The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-11-03

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49, q. to the harmony Of
nature, and wavered to and fro like
river. A bird rising from the scar
buffalo grass wheeled wide orbit up
and up, and out of sight. In cue vast
curve God had drawn the mighty
sweep OF the far-reaching horizon, and
had arched above it the limitless vault
of azure.
1t was lonely land of vague dis
ta1ce, unbroken silence, oppressive
stagnation. The one sound was the
faint whimper of the wind among the
grasses, whose bending blades gave
the one sign of motion. Over oil this
wide desolation the sun was scorching
relentlessly, when q young girl came
riding slowly down the dusty trail
No feature of the landscape i'm
pressed her; it was too familiar Nor
did the heat seem intense; she took it
as q matter of course that the air
should be swelteriug in July, aud she
sat calmly upright, singing ioyously as
she went an old hymn that her
mother loved:
"How lrm> foundation, ye saints Of the
Lord"
Where her trail joined that which
led to Hammerville, she met old Daddy
Dolan. The encounter was no sur
prise, for they had seen each other as
mere dots in the distance. Their
greetings were very cordial. for COM
panionship is most appreciated in
widely scattered communities.
"'Pears like yer mighty pert to-
day." chirped old Daddy.
Pert is. no name for it, laughed
back the girl. "Why, Daddy, I'm
eighteen to-day, and I'm on my way to
take up homestead.
"Well, welll" he drawled, smiling
down into the girls glad face. "You
don't look more'n fifteen. An what
do you want a homestead fer?"
"Oh, nin't getting it for myself
really. It's for father. He clerks
down at Cosgrove. OF course he
out and get one for himself.
"Does yer dad know about yer tax
ing this claim?" broke in the eager
listener.
"He know?" she answered, happily
"Of course not. That's the best of it
He'd never dream l was we'll enough
was sick last winter, you see, and SC
N Il xTis
claim to get better.
''Does yer dad like farm ing?" quer.
led the old man.
"Oh, he just longs to get back" :" an
swered the girl, "but he never coul(
get money enough ahead. He ha
worked hard, too; but we children cos
so much. Once there were five be
sides me, but they took sick one afte
another and died. That's expensive
Clerking at Cosgrove doesn't make
princely living. Father is as patien
as he can be, but he can't clerk for
ever. Now you see why I'm taking
homestead.
'But you'll have TO live on it, Bess,
worried the old man, "an' that ain
an easy job"
Nonsense" she answered, con
temptuously, "that's nothing! BE
tween me and you, Daddy, the clair
next to Aunt Mirandy's hasn't bee
taken. Aunt had it In mind when sh
built her house right on the line. II
going to put a lean-to against he
house, but on my own land. We wi
live together, don't you see? Isn't
jolly?"
"Well, that amt so bad" admitte
Daddy, with relief
They went to the land Office together
The agent looked up with a smile q
they entered. Daddy, You wretcl
what makes you always bring sue
weather." he ieered, affectionately
Then he turned to the girl. "Do yo
want homestead, Miss Bessie?"
"You guessed it," she answered
ioyously. "Tm eighteen to-day, an
1 want the claim next east of Aui
Mirandy's."
The agents face fell. "It's tc
, bad, Miss Bessie" he said, regre
fully, "but that claim was taken ye
terday."
"Who took itP" she asked, breatl
lessly.
, "a boy named Watson. He can
of age just one day ahead of you.
81 thought-it was mine," she ia
, tered, turning white. 'I-I-want'
2, it so-badl'
i The agent looked at Daddy uneasil
4 Don't cry, sissyr' said the o
e man, humping her kindly, but heNN
ly, ON the back. 81 reckon we k
. find ye something better. Ther
s there, noww
e ''But then 1 can't live with Au
!. Mirandy."
q "Oh, hush nowp purred old Dadd
''What you want is a free farm fer y
dad. You amt afeard to live alo
e out here; there's always good neia
> bors.
The girl swallowed g lump in L