The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-12-31

smothered laugh could be heard from
beneath some broad white hat
"She was mighty plucky, but it seems
IL didn't count" philosophical Sunfow-
err Jones.
eyes, it did, for il she wasn't plucsy
she'd have to fight her own way" par
adoxically retorted the storekeeper,
''Sure it's her land, are you?"
Course we are-ain't another woman
got claim for twenty miles around.
I know 'em all" replied the storekeep-
er, emphatically. Besides we can tell
by the government corner stones when
we get there"
After little more comforting the
score of sturdy settlers cantered away
like a squad of cavalry over the rolling
prairie, the long-looped lariats Tapping
at the saddle bows keeping time with
the swish Of the ponies hoofs through
the grass.
Grace Warner had grown used to
living alone. When at first she had
undertaken the task of winning for
herself competence in the new prairie
land, she had spent many an hour
mourning over the comforts and friend
ships of her old New England home.
She had grown used to her strange life,
however, and was already looking for
ward to tho period when, with rich
return for her effort and time, she
could go back to the old life.
Tonight in the last hours OF the
year she sat long by tho Are musing on
times disappointments and changes.
She was not young, but, As she sat in
the freight comeliSr picture it
would have been hard to find. Content
In her work on the claim and satisfied
that she had a competence ahead, she
still wore smiling eOuntenanco in
spite of the somewhat somber charao-
ter of her cogitations.
And when she slept it was with the
gloom all swept away and happy
dreams making lifo IDEAL and existence
IN unalloyed pleasure.
Suddenly she was awakened by a
grating, grinding noise and feeling OF
motion.
What is it?" she gSsped, half doubt
ing whether il were part OF her dream
or not.
Then as consciousness came to her
moro fully she exclaimed: "It's-an-
earthquake"
1t really seemed the most plausible
explanation.
But tho motion did not stop. All the
time she could feel that she was NOV
ing, moving, moving.
Then she heard voices outside and in
an instant she had thrown on dress
and was peepiug through rent in the
| curtain. She gazed on a remarkable
sight
Twenty horses stood in an irregular
mass before the house. On each horse
was Il man, and from tho immense
pommel of every saddle reached rope
which seemed to DO attached to the
building. They were resting now and
she hurried to the door
"Keep in, there; you'u got hurti''
called the hearty voice OF the store
koeper. She recognized him and was
confident that she was in tho hands of
friend do, though she did not understand
their action.
"Wo'ro givin you a ride" half
laughed JaPhet. IAN ready, boys.
GeJ up!
With considerable See-sawing the
horses strained on the ropes and the
little cabin, which had been quietly
wound round and round with the
strong rawhide lariats, followed the
party with n jolting, humping, rasping
sound over tho level sod. They stopped
and Grace went out
"Wo're going to get you on your own
land for sure TO begin the New Year
with, remarked Sweet, and an idea OF
what IL all meant broke on her mind.
But she was more intent on studying
the strangers face half revealed in the
moonlight She thanked them, and
then it was Japhet's turn to be mysti
fed. He came closer, holding out his
hand.
Grace" he ejaculated, doubtfully,
sis it really yon?"
"Japhet!" she answered. taking the
hard brown hand in both her slender
white ones.