The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-07-30
THE IRISH sT4ND4 SATURDAY. HJU IlY 80!

.aiI fences Vow and then 4 passedsa
farmhouse where all the children came
3ut and perched themselves on the
yard fence to stare at me in wonder,
while a half-dozen dogs Of various sizes
hoarse at an apparition that must have
been truly astonishing. Occasionally I
passed a traveller on horseback or in
wagon, some countryman going to mar
ket, and he gazed at me as he passed as
slough was quite an uncommon crea-
lure, 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 I had asked at
farmhouses for drink of water, but
al day / ate nothing, for I had no
money to buy food and could not beg.
The sun was just sinking below the
far western horizon when I came to the
top Of a long, steep hill, and saw spread
out before ne wide reach Of level
prairie across which the white road
wound like narrow belt of ribbon. |
could see for miles ahead and on either
side Of me, and nowhere was there a
sign of habitation. All about me, as far
as I could see, there lay only wild, I'M
broken plain, with here and there in
the distance 9. smRll bed Of grazing
cattle. The solitude of my surround
ings, and the near approach OF night,
filed me with dread and feeling Of
loneliness that I could not shake off,
and for the first time that day I
felt how utterly alone in. the
world was. Night Was coming on
snd there was no prospect Of shelter, and
the thought Of spending the long dark
hours alone on the open prairie was dis
tressing beyond measure. I was hun:
CRY, too, and weak, and, exert myself as
I would, l knew I could travel little
farther that night and that could not
tramp the distance that lay between me
and the nearest house.
Thoroughly disheartened sat down
by the wayside, wishing with all my
soul that could go to sleep there and
never awake again. My mind was too
much confused to admit of any sensible
reasoning and though l attempted to
decide what was best to do could reach
no intelligent conclusion. So sat
there while the darkness deepened
around me, and, recalling all the long
bitter past, afflicted myself with the old
pains that had racked my heart so Oft
en-. thought of my father, now so far
away, and wondered if he wouldn't
feel little touch of pity for me could
he see me and understand the desola-
ton of my soul.
1t had become quite Late while sat
there, and the darkness had increased
until could distinguish objects but a
few yards away. My mind had drifted
back to the present and I was wonder
ing in confused, uncertain manner,
whether I had better lie down and try
to sleep the night out or whether l had
better drag my weary limbs a little
farther on toward my destination.
was still bordering, and undecided.
when was arrested by the rumble of
wagon, which I discovered was ap-
preaching from the direction / had
come. sprang to 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
utes the wagon came into view and
saw that it's only occupant was man.
I knew nothing of the world, nothing
of humanity, as have said, so did not
have that distrust Of strangers which
my sex acquires from experience. I
had no thought Of the man offering me
violence, and did not hesitate to call
him when he drew up where I stood.
'What you want?'' he demanded,
refining in his horses and CHANGING
around.
II want to ride in your wagon to a
shelter for the night, replied, ''if you
will be so kind as to let me-"
He looked very hard at me for quite
little while; and some way l did not
altogether like his manner. I felt that
there was something of familiarity i'll it.
$50 you want to ride with me, eh?'
he questioned, and at the same time
gave vent to low chuckle. sid like
mighty we'll to accommodate you, but
I've got a wife at home and I guess she
wouldn't much fancy the idea of me
hauling other women around with me.
She's awful jealous, she is"
Having said so much he broke into a
loud laugh which grated harshly on my
nerves and which had the effect of
frightening me most thoroughly. 1 felt
almost sorry for having called to the
man, and if my situation had not been
so desperate should certainly have fed
from him even then.
s'That's one o. my little Jokes" he
said, letting his laugh cease. II amt
got no wife, nor nobody else to inter-
fere with my privileges, SO I do as1
please and don't keer what nobody says.
If you want to ride with me you can,
and welcome, so hop up"
''Will you take me to some place
where can find shelter and food?"
asked, hesitatingly.
ssSartin / WILL he answered, with
queer grin. "I'll take you to my house
whar thar's plenty to eat, and drink,
too, and whar thar's plenty O shelter
an nobody to occupy it but me an you.
rh -. ,.ood ono,,rh reckon so climb