The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-03-02

MA M( mules dragged it
ESEy1%% along over the
.lI9<kt2NEE frozen prairie
zssx1SSRA "a road. The har-
~ ness was a COM
bination of ropes and well-worn
straps, whose rough edges had here
and there rubbed off patches of hair
from the animals thin sides and sharp
backs.
On the front seat of the wagon sat a
girl, with the lines in her hands. She
looked to be about nineteen. A mass
of dark-gold curls surmounted her
shapely head; her eyes were bright
hazel in color, and the breath of the
chill wind that crept up under the
old wagon cover gave a vivid tinting
to her pretty cheeks.
Faith, how much farther is it to
Uncle Ethan's?" asked slender boy
Of ten, who occupied low bench by
the small stove, that stood almost in
the centre of the wagon-bed.
"a long ways yet, dear, answered
the fair driver. More than hun
dred miles, 1 should say"
''I'm gettin' most awful tired, Z"
murmured Bessie, curly-headed
mite, little more than five years old,
as she nestled in the folds of huge
buffalo robe near her brother.
"We are all getting tired out, Bes-
sic, " said Faith Haskins, shadow
crossing her brow. "But cheer up,
dears, we'll reach Uncle Ethan's some
time this week, 1 hope. Aud let us
be thankful that we have even this
poor shelter from the cold"
AS she spoke she cast her eyes
about the interior of the canvas-c Gov
cred wagon, then out across the
dreary stretch of houseless prairie
over which scattering flakes of snow
had begun to fall
AT the rear end of the wagon was a
pile of bed clothes, while near the
centre stood the little stove, in which
a cheerful fire was burning. On the
idge-pole at the top of the bows, hung
several cooking utensils, and under
the front seat was a large provision
box, sack of cornmeal, q side of
bacon and other necessary articles.
Almost year ago Faith Haskins'
father had died, leaving her alone on
bleak Nebraska claim, with ner little
brother and sister, Clint and Bessie.
Their mother had died only eight
months before the father. The sorrow
of the lonely orphans was very great,
and, being very poor, there seemed
nothing hopeful for them to which
they could look forward in the future
Faith, however, did not yield to de-
spair. She went bravely to work to
earn living for herself and the two
children left to her care. Besides
cultivating a small piece of ground
with Clint's help, she had managed to
teach a short term of school in the
winter, But it had taken nearly all
she made to pay the doctors bills and
the funeral expenses. Then her
mothers brother, Ethan BARLEY, who
lived on a cattle ranch in Southwest
ern Kansas, had written Faith adyis-
ing her to sell the claim for whatever
it would bring, and inviting her and
Clint and Bessie to come and make
their home with him.
Very gladly Faith accepted the offer
from Uncle Ethan, but finding it i'm
possible to convert their effects into
cash, owing to "hard times" she left
the claim in charge of a renter and de-
cided to make the journey by wagon.
Many of the young claim-holders in
that part of Nebraska would have been
happy to have married the girl, but
she cared for none of them.
The travellers had now reached a
point a little south of the centre of
Kansas, and were pressing on toward
Uncle Ethan's ranch as fast as the
jaded mules could drew them. Faith
was anxious to reach their destination,
as the school near her uncle's home
was waiting for her.
1t was a lonely and desolate sight
that met the girls eyes as they moved
slowly along over the brown, cheerless
prairie. For miles no sign of human
habitation broke the wild monotony,
save at long intervals, when lonely
sod shanty or dug-out could be seen
nesting in the rank dead grass.
II was about four in the evening
when Faith drove the weary mules
down a little slope that led into low,
winding valley. A scant growth of
sersggy elms and ghostly sycamores
and cottonwoods skirted the small
crooked stream, with dense thickets
of wild plum and persimmon scattered
here and there.
A quick glance about decided Faith
to stop here for the night. She was
just turning from the rutty road into
grassy glade, when there was a sharp
jolt, and one of the wheels suddenly
went down into a deep, rain-washed
gully, accompanied by a sound OF
breaking timbers.
An involuntary cry of dismay
escaped the driver as she leaned out