The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-09-12

the prairie to newly finished branch
of the railroad, which would convey
us to decently civilized mountain
resort, where Rex would have an in
MIGRATING climate and some of the
comforts for lack of which he was dy-
ing. We had arrived from another
road, and all we knew of our present
way was the doctors instructions
The drive would take us three days
to accomplish, and lay through the
dry region of Texas, where population
is scanty, because of the scarcity OF
water. The solitude was intense
the depressing solitude of the plains
Yet that this solitude should be I'M
disturbed was our hope, a possible
encounter was our dreadW
Indians? You brave Betty"
There are not many Indians left
in southern Texas, but the country is
infested by half-breed Mexicans and
the varied toughs and ruffans who es-
cape from the restraints of more com
plete government, to make the chief
danger of these border lands. Our first
day passed uneventually. Atnightfall
we reached a ranch to which the doc
tor had directed us, where I found
boy to groom my horses and a
woman whose history was written in
her shamed look; but who was good
to Rex and very sorry for me. My
husband was feverish from fatigue,
and the night brought slight repose,
yet we set off at dawn, as we had a
drive of many hours before we could
arrive at our next shelter AS the day
grew the heat grew, until the wide,
brown prairie seemed the bottom of a
huge copper cauldron, whose close
shut lid was the shining sky. There
was neither air nor shade. The horses
painted heavily with every slow stride;
Rex's hair and beard were dusty
gray, and his eyes-oh, girls, pray God
you may never see such WEAKNESS
in the eyes you love, and which smile
bravely up at you'll Slowly drove
toward some vaguely outlined build
ings, whose increasing bulk, as we
approached, suggested an establish
ment of more than ordinary size,
though there was no other sign of
life than that friendly shining bea-
con. drew up before what seemed
the entrance, and shouted. Rex
started into wakefulness, door
creaked sharply open, and in broad
stream of lamplight tall figure
doomed darkly.
"'Who is here9' he asked roughly.
"'A man and a woman who need
SHELTER l answered, with a quickly
acquired mimicry of the frontiers
lack of euphuism.
"'You will have to go to the next
place.
"'How far?'
"'Fifteen miles,
"'My husband is i'll, and my horses
are dead beat
"'I can't take your he interrupted,
sternly, and turned away.
ellis refusal was stranger than it
seems to you, who do not know that
the prairie is as hospitable as the
desert, and that cowboy shares his
cabin as generously as an Arab shares
his tent.
REX clasped my hand, and, sitting
upright, struggled to speak, but the
words trailed away into sigh, and
he sank forward across my knees.
"'He has faintedp l cried. For
Gods sake, help usl'
"The man came to the wagons side
and peeped at my poor Rex, and then
at me. His look was not unkindly,
so much as sombrely anxious.
"'See here, he said. 4 don't want
to turn sick chap from my door. l
would take care of him, if he were
alone-but | can't risk your
"Whys
az hire convict labor from the
State. I've seventy-five rascals at
work on a reservoir near by, with
only four guards, and they will tramp
back to supper here in half an hour.
Now do you understand why 1 don't
dare to let woman stayF
so dare to stay 1 said. I've got
a pistol, and can use it. don't ask
you to protect me. l ask you to give
my husband bed, and let me watch
beside him."
Betty paused, Horror stared from
six pairs of feminine eyes which had
never confronted life's darkest as
pect.
"He did not speak for long mo-
ment," Betty continued. "Then he
paid womankind compliment.
"When girl has got spunk, Pm
hanged if she don't beat men folks