The National tribune., 1895-12-05

known throughout the West rs hogbacbs
1t is OF but little worth for agricultural pur
poses Here, however. is paradise for hunt
ers. Wolves abound. Deer are not infre
quently met, as well as the wild turkey. 81
extensive are these barcns that such game
find abundant hiding. and il viii be Ions
day ere they become extinct. Among these
barfens are found many implements and oihel
relics, not only of the red Indian, but Of IN
earlier race that dwelt here in prehistoric
times. Hence these headwateTs are the favor
lite haunts of the geologist and archaologist.
In the valleys along the little runs Spring is
found right early.
The yellow pecune opens its pure, white
cups ere the snow has melted from the north
ern hillsides, and the little dieentra and the
pink claytonia do not lag behind The will
lows STOPPING over the pools court on sunny
afternoons the brown bees from the neighbor-
ing farmsteads The earliest birds of the
season tar1y here, for in the draws the wild
weeds and tall grasses still retain more or less
of their wholesome seed. As might be ex-
pected, these barrens are early pasture, and
the cattle of the adjacent farms know every
sunny glade where the juicy blue-stem
pushes up its tender blades and where ii
fingers latest The paths that wind through
these hills are the trails made by the bison as
they crossed from prairie to prairie, or where
down the ridges they went to the streams for
water. Such paths always lead the easiest
way. Where the hills are steep they wind
down gradually, or keeping along The divides,
they, by devious tunings and doublings, at
last reach the open prairie.
As one may well surmise, the advantage of
such unlimited grazing, which was likely to
continue for years, was appreciated by the
early settlers, many of whom entered lands
along the borders of these barrens. The
farms spread away into the rich and level
prairie. but behind them were the thousand
hills, " the range. y as ii was called. Pros
perity attended these settlements from the
very beginning. The farms increased in
value from year to year. Nor was it long ere
this prosperity was seen in the building Of
spacious, comfortable, and often imposing
residences. In a very few years the prairie
from being one unbroken expanse of waving
grass, was dotted over with farmsteads, or
chards, hedges and groves. 1t was land of
comfort and abundance.
Backed UP against the hills. and facing the
southern sun was the home OF Peleg Bayley.
Across the road, running TO the south, were
the fields full Of ripe corn, for it was late
October, and the frost had yellowed both
husk and stalk The huskels were out and
crib and railpen were filling fast To Peleg,
Gnd Marthy, his wife, the prospect brought
but small comfort Peleg was a cripple
Some wears before he had fallen from a load
of hay, and so injured his spine that he had
not walked a stepsince. His faithful Marthy
wheeled him about in chair over the door
yard, and from the sitting-r0om on to tie
porch. Seldom, however. was he wheeled
nF14eida ha front ,yafa for from, 4lta tr.4t
porch spread before him the farm, and from
thence, also. he could see the roofs Of the
town and church steeple some two miles away;
and be could watch the railroad train as it
swiftly sped over the long levels. This acci-
dent had brought the distress Of debt, for
they had tried in many and costly places to
have the hurt healed. Before all hope Of
cure had died out Of their hearts they had
mortgaged the farm to its full value
AS interest increased the indebtedness, the
crops and stock also were chattel-mortgaged,
the rent Of the farm being insufficient to keep
up the taxes and interest So it had come 10
pass that the mortgages Were due and fore
closure proceedings had been had and day of
sale had been advertised. which was 10 be at
10 O'Clock a. m. Thanksgiving Day. AT every
crossroads for miles and miles the Sheriff had
posted the sale bills until every home around
the heads of the Hundred-and-Two were
talking about Peleg Bayley's bad luck and
prophcsying that ere the year closed the old
couple would be in the poorhouse
. It is too bad that Peleg should be brought
10 such straits said Squire Tim. one day
while discussing the matter AT school-meet-
ing. +" wonder what that scapegrace OF
son Of hisn II say when be hears of it, Does
anybody know where he is -
The report runs that he is somewhere in
the East, replied Asa Buffers. TO whom the
question was addressed - But ] guess no
body knows for sartin, unless it be Hart, the
Postmastcr. Some say he Knows, but if he
does he the only one. ]"
You mustn't be too hard on Bill Baylev.
Squire, 2 said Prior Fitzgerald. "Peleg was
the most unreasonable man ! ever heard.
The way he abused Bill was a shame to
Christian people"
Wall, rejoined the Squire "if he's Of
any account, he'll see the old folks are peryid-
ed fer, out'n the poorhouse .
What made him leave the farm ANYHOW.
as Ive becIn as how he's the only child the
old folks ever bad i? f" queried Wesley Bollin-
ger, who was somewhat new 10 the prairie.
Nobody knows the right Of it exactly.''
replied the Squire peleg held pretty
tight rein on the boy, who was materially
smart Yes, Bill Bayley was real smart n
credit 10 Peleg. The matter was Bill wanted
to marry that gal Peleg raised. n Pcleg de-
clared be never should His boy should
never marry gypsy gal; not much ~
What about the gal !" said Bollinger.
Wasn't she stiddy?"
Well, the fact is, there wasn't a stiddier
nor purtieI-behayed gal on the Hundred n
Two, replied Prior Fitzgerald. PeIeg found
her one day sittin', crying, by the roadside
along his field. Some gypsies had camped
there the night bclOIc "A dcsartcd the little
thing. She SAID her name was Jeannette
Cho;cau, n that Was all she saltainly knew
She said she lived in Philadclly, but that
couldn't be, for ChotcaU is a name what be.
longs TO the prairies, seein rs how ii is
French tTappers name N not uncommon.
:" 50, SAID Squire Tim, +" Bin left one
day. nor 'twam't long fore Jeanette was
missin' too. Sayin' Hart, nobody knows
where they went, n its doubtful If he knows.
It's reasonable to cal late they're together.
They must hey quite a family by this. as
that's several years ago. Let's see. my
Hezelliah s 81 Ell was couple Of wears
older. He's "a. il he's a day The aal Is
three OF four years younger, n as purity as a
pieier.
Wall, youngsters or not Youngsters. the
old uns II he in "A dreadful bad fix soon.
Bows'cyeE il can't be helped. ] reckon
there's nobody in the settlement that feels
nke tallin' EN- in, N / 'spect they theirselyes