Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-12-03
ON THE WIDE PRAIRIE.
.AIsonely Life That Finally Brought
Domestic Happiness.

Oh, the dreariness of the prairiel
How vast it was; never ending it seemed
to Clare, as she stood in the doorway
of their adobe cottage and gazed sadly
off toward the northwest where herd
of sheep could be seen.
"How can they live on the dry grass,
and how can Charlie even pretend to
like it. the horrible, lonely life in such
desolation and isolation! Hush! baby
dear, I am coming; how the mosquitoes
and flies do 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 n touch OF
fire.
''I wonder why baby's checks are so
red; can he be seriously illp 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 why no smoke issued from
the chimney as was usual ut supper
time. Had anything happened. he
wondered, fastening his naturally
allow steps.
tered his home was one never to be
forgotten.
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 mo-
tioulcss within her arms, and the sweet
face wore look the Mortified father
understood.
'Clarel Clare!" he cried, brokenly.
''Baby-oh, my loved ones!"
Then Clare opened her arms and per-
mitted him to place the child in its
cradle-a cradle he had made out of a
wooden box.
In voice he scarcely recognized she
said:
.sYou knew the life I was to share
out here, why did you not tell Ine?'
',Bus he seemed well this morning
we'll us he has been lately, mean. oh,
ncvr expected this! The ranch is no
ionelier than hundreds of others. l
never thought"
.tNo, but you have had to think now.
He dies, an hour ago. / could not leave
him to seek you-it did not matter
after that. I'll never forgive you for
bringing me out to this"
.Elara! You knew owned the ranch.
You knew was poor"
81 never guessed what it'would be,
especially in case like this" pointing
to her child. II little realized what it
WAS to be q woman"
After that Charlie Dean was a
changed man. He felt cross and mean,
and found the cold creature he called
wife nnything but a cheerful COM
panion.
Let her sulll," he said; "she enjoys
It Anyway, I'll find other friends"
And he did He Sc cured 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 about fifteen miles. When there,
his place of lounging can easily be
guessed.
.'It's Clare's doings." he mused;
''women 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 a glimpse of con-
tempt in the cold eye 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 good deal to see her cry just
once"
The summer had gone and winter
had come; as usual on Saturday morn
ing. Charlie had ridden away in the di-
rection of the town, without word OF
farewell
'"Two years ago." said Clare, bitter
ly, che sought me in that cozy home
of my uunt's. with its soft carpets, its
loving friends, and he persuaded me tC
marry him and come out to this dreary
place, where he has even forgotten to
be humane"
Then glanciug toward the northwest
shc saw mass of black clouds lying
. threatening aspect growing over al
the sky.
.'There's n storm coming and I'm
glad; one of the freaks in my make VI
is that like storms. particularly now
Had been q timid lass l would long
Eince have died of fright. have fell
sometimes even bear coming in a
the door would be a change" ant
Clare smiled sadly, as the masses o
black clouds increased and the wint
tore around the little mud ranch will
frightful violence.
Don't detain me, boys, must e.
houeI"
'.Impossible in such a storm as this
You'd be dead in less than an hour
Take things coolly, Charlie. Why, it,
the first time l ever saw you anxious
Your wife's all right; being showed il
few days don't surprise folks in thes
parts"
e's-out--of-Aour; she mad
biscuits this morning, and there wer
only enough--and She"
''Oh, no, she's got other things, trus
u woman for that; there's canne
fruit. dried corn, there's beans and
NO danger of her suffering. Anywa.
you can't help her; an army could no