The morning times., 1897-02-14
ssgssss8sas Observation-Disclosures
3 The Whispering Wild : J
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

On tllTet Sllts Oh IHc llUUle flDusc tIle uIJ
corn stalks stood close to the caves; on the
fourth was an open space, by courtesy titled
'tile yard. 1t was but Il bare patch of
black earth, so dry that It was cracked and
fissured in gcometrcal design. The low
stable was opposite the house and between
them stood a farm wagon and a cultivator,
under which few chickens huddied, try
ing to fin d shelter from the sweep of the
wind. Occasionally a eH gave an angry
cluck as a gust ruffled her feathers. As the
wind rushed through the dry stalks. it made
sibiiant whisper, now and then dying
away, only to again rise To sllrili cres-
cendo.
A woman stood in the door of the house,
looking at distant tendril of smoke that
trailed in the sky-the smoke of the east
tound passenger train. She was young and
rather pretty, but her red hair was twisted
into a hard, defiant little kiot, her mouth
dropped at the corners and her eyes were
heavy and bi ood!ng. She listened to the
harsh creakine OF the corn and her face grew
set and intent; she was always trying 10
catch the meaning of the winds whisper
1t ned as if she would 60 mad, living in
the house, day after day, with the wind al
ways rushing through the cornstalks. She
wished that IL was spring and the land was
poughed-thcn she could at least see the
main road and the passing But the
long winter was between. What was the
use of working from morning till night for
a bare existence? 1t were better TO be
resting under the ground.
Then the wind whispered: $50 back, go
back. Go back to n country where there
are neighbors and trees; back where there
are doOr-yards with grass and flowers,
where woman is more than a drudge. Go
back, go back, 1.-THE wind insisted.
She thought now that ii must have been
telling her this for the past four years.
Yet she remembered that when She had
come bride to this Kansas farm she had
laughed and told Rick that the wind
had said: Were here, were here that's
clear, that's clear" 1t seemed a long
time since she had been able To laugh
at the horrible wind and disregard its
voice
Rick had no right to bring me to such a
place. she thought, forgetting how will
lingly she had come. He will be late to-
night, but L Will make up the fire and
have the supper ready As she turned to
that led out through the corn to the main
road. She could See the shiny top of a
buggy, and IN another moment a sorrel
horse driven by man in a light oyercoat
Probably the real estate agent coming to
see Rick about the mortgage.
The man drove into the yard, tied his
horse to the wheel OF the wagon and came
toward the house. Don't you know me,
4
the wind.
why, George Gilbert, is it your she
exclaimed She held out her hand. How
did you ever happen to get here? Come
right into the house. Ricks gone to town
for COAL
Tie man followed her into the main room
of the house, which served the double pur-
pose of parlor and kitchen. In one corner
stood the stove, above i a long shelf covered
with neatly scailopcd papers, on which stood
tile lamps and tinware. a safe with per
forated tin doors was in another corner
A bit ofingrain carpet, rocking chair ana
n round table, with a red cover, made the
parior. On the window ledge were two
spindling geraniums planted in tin cans;
on tie wall hung some crayons, framed in
black walnut and having Kate's init a ;
done in Struggling letters in tie lower cor
ners. These had come to have almost the
sacredncss OF relics reminding her as they
Gid OF the easy, pleasant life of her girlhood-
You see, I'm travelling for grocery
ouse,' the man said, sitting dowa, and
| make HOustan now, and your folks said
! must be sure and come out to see yod.
so when got through with Bailey " Bon
ohue wcntto the livery, got rig ana here
I am. Being a cousin, ! took the liberty
10 drop down without sending wOrl-can
only stay an hour or two anyway. How
are YOU doing?''
"loingr' Kate cried, scornfully, looking
around the room. Cant you see? Max
ing just CROUCH to keep soul and body to-
gethcr-t orn fourteen cents, and We're
nine miles from market"
why Cont you come back hone?" he
asked, leaning forward in his chair and
noticing how much Kate had aged since sne
came West.
Rick never seems to think of it; be-
81 les. don't think we've got money enough
to take one OF us-let alone both l just
long to go-sometimes it seems like I'd go
wild staying here a man can get along
better woman"
looked very prosperous, sitting there in his
dark business suit, his shining linen and
new gloves. Her brown calico seemed tC
grow Older and Iimper, and she felt rs if
she belonged To another world than his.
He told her of their kinSfolk, Of the mar.
riages and deaths in the old neighhorhood
who had sold and moved away and who had
come in their places. How she longed TO &c
back To the commonplace, prosperous life
she had left!
He went to the door mot much Of an
outlook, is it," He wheeled and gave her a
searching regard. Kate, I've been thinking
thatif you really want to 20 back home that
! can lend you enough to do it and you can
pay back when you please. / don't want
to interfere between husband and wife but
judge that you and Rick haven't been get
| ting along first rate by what you said"
I'VE haven't had any open quarrels, she
answered, but l don't think he had any
right to bringme out tosuch God-forsaken
country as this. | don't think, either, that
I'd do wrong to leave him. I've never let
my folks know how things were going ana
| last spring when ma talked about coming
out ! just prayed she wouldn't, though
wanted awful to see her, tool was
ashamed for her to see how we lived
IF you intend to go with me you'd better
make up your mind" the man said, looking
at his watch. You wouldn't want to meet
| Rick. Can we go a road that we won't meet
him?'
Kate nodded. "Yes, the back road; it's
rough, but we could take it,
Are you comng?" he asked.
She stood a moment Strengthening the