so had
lost heart and interest IN his new pur-
chase and had never come to reside on
| it. And poor Millie sometimes in her
moods of homesickness said, bitterly:
It's just as well that Mrs. Ray died
before she came; she would certainly
have died soon OF fear and horror in
this forlorn placep
But Jacks wife was not always so
respondent, by any means. She often
sang blithely about her housework,
and then took her sewing and follow.
ed him out to the barn or the field,
wherever his work might be, and chat.
ted ana laughed like the gay little girl
he had married. But when she had
moods similar to this Sunday morning
he looked at her pityingly, and re-
preached himself for transplanting her
to so desolate a spot simply that he
might count his acres bv the hundrds,
and possibly sell city building lots
in the far future-at fabulous prices.
Sometimes they had hired man,
but no more than could be helped, for
the young proprietor was thrifty and
saving, and he and his nearest neigh
Dor three miles away often worked to-
gether Millie had sometimes gone
over with Jack and spent the day with
Mrs. Dalton, but they did not get on
well together. Mrs. Dalton was true
pioneer and looked askance at the new
comer's dainty collar and cuffs, or bit
of ruching or bow of ribbon; and she
not only looked, but spoke her disap-
proval Of such vanities, and said so
much aoout a woman's duty-how she
ought to be help and not hinder
ance when her husband was trying so
hard to get along, that finally Millie,
who did not think she deserved such
severe reproof. lost all pleasure in her
company and kept away from her.
She had been brooding over all
these things that morning, and wish
ing seemingly in vain that something
would happen 10 give q zest to their
prosaic life; and now she sat slowly
swaying in the little rope swing in the
shade of the cotton woods, her eyes
fixed Iongingly on the far line, where
the sky and the prairie seemed to
touch each other, while Jack, reclin-
ing at ease, read a verse now and then
from book of poems, until he was
startled by these words:
Jack! there's something moving off
there!'
He rose instantly and searched the
horizon with his keen eyes.
Yes; it looks like prairie schoon-
er, Mile
Then that means people, Jack; how
nice'
Yes, if they are nice; as they may
be if they do travel on Sunday; per-
haps they have lost reckoning of the
day Of the week; they are moving very
slew, at any rate.
do you s'pose they'll want to stop
at our house7' asked Millie, excitedly.
Il wouldn't wonder. Do you want
company to dinner2 If you don't, I'm
sure we're not at home!'
% Jackl 1 wouldn't miss seeing
them for anythingl Won't l give
them welcome? that is, If they're not
perfect savages; but they won't be, for
only families travel that way now. OF
course, | want compuny for dinner.
What treat it will be! Come, let's
go!
There's no hurry; they're miles
away yet
Yes; but l didn't do the housework
extra we'll this morning. You know
we got up late, and then well, l felt
discouraged
Yes, poor child you had the blues,
surely
Forgive me, Jack! I'm right now.
Comet
And back to the house they started,
as merry as two children over their
possible visitors, but they soon slack
ened their pace.
why, Millie, this heat is something
fearful such a close, sickening air,
isn't it?
Yes, and the breeze has all died
out. too
When they reach the house, the lit
tie woman, regardless of heat, fitted
about, picking up here and there, and
looking over her larder to see what she
could set out at short notice for q
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