The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1895-07-24
he never once mentioned marriage

fOrty-fve. He was StOuter, more StOlld.
She had some wrinkles, gold filings
in her teeth, reputation for irascibil-
ity-also a comfortable bank account.
The two continued to drive across
the majestic prairies in all kinds of
marvellous nights and days. But the
prose of life had so eaten into their
hearts they saw nothing of the beauty
surrounding them, heard none Of ma
lures music. For them there was no
charm in the poisoning miracle of
dawn, the yellow sweep of the ripe
corn, the translucence of the moon
light, the blue infinity of space, the
meadowlark's gay vest, the fugitive
radiance on the bluffs, the restless
shiver of the cottonwoods, the ocean
shadows of the wheat, the swiftness
of the gopher, the snow of wild plum
blooms by the creek, the rank and file
of goldenrod thanking the dusty roads.
Aud they never heard the pattering
fight of the quail, nor the swallows
swerving wing, nor the scurry of the
ra bbit, nor the murmur of the naples,
nor the rustic of the sunfiowers, nor
the first crackle of the frost, nor the
breaking of the ice, nor the gossip of
the wild grass, never-never.
Theirs were the years the majority
of prairie people know. Always
vague. unrestful, apprehensive, mate
rial. Never gay, never educational.
If hopeful, elated; if despairing, sullen;
If contented, bovine. 1t is rather hard
10 lo Ill l.
conditions of which one day promise
prosperity and leisure, and after the
next hail CT windstorm express starva-
ton.
One day Ira bought Andulasia let
ter 1t was from her mothers brother
who lived in Iowa. He was dying. He
wished to see her. She handed Ira the
letter.
''Shall | goo" she asked.
Harris deliberated. Has he money!"
he questioned.
"Yes.'
''Then 60"
He saw her off the next day. She
wore new dress that didn't fit in the
back. The skirt was too short at the
sides. Her shoes were dusty. The
heat had taken the curl out of her
bangs She had forgotten to bring the
piece of chamois skin with the powder
on it, which she was in the habit of
using surreptitiously. Her nose shone
as if polished. She wore kid gloves
which were too large.
The train was late. AS they walked
up and down the platform she talked
to Ira steadily and monotonously. She
warned him about the brindle COW.
and advised him concerning piece of
his fence which needed repairing.
He heard her, but all the time he
was watching a girl who played with
the agents children in a green patch
near the station. She was little
blonde sprite who had come from
Omaha to visit the agents wife.
''Of course" he said.
''And you won't forget about the
chopped feed?"
He gave her an intense glance. "How
could I?''
You'll see that Star gets well
watered?"
''I'll attend to it"
You'll have Alvy Markham pull
parsley for the young pigs?''
Il will"
't.And-O, yes! If mother seems to
feel another fit coming on you'll get
her bottle of Indian relief cure at the
drug store"
He assured her he would. And all
the time he was thinking what won
derful way her hair curled about her
temples-not Andulasia's And how
slim her waist was-not Andulasia's s.
And how pretty were the twinkling
feet in the tan slippers--no Andula-
sia's. How fluffy and blue her gown
was--and how deliciously merry her
laugh rang out. And neither gown
nor laugh was Andulasias.
The train steamed in. Andulasia
went away. Ira did not kiss her. She
was relieved-and disappointed. The
conductor and the train boy might
have laughed. But then he should
have cared enough to risk that.
When the train had pulled out and
was we'll around the bend. Harris, who
had fingered on the platform, asked
the agent to introduce him to his
visitor. The agent did SO.
Harris joined in the games of the
children. He made himself clunsily
delightful. Soda water was unknown
in that particular small town, but Ira
did the next best thing. He bought
bananas and chocolate drops with a
reckless liberality which would have
made the absent Andalusia doubt his
sanity could she but have been aware
of his behavior.
He came to the depot the next day,
the next and the next The little visitor
with the hax-fower eyes and yellow
hair smiled divinely.
THE children" she confided to the