The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-02
led awav and ND the ladder to the loft

waters of the wide creek.
al hate him." she murmured. and
again that dry, choking sob. There
was a glitter in her eyes that shone
brightly under the radiance of the
moon, and in her heart a sensation.
born of woe, that this stranger was a
usurper and had no right to this spot,
these trees, this ripping water, this
place that seemed to her had known
her always, though the land was his
before she was born. All night long
she sat until the day broke, then, with
pale face and weary eyes, she crept
down the ladder, and motioning to
Nil" the dog, who lay at the foot OF
the bed where her parents slept the
two went softly out in the early
autumn dawn and down to the old
ford.
Her heart ached SO she was nearly
I'll
Though scarcely four o'clock, Beech
nut Lord, her companion OF the night
previous, was before her and unfaSten-
ing his boat
You here?" she spoke almost fierce
ly.
YES" he answered, humbly, not ex-
pressing the surprise he felt at meeting
her there at that early hour, nor making
nny explanations as to his own con-
duct, while the dull red crept up to the
roots Of his black hair.
What you follcrin' me far9" she
asked savagely.
Then he did look surprised. for to
him it had seemed just the other way;
and when he first caught glimpse of
her dress through the trees, his heart
gave a sudden bound, and, for an in
slant only, he hattered himself she
came because he was there; but it was
only for an instant. He made no re-
ply as he pushed the boat into the
water and threw the chain IN, prepar-
ing to follow.
"Yore allus in my way" she said
roughly.
He looked up quickly.
Sam I?" deeply.
"Yas, allus an alluA I wish you'd
90 away so fur t I'd never see you
ag'in."
She sat down and buried her face in
her hands.
"Do you RELY mean that Wy1ie
Adamsp' be asked, rs he stepped into
his little skiff.
Vas" she nodded. Il do" and then
she heard the soft dip of the oars as
the boat went from shore, and MP
gave a low, piteous whine. then all
was still. Presently the head that was
buried in the long, brown hands fell
over to one side and rested against the
| trunk of a tree, and Wyiie Adams slept
while the dog lay doing at her side.
Voices awoke her, and, scrambling to
her feet, she saw her father, with the
handsome stranger, coming towards
her. Again the pitiful blush mounted
her checks, and with one bound she
was out of sight, and flying like a
frightened brd through the trees and
thick uuderbrush. When she reached
her humble home again, she paused at
the watering trough and bathed her
face, hands and feet.
Mother" she said, coming close to
her side where she sat in Tho open
door, I'm sick. can't put on my
shoes7"
Mrs Adams looked up quickly, she
Vas rough and uncouth, but the mother
heart was there.
II d'cIar fer't, We look sick. Whar ye
bin SO airly, WylieP"
Down yonder." the girl answered.
nodding towards the creek; and, gain
ing her mothers consent to don her
footwear, she fastened up to she loft
and put on her one pair On best stock
ings a mixed red and blue WOODEN,
and her coarse cowhide shoes, changed
her apron, smoothed out her hair and
came back and sat down in a chair
near the fireplace. Tho weather was
still warm and balmy, but she felt
chilled through.
None too soon, for her father and Mr..
Howard Arson. the stranger, came IN
almost instantly.
"Whats upT' her father asked,
seeing his daughter in holiday attire,
while Mr.. Arson, noticing the change,
WAS too well bred to evince any sur
prise, but he thought:
why, she Is quite pretty" and then
forgot 81 ABOUT her.
I'm afeerd she's sick" Mrs. Adams
answered, solicitously, and laid her
coarse hand very gently upon the girls
hot forehead.
'-Oh, reckin not" said father, and
turned his attention to his guest who
began making inquiries about procur-
ing employees to fell the trees and pre-
pare the ground for building.
81 know of one, and he's a sumner
for work" Mr.. Adams answered, land
thet's Beechnut Lord Wylie here kin
tell you that" he chuckled. while his
daughter frowned and turned her burn
ing face away; then. after filing his
pipe, he continued: AN there's lots
more Beech knows lots of fellers up
the creek" while Wylie's flashing eyes
spoke volumes
''How l hate 'em both" she thought,
meaning Mr.. Arson and Beechnut
Lord. the young frontiersman, who
would have given his life for hers, with
all her willful caprices.
Wylie Adams and Beechnut Lord had
grown up side by side on the little
woodland farms owned by their
parents, and eachzyRs an only child
Wylie's was nature always at war
with itself, and yet, though she stung
him with taunts and treated him worse
than her dog, Beechnut toIled for her.
waited upon her. and loved her with
dumb, hopeless sort OF a devotion.
worthy of any woman's love, one might
were deep wells in Wylie Adams ma
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