The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1896-08-19
SAVING OUR CLAIM.

much of q doll to settle on a prairie claim
with strong, sturdy man like John
was only twenty, and knew nothing OF lie
outside of school and rich home But
John and [ were determined and l mar
ried him and bravely took my place be-
side him in the creaky white covered
wagon when he started westward.
Tt was delightful at first as we jour
neyed toward the sunset. The mghty
campings out, the passing panorama Oh
hill. dale stream and plain-all were
like an adventure in my eyes. So we
drove on across the Mississippi over long
stretches of country and at last were rid
ing through the rich-earthed pralrles OF
Kansas Far toward the western edge of
the state our drive took us, and [ could
lust catch above the approaching horizon
a glimpse of the blue, cloud-lille mass of
Pixies Peak, when we halted on the
homestead that was to be our future
home
John had taken it up the spring be-
fore but had done little work on it, and
I confess that the place was bitterly bar
rem in nv eyes, used to the improved
homes of the Eastern and Middle states.
I call them so for when one is al the foot
hills of the Rockies, Illinois is far east.
But [ did not show my feelings, and
when John asked: DO you like it,
sweetheart?' [ treasured him so heartily
that he did not even repeat the question.
Still it was lonesome. No neighbor was
nearer than three miles, and when the
little work of the cabin had been per-
formed L would go out to the field where
John was turning over long ribbons OF
turf and watch him, just because [ was
so hungry for company.
And then when summer came and he
used to drive to the nearest town, Cor
onado, to find work the days were like
months I could not go with him, and
could go nowhere else because l had no
way Our only other horse besides the
team driven by John was heavy work
animal, utterly unsafe for q woman to
handle.
When John would come home he
would pet me and promise that some
day. we would be fixed so that [ could
go where [ wished myself-but he never
mentioned how, and was off before day
light to the town again.
1t was the height Of summer and the
warm prairie winds racing as if from an
oven mouth northWard shook and rat
tied the slenderly constructed cabin in
manner that brought a frequent fear to
my heart that the whole house would go
rolling over and over across the plain like
the tumbIe-Weeds that scurried along be-
fore the door in a never ending train.
had just finished my lonesome dinner
when an unusual rattle told me that some
one was at the Threshold.
Opening the door a lank, shock-headed
youth, the son of q neighbor, stood be-
fore me holding out a couple Of papers.
prairie postoffice and usually carried us
our mail.
You are early today, Clay" said I
glad to have some one to talk to.
''Ya-as' m, but I went clean down ter tn
city though"
Indeed! That must have been long
ride for you, as I looked quickly among
the local news of the paper, which had
come from my old home, picking out here
and there a familiar name.
''I seen yer husbun' too, MISS; he's
havin a right fine time
The paper was forgotten and eagerly [
questioned him as to his meaning.
"Why, nothin only he was ridin' with
in town. a rude gallantry causing him
to make an exception on account Of my
presence. II don't know who twas, but
they was in a phaeton an, druv up ter a
beautiful yeller house,
1t was the widow ST. Clair. I had often
envied her her magnificent (for that
country residence and her luxurious sur
roundings.