Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-30
A WESTERN STORY.

A WESTERN STORY.
Oh. the dreariness of the prairie. How
vast it was; never ending IL seemed 70
Clare, as she stood in the doorway Of
their adobe cottage and gazed sadly of
toward the northwest. where a herd Of
sheep could be seen.
"How can they hive on the dry grass,
and how can Charlie even pretend to like
it. the horrible. lonely life in such desc
lation and isolation! Hush. baby. dear,
am coming. How the mosquitoes and
flies tease and torment him. poor little
whitening blossom-for even he has felt
the blight"
The sun rose higher; the wind blew
harder. and it seemed TO have q touch Of
fire.
II wonder why baby's cheeks are 80
red: can he be seriously illf Papa won't
be in until evening. darling; mamma
will do the best she can"
Charlie Dean wondered why no wife
was visible as he approached home;
wondered more why no smoke issued
from the chimney, as was usual at sup
per time. Had anything happened. he
wondered. fastening his naturally slow
steps.
The scene that met his gaze as he en-
tered his home was one never to be for
gotten.
His wife-his pretty little girlish wife
he had brought from her city home-lay
back in the wooden rocker white and
still, while the baby, the little six
months-old Walter, was motionless
within her arms, and the sweet face
wore look the Mortified father under
stood
Glare! Clare" he cried brokenly.
''Baby-oh, my loved onesr'
Then Clare opened her eyes and per-
mitted him to place the child in los era
dle-a cradle he had made out of q
wooden box.
In q voice he scarcely recognized she
said:
"You knew the life was to share out
here; why did you not tell mc-
But he scanned well this morning
well as he has been lately, mean. On,
/ never expected thisl The ranch is no
lonelier than hundreds Of others. Inever
thought
mo, but you have had to think now
He died an hour ago. I COLD not leave
him to seek you-it did not matter after
that. I'll never forgive you for bringing
me out to this"
Glare! You knew I owned the ranch
You knew l was poor"
Il never guessed what it would be, es-
pecially in caee like this" pointing to
her child. Il little realized what it was
to be woman"
"Let her sulk," no said. "she enjoys it.
Anyway, I'll find other friends"
And he did He secured the services
Of boy in whose care he left the sheep,
and went off almost daily TO a little
town, pleasant ride for him Of only IF
teen miles. When there. his place OF
lounging can be easily guessed.
'It's Clare's doings," he unused; two
men like to send men TO the dogs"
If Clare saw anything more than usual
she remained silent. Sometimes when
he came home almost too stupid to talk
he caught glimpse Of contempt in the
cold eyes of his wife. Her silence was
fairly maddening.
why don't she howl and storm like
other women he muttered. She never
even wept over the baby. I'd give a
good deal to see her cry just once"
The summer had gone and winter had
come; rs usual On Saturday morning.
Charlie had ridden away in the direction
of the town without a word of farewell.
Two years ago." said Clare bitterly
''he sought me in that coy home Of my
aunt. with its soft carpets, its lovine
friends. and he persuaded me TO MARI,
him and come out TO this dreary place
where he has even forgotten TO be hu
name"
Then glancing toward the northwes
she saw a mass of clouds lying. a threat
ening aspect growing over al the sky.
There's a storm coming and I'm glad
One of the freaks in my makeup is that
like storms. particularly now. Had
been timid lass would long since hsv,
died of fright l have felt sometime
even bear coming in at the door wouls
be change" and Clare smiled sadly a
the masses of black clouds increased an,
the wind tore around the little mut
ranch with frightful violence.
Don't detsin me, boys. must q
homei'
impossible in such n storm rs this
You'd be dead in less than an hour. TAX
things coolly, Charlie. Why, it's tn
first time | ever saw you anxious. You
wife's all right; being showed In fey
days don't surprise folks in these parts.
"But-she 's-out-of-four; she mad
biscuits this morning, and there wa
only epough-erd she"---
"Oh. he, shes got other things. trust
woman fer that; there's canned fruit
dried corn. there's bears and--no DANCE
Of her suffering anyway you can't bel
her. an army could not force its wa
ever those miles"
God forgive me-" Thought Charai
Dean. his face IN his hands. land 60
hslp her. for / know how precious Eth
the small house contains. I've seen ~