The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-09-16
piece of work on the claim She was ever

man ana keep the cattle from StraylnS
away.
1t was frequently very lonely employ
ment for the girl, watching the stock on
the prairies for many hours at time
and miles away from human being.
But she was on perfectly good terms
with her pony, and would often talk to
Hero, as if he possessed human COM
prehension. Lois did believe he was
smarter than some folks" He was
lark chestnut sorrel, and had noble
brown eyes. There was no one so dear
to his heart as his lovely mistress and he
would follow her like pet dog all over
the prairie.
Then when she tired of talking to
Hero, which, however, was not often,
she had a long list of war songs and SEN
timental ballads which she trilled to
herself The girl had natural voice,
and sang as the mockingbirds and the
redbirds that resorted to the cotton
woods around her sod home. Nose Gill
bert had served in the late war on the
Union side, and had taught Lois her
war songs, which he had learned while
| far away from home and kindred, in the
soldiers camps or marching to meet the
Confederates.
Very often, too, the girl took her knit
ting with her, and while the pony grazed
near the cattle she sat, like veritable
prairie princess, in her saddle and ma
nipulated the long needles as skillfully
as if she were seated ON her favorite
bench in the sod shanty.
This picture was indelibly stamped on
the mind and heart of certain young
stockman, whose father had a large
ranch about twenty-five miles south Of
Nose Gilberts claim.
Gilbert had purchased his stock at the
Hutchins ranch, and in that way an ac-
quaintance had sprung up between the
two families
Several times that summer Lee Hutch
ins, lured by pair of dark eyes, had
ridden away from his fathers range,
ostensibly to search for strays. but in
reality to ride up some deep hollow or
place himself behind some hill, where
unseen he might catch the notes sr
words of Lois clear, birdlike songs or
watch her busy fingers ply the knitting
needles.
That was to him like glimpse Of
paradise and he would ride off, his soul
in tumult of hopeless passion.
He rarely ever approached Lois as she
watched alone her fathers cattle. He
was brave, fearless young fellow, and
could ride the most fractions pony at
the ranch or face the widest stampede
of cattle, but somehow Lois bright eyes
stripped him of all courage, and he
usually acted like nervous, laundering
schoolboy when he found himself in her
presence.
Lee Hutchins was not by nature bash
full, and had he been sure that Lois cared
for him he would not have tried to avoid
her presence, as he frequently did. That
a beautiful girl like she was should ever
learn to care for a rough, prairie bred
fellow, as he felt himself to be, never
for a moment entered his head.
He was becoming more hopelessly
fascinated every day, and more thickly
wrapped up in his fear to declare his
love.
So the summer had blQssomed and
faded, and hazy, golden October found
them farther from an understanding
than ever.
Hero was munching away contentedly
at the tenderest sprays of grass before
him, while his mistress carelessly
hummed a love tune, as her fingers in
dustriously knitted away on large blue
mitten of Germantown yarn, which,
with it's mate, finished some days ago,
was to form present for her father.
Suddenly her attention was attracted
toward Il solitary horseman coming
across the prairie. She stopped her work
to watch him.
He was riding at a wild rate of speed,
and showed every evidence of being on
an errand of great haste or Importance.
AS he drew nearer she recognized Lee
Hutchins, and a pretty crimson quickly
flooded neck, cheek and brow.
He was a handsome young fellow,
about twenty-four, with clear blue eyes
and light brown hair, The boyishness
of his round, fresh face was relieved by
small light colored mustache. He
was of athletic build, and sat on his
pony like one born to the saddle.
Hating before Lois, he said good
morning in strangely agitated voice.
His old embarrassment seemed to
have given way before the excitement
under which it was evident he was la
boring. By strong effort he con-
trolled himself, and then asked:
where's your father, Miss Lois?"
"Hes gone to Scrub Station" Lois an
| L, I
her eyes that young Hptchins might not
see how flushed her face had grown at
his abrupt arrival,
The eyes of love have distinct keen
ness all their own, however, and some
thing in the girls pretty countenance
thrilled him with a hope he had never
felt before,
Gould it be possible that Lois was
growing to care for him at last?
The thought almost drove from his
mind the Important mission ON which
he had come.
There are occasions when love must
be rudely jostled aside for the perform
ance of duties that will not endure put
ting off. Lee Hutchins felt this to be
pne of them, and relegating his nearest
feelings by the exercise of his strong
will, he said;
"When did your father go to Scrub
Station?"
Yesterday Lois replied.
"When will he get backI"