The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-12-01
ON THE WIDE PRAIRIE.
A Lonely Life That FINELY Brought
Domestic Happiness

A Lonely Life That FINELY Brought
Domestic Happiness
Oh. the drcariness Of the prairie!
How vast twas; never ending it seemed
70 Clare. as she stood in the doorway
of their adobe cottage and azed sadly
OF toward the mort Invest where herd
Of sheep could be seen. 70
"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. am coming; how the mosquitoes
and flies do tease and torment him,
poor little whitening blossom-for even
he has felt tile blight"
The sun rose higher, the wind blew
harder and it seemed to have touch of
fire.
II wonder why baby's cheeks are so
red; can he he seriously ill? Papa
won't be In until evening, darling;
mamma will do the best she cam"
Charlie Dean wondered why no wife
was visible rs he approached home;
the chimney as was usual ut 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 brought from her city
home. lay back In the wooden rocker
white and still, while the baby, the
little six months-old Walter, was mo-
face wore look the Mortified father
understood.
''Clare! Clare!'' he cried, brokenly
'B&by-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?''
well as he has been lately, mean. oh,
neve r expected this! The ranch is no
lonelier than hundreds of others. !
never thought"
mo, but you have had to think now.
He died an hour ago. could not leave
him to seek you-it did not matter
after that. I'll never forgive you for
bringing mo out to this"
Clara! You knew owned the ranch.
You knew l was poor"
Il never guessed what itswould be,
especially in case like this" pointing
to her child. II little realized what it
was to be woman."
After that Charlie Dean was q
changed man. He felt cross and mean,
and found the cold creature he called
wife anything but cheerful COM
paniou.
Let her sull<," he said: ''she enjoys
it. Anyway, III 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 q
little town, pleasant ride for him of
only about fifteen miles. When there,
his place of Longing can easily be
quo ssed.
Its Clare's doings." he lmused;
women like to send men to the dogs. :"
If Clare saw anything more than
usual she remained silent. Sometimes,
when he came nome almost too stupid
to talk, he canght 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 muttered. ''She
never even wept over the baby. I'd
give q good deal to see her cry just
once"
} The summer had gone and winter
had come; as usual on Saturday morn
ing, Charlie had ridden away in the d.
rection of the town, without q word of
farewell
1.-TWO years ago." said Clare. bitter
ly, The sought me in that cozy home
of my aunt's, with its soft carpets, it's
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 glencing 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 bear coming in at
the door would be a change" and
Clare smiled sadly, as the masses OF
black clouds increased and the wind
z tore around the little mud ranch with
frightful violence. ~
Don't detain me, boys, l must 20
home!"
impossible in such = 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
. few days don't surprise folks in these
parts"
''But-she's-out-of -four; she made
biscuits this morning, and there were
only enough-and She" -.~.s.
''Oh. no, she's got other things, trust
. woman for that; there's canned
fruit, dried corn, there's beans and
no danger of her suffering Anyway
you cant help her; an army could not
force its way ever those miles,
God forgive me!' thought Charlie
Dean, his face In his hands. ''and God
help her, for I know how precious lit
tie the small house contains I've seen
her hunting among the weeds for
something green to help out the salt
~.
tried to cook something we could eat
when brought her home almost moth.
ing. She may have something for din
ner-after that-Oh, heavens, boysl ]
must 20 homew he cried, aloud. &
You'll not go u quarter Of a mile be.
fore you'll be dead. and then your wife