The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-12-01
ON THE WIDE PRAIRIE.
ALonely Life That Finally Brought
Domestic Happiness.

Oh. the drcariness of the prairie!
How vast it was; never ending it seemed
to Clare, as she stood in the doorway
of their adobe cottage and azed sadly
off toward the northwest where a 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, l 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 touch of
fire.
II wonder why baby's checks are so
red; can he be seriously ill? 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 at supper
time. Had anything happened, he
wondered, Fastening his naturally
slow steps.
The scene that met his gaze as he en-
tered his home was one never TO be
forgotten.
His wife, his pretty, little, girlish
wife he had brough. from her city
home. lay back in the wooden rocker
white and still, while the baby, the
little .months-old Walter. was mo-
tiouless within her arms, and the sweet
face wore look the Mortified father
understood.
"Clare! 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:
You knew the life was to share
out here, why did you not tell me?"
but he seemed well this morning
well as he has been lately, mean. Oh,
never expected this! The ranch is no
lonelicr than hundreds of others. I
never thought"
mo. but you have had to think now.
He died an hour ago. l could not leave
him to seek you-it did not matter
after that I'll never forgive you for
bringing me out to this"
Clara! 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. 81 little realized what it
was to be woman
After that Charlie Dean was a
changed man. He felt cross and mean.
and found the cold creature he called
wife anything but cheerful com
panion.
Let her sulk." he said; "she enjoys
It Anyway, I'll find other friends"
And he did. He sc cured the services
of q boy in whose care he left the
sheep, and went off almost daily to a
little town, n pleasant ride for him of
only about fifteen miles. When there,
his place of lounging can easily be
guessed.
Its Clare's doings." he unused;
women like to send men to the dogs"
If Clare saw anything more than
uSudl SUE bCt43CbAllSos
when he came home almost too stupid
to talk, he caught 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 muttercd. "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; us 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
", "he sought me in that coy home
of my aunts, with its soft carpets, its
loving friends, and he persuaded me to
marry him and come out to this dreary
place, where he has even forgotten to
be humane"
Then glancing toward the northwest
she saw a mass of black clouds lying
threatening aspect growing over all
the sky.
There's storm coming and I'm
glad; one of the freaks in my make UP
is that like storms particularly now.
Had been a timid lass / would long
since have died of fright have felt
sometimes even a bear coming in al
the door would be change" and
Clare smiled sadly, rs the masses OF
black clouds increased and the wind
tore around the little mud ranch with
frightful violence.
Don't detain me, boys, / must &c
home!"
Impossible in such a storm as this.
You'd be dead in less than an hour.
Take things coolly, Charlie. Why, it's
the first time ever saw you anxious.
Your wife's all right; being showed in
q few days don't surprise folks in these
parts"
ACCOMMODATIONS; she made
biscuits this morning, and there were
only enough-and She"
''oh, no. she's got other things, trus,
woman for that; there's canned
fruit, dried corn, there's beans and
no danger of her suffering Anyway
you can't help her; an army could not
force its way over those miles"
Nl,Arph4 III II