Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-06-09

NliNl'l Els Ia
co UPos JOURNEY.
All day trampcd the long, hard
white road that seemed TO stretch away
before me forever. Hour after hour |
trudgcd through narrow, hot lanes be-
tween long lines Of hedges or crooked
rail fences. Now and then passed
farmhouse where all the children came
out and pcrchcd themselves on the
yard fence to stare Mt me in wonder,
while half-dozcn dogs Of various sizes
and breeds came out to bark themselves
hoarsc ut an apparition that must have
been truly astonishing. occasionally !
passed n traveller ON horseback or in
wagon, some countryman going to mar
kct, and he gazcd at me us he passed as
though was quite an uncommon crca-
turc, turning his head TO look back
after he had got by, until | had fears
for the safety of his neck Two or
three times stopped in shady places to
rest, and several times ! had asked ut
furmhouscs for a drinl, Of water but
all day | atc nothing, for | had no
money to buy food and could not beg
The sun was just sinking below the
far western horizon when came TO the
top Of u long, steep hill, and saw spread
out before me wide reach Of level
prairie across which the white road
wound like n narrow belt of ribbon. !
could see for miles ahead and on either
side Of me, and nowhere was there Il
sign of habitation. All about me, as far
MS could SEQ, there lay only wild, UNI
broken plain, with here and there in
the distance small herd OF grazing
cattle. The solitude of my surround
ings, and the near approach Of night,
filled me with dread and feeling of
loneliness that could not shake of,
and for the first time that day !
felt how utterly alone in the
world | was, Night was coming on
aud there was no prospect Of shelter, and
the thought of spending the long dark
l;ours alone on the open prairie was dis
trcssing beyond measure. | was hun
cry, too, and weak, and, exert myself rs
| would, | knew ! could travel little
farther that night and that ! could not
tramp the distance that lay between me
and the nearest house.
Thoroughly dishcartcncd | sat down
by the waysidc, wishing with all my
soul that could go 10 sleep there and
never awake again. My mind was too
much confused TO admit Of any sensible
reasoning and though | attempted 10
decide what was best TO do could reach
no intelligent conclusion. So ! sat
there while the darkness dccpened
around me, and, recalling all the long
bitter past, afflicted myself with the old
pains that had raclicd my heart so oft
en-. thought of my father, now so far
away, and wondered II he wouldn't
feel little touch of pity for me could
he see me and understand the desola-
tion of my soul.
II had become quite late while sat
there, and the darkness had increased
until could distinguish objects but n
few yards away. My mind had driftcd
back to the present and was wonder
ing in confused, uncertain manner,
whether had better lie down and try
to sleep the night out or whether had
better drag my weary limbs little
farther on toward my destination.
was still bordering, and undecided,
when was arrested by the rumble of a
wagon, which / discovered was APP
preaching from the direction ! had
come. ! sprang 60 my feet and waited
in hopeful anticipation, feeling sure
that whoever the driver might be he
could not, seeing my distress, do less
than take me safely to place of shell
ter.
After the lapse of two or three min
utcs the wagon came into view and
saw that its only occupant was man
| knew nothing Of the world nothing
of humanity, ms have said, 50 did moi
have that distrust of strangers which
my sex acquires from experience.
had no thought of the man Offering IN,
violence, and did not hesitate to cal
to him when he drew up whore stood
"What you waut?" he demanded
refining In his horses and glancinl
around.
81 want TO ride in your wagon TO
shelter for the night" replied, "if yo'
will be so kind as TO let me-"
lie looked very hard at me for quite
little while, and some way l did no
altogether like his manner. felt tina
there was something of familiarity in II
$50 You want TO ride with me, eh2
he questioned and ut tho same tim
gave vent TO n low chuckle. "I'd Xix
mighty well TO accommodate you, bu
I've got wife at home and guess sh
wouldn't much fancy the idea of M
hauling other women around with me
She's awful jealous, she is"
Having said so much he broke into
loud laugh which grated harshly on m
nerves and which had the effect @
frightening me most thoroughly. fel
almost sorry for having called TO tn
man, and II my situation had not bee
so desperate | should certainly have lie
from him even then.
"rhats one o. my little jokes" h
said, letting his laugh cease. 81 ain
got no wife, nor nobody else TO inter
fere with my privileges, SO do as
! please and don't keer what nobody say,
II you want TO ride with me you car
| and SliAlanInaL 10 han l,p.n