Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-12-13
A HUT IN THE PRAIRIE.

sonSs otioiuiuB ioOh around owned To
myself that was lost. had suspected
the fact some time since, but had stub
borniy fought down the suspicion, though
my horse evidently realized it. With pa
tient endurance he plodded along, resig-
nation plainly expressed in the droop Of
his tail and ears. A Texas prairie is q
beautiful, soal inspiring sight on a bright
day, when the sky is an inverted bowl OF
turquois, and the wind comes sweeping
over the grassy wastes as fresh and sweet
rs the bloom on baby's cheek, but
there can be no greater sense OF desola-
ton born Of nature than that aroused BY
this same prairie when 1t lies black and
bare to the chill October wind, which
has plucked the glory Of Indian summer
from earth and sky.
l felt this as gazed about me, discon-
certed and even a trife anxious, for the
sun had set some minutes before in a
cloud heap, which. closing over it like a
rebel horde deposing its king, overran
his monarchy with its blood red standard.
In place of the ranch, the hearty vel
come, pleasant words, bed, supper and
fire had expected to reach by sunset.
there was nothing to be seen before. be-
hind, on either hand, but the dead level
OF the PLAIN. ihere were paths in plenty;
IN fact, the trouble was there were too
many-all narrow and winding, for
whose meander1ng there seemed not the
slightest excuse, except the general tend
ency 10 crookedness most things, ami
mate ana lnanlmate alike, possess. But
u would have taken the instinct of .
Dioodhound or trailing Indian to have
said which paths had been made by
horses Ieet or those OF cattle. 1t was
certainty beyond my powers to decide,
and IN addition to their doubtful nature
they nad most perplexlng way Of run
ning into each other. crossing and re-
crossing gong on at tangent and fire.
quently wandering oil and getting lost
altogether. 30 ! soon dismissed the
problem as hopeless OF solution.
NOW mat the sun was gone, found
my knowledge OF the points OF the CON-
pass gone with 1t. AS sat perplexed
ana worried the gloom OF twilight gath
cred last ana the chill OF coming rain
smote me through ana through, while In
the distance there was the roll OF thun-
der. CHANGING up saw that the masses
OF cloud had closed together in curtain
OF gray mist MY horse strobe on of
MS own accord, and hoping that his in
stinct would lead us to some house let
nm nave MS VIII. Presently 1t began
10 ram, sort OF heartbroken, passion
less weeping, but with steady deter
nhnation TO persevere all night, that
aWoke graver apprehension IN my bosom
than any amount OF clustering, show
cry downpour could have done. This
nne still ram was accompanied by low
souShlhe WIND that added It's desoiate
note TO the general drearlness OF the
hour. VI course l dln not mind a little
rain, out the prospect OF spending the
entire night exposed TO 1t was anything
put agreeable and grew really violent
IN remuneration OF the folly which had
leu me- an utter stranger IN the coun-
Try, 10 atteinpt 10 ma anything less
imam volcano IN acnve eruption on
paid prairie.
Inc TEXANS are me people, IN some
In mahs-fespects the most admirable
OF hosts' put individually and collect
iVely they lack any appreciation OF DIS
lance. lms Is que OF course TO them
having so much space around them, out
70 stranger ignorant Oh the extent TO
winch the phrases "a nttie piece out
ana Just OUTSIDE o town can Dc
stretcned TINS conteHptuous regard or
miles Is nttie mlsieadlng But IN the
lace % 'na' ureary' ,hohotohous inoan-
ing OF ram ana w,nd even my anger at
NY own ioiiy couiu nol ourn long, anu
though cniieo 10 the zone anu tireu anu
hungry l pioooeu on uuily' graterui
that no nlght, even the longest cou!u
last forever IL was no" quite darK,
ana very DARK al tnat' thoush al snort
intervals close 10 tne horizon rant
gleam OF nghthlhS showed 100 uistant
10 cast brightness on my pain ana only
sutncleht 10 intensity the olacKness
aoont me.
All az once saw iuan "aihlhg ABOUT
hfteen feet IN 'front.' OF me. ies, know
SAID IL was intensely oark' OUT an the
same l repeat II, saw man walking IN
1ront OF me- ana furthermore couiu see
that ne was a large man dressed IN
rou9h Out Wen ,i',iis 1io'nes' ,iia' ne
wore hea'y reo oearu' anu Una. ne
looked pacA DIT NE iro,n 'iine " Lille
with an expression OF Keen anxiety Oh
MS o1iTi " y, iS1 i".nsi io o.,
.halio. l crieu' OUT as ne dlu not
Ea1t % a