The southern argus., 1891-12-31

told mother even wished the Indian
would drop down on u.s.
why, Lillian, if you saw even on,
Indian coming down the road, you'c
run and hide under the bed"
mo, indeed, l wouldn't I'd MAX.
my very best courtesy and wish him {
happy New Year. would spread the
table with the best rosebud china
make coffee for him, and
-e-s-but before you'd half done
ne would whip out 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 ridge-pole
of his wigwamy"
"All the same, l wish he'd Gomez
Jack laughed
Say, Ben," he called, ISIS wants
visitors so badly, she even wishes a
Comanche would call"
Il do," persisted Lillian. 'T wish a
whole tribe would come!''
Harry stormed into the sittinp-room.
IN search of his heavy leather gloves.
Where are you going, Harry?"
asked Lillian, eagerly.
out on business, he answered.
Are you ready, Jack?''
Are you all going Off" cried Lillian.
In alarm, lest she should lose even the
doubtful pleasure of her brothers
company.
We're 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!"
we re all to go this evening, you
Know" comforted jamie
This evening! What am l to do
alone all day?''
A hood of tears again threatened
Oh' entertain your callersr' said
Harry, with scant sympathy.
Lillian watched the four bows on their
ponies go down the poplar lined lane
TO the highway, and then, too desperate |
1or reading or study, or even helping |
her mother, she flung herself on sofa
and hid her face.
Inc day was dazzling one. The
rolllng prairie on every side looked
like a white ocean, with great, sweep
ing pillows of snow as far as eve could
see
The widely separated farmhouses.
with their windbreaks of Lombardv
poplars and interspersing clusters of
eVergreens, looked like ships on this
endless, shining, cold sea.
One needed happy heart and busy
lAnnG 70 ha 4
ness and isolation.
Neither of these did Lillian have, and
= took her nearly the entire forenoon
% get through her bitter struggle with
,elf.
When she finally reused herself she
ound her mother had put the rooms to
'lghts, and besides her own work, had
lone all the little tasks Lillian had been
lSed to assume.
This made her remorseful. She pot
Ter books and began to study. But
omehow the brilliant sunshine kent
rawlng her to the window tolook out.
The sky was of an intense blue that !
Vas almost purple. The blue Jaws
we're fitting and calling. A few stray !
rows hovered over distant corn /
were all the signs of {
fe she saw.
She stood tapping tune on the win I
ow panes. Presently she noticed, on q
ne far crest Of one of the snow biz c
1ws some moving black figures. q
They were mere specks against the
ltense blue beyond, but they fixed her r
ttention. Almost as soon as she saw a
hem, however, they disappeared in an
valley. I
THAT is on the Hardin road" she h
aid. trying to fix the direction. ssIt
ant be the boys, for Uncle Abner's a
pad is I'd the south" S
Almost Immediately her curiosity was Z
again by the temperance d
the figures on the next rise. She
1uld not distinguish numbers, but she p
.lt certain it was horsemen. Il
Again they vanished from the crest 5;
ito the lower lying space between the h
md billows. And so she watched
lem until they were near enough for "
er to see it was indeed horsemen. lw