The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-12-31

| '.she is b little homesick this morn
ing"
why doesn't she get out - re do,
and stir up her spirits?' said Harry.
Its nothing but moping makes her
homesick."
This is a thousand times better
than poky old DeerfeId," asserted
Ben. There was nothing to do there
but slide down hill on q hand-sled. and
here we have the ponies and the cattle,
and"
but yon are boy. Rem interposed
Mrs. Wyman. land can do q great
variety OF things. Lillian isn't strong
enough for hard ling, and, besides
she misses her friends"
Let her make new ones" piped up
jamie. There's lots OF nice people
all over these prairies."
''She viii find them in time,' said
Mrs. Wyman. But you must cheer
her all you can meanwhile.
Lillian overheard herself discussed
and began to sob afresh.
Jack went into the sitting-room and
playful. pulled her ears and tried to
laugh her ont of her gloom.
Come, now. Lii What is it you
want---a gallop. sleigh rider
Lillian could confess anything to
Jack
She told him all that had been in her
thoughts--how the Deerfield girls were
getting ready for callers, what pretty
dresses they would have, and what
gay. good times.
DO vou want callers? Is that what
you want. Lilian?"
'Oh, you stupid fellow! / want any.
thing except this awful experience.
told mother even wished the Indians
would drop down on as.
why, Lillian, If you saw even one
Indian coming down the road, you'd
run and hide under the bed"
mo, indeed, wouldn't I'd make
my very best courtesy and wish him .
happy New Year. would spread the
table with the best rosebrd china,
make coffee for him, and
''f-e-s-but before you'd half done.
he would whip ont his tomahawk,
grasp you by the hair-this way-and
w-h-o-o-p! off would come your scalp.
Then he'd tuck your braids into his
belt, and away he'd go to the reserva-
ton to hang them up on the ridgc-pole
Of his wigwam."
"All the same, wish he'd come"
Jack laughed.
Say, Ren," lie called. ISIS wants
visitors SO badly. she even wishes q
Coinanchc would call"
Il dc" persisted Lillian. II wish q
whole tribe would comet"
Harry stormed into the sitting-room,
in search of his heavy leather gloves.
where are you going, Harry"
asked Lillian. eagerly.
''Out on business, he answered.
"Are you ready, JACKIE
Are you all going OFF, cried Lillian,
In alarm, lest she should lose even the
doubtful pleasure OF her brothers
company.
Were going on the ponies, to look
up some stray cattle for Uncle Abner."
But mamma said you would take
me for drive"
Cant this morning-too busy!"
Were al to go this evening. you
KNOW" comforted jamie.
This evening! What am I to do
alone all day."
A food of tears again threatened.
''Oh, entertain your callers!' said
Harry. with scant sympathy.
Lillian watched the four boys on their
ponies go down the poplar-lined lane
to the highway, and then, too desperate
for reading or study. or even helping
her mother, she flung herself on > sofa
and hid her face.
The day was dazzling one. The
rolling prairie on every side looked
like white ocean, with great. sweep
ing pillows Of snow as far as eye could
see.
The widely separated farmhouses,
with their windbreaks of LON hardy
poplars and interspersing clusters Of
evergreens, looked like ships on this
endless, shining, cold sea-
One needed happy heart and busy
hands not to be affected by the vast
ness and isolation.
Neither of these did Lillian have, and
it took her nearly the entire forenoon
" kSs ShaOuS - ACI OisSCi OIL uSRAC With
self.
When she finally reused herself she
found her mother had put the rooms to
rights. and besides her own work, had
done all the little tasks Lillian had been
used to assume.
This made her remorsefuL She got
her books and began to study. but
somehow the brilliant sunshine kept
drawing her to the window tolook out
The sky was Of an intense blue that
was almost purple. The blue-jays
were fitting and calling. A few stray
crows lowered over distant corn
stubble-these were all the signs OF
life she saw.
She stood tapping tune on the win
dow panes. Presently she noticed, on
the far crest Of one Of the snow bill
lows. some moving black figures.
They were mere speclss against the
intense blue beyond. but they fixed her
attention. Almost as soon Us she saw
them, however, they disappeared in an
intervening valley.
THAT is on the Hardin road she
said, trying to fix the direction. 1T
can't be the boys, for Uncle Abner's
road is to the SOUTH"
Almost Immediately her curiosity was
stimulated again by the reappearance
of the figures on the next rise. She
could not distinguish numbers, but she
| felt certain it was horsemen.