Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1898-06-29

| that made her think of a country grave
yard. And every tall bearded stalk had
answered with q nod of It's head and
seemed to look askance at her with
knowing smile; the grasshoppers perch
ed in the shade and tzig-tzigged in mon
otonous cadence, the gophers chartered
| lmpudently and the plovers whistled
! from above, and with one accord they
seemed derisively to say. "Homesick,
| homesick-a bride and homesick." And
50 she was-mlseraly, unbearably SO,
and every one appeared to know 1t save
Jack.
| Poor, busy Jack, 1t was all work
| with him and no sympathy. In the
morning he hurried TO the fields, he hur-
| ried from the table, at night he hur-
| ried to bed that he might be the early
riser that the next days labors demand
ed. Thus 1t was, perhaps, that he did
not notice the shadows that deepened
in her eyes. At first, with little en-
| couragement. she would have told him
all and cried It out on his shoulder, and,
perhaps, together they might have
| learned the lesson of endurance. But
now her heart had crusted over and
hid beneath its surface her sorrow. SUI
fering, doubt, grew In noxious luxuri-
ance In her souls garden and threat
ened to choke out tlmld love. For this
she blamed him. She said, over and
over to herself, that he did not care,
and then, out of loyalty to him, denied
| it, but at last, against her will, she had
admitted the truth of the accusation.
Finally she had told 1t to the dog and
wept into his shaggy name, and he mad
listened gravely and with Infinite pa
thence, and licked her hand In fond
sympathy. But of late 1t seemed TO her
that he had deserted her cause, and, as
| II TO reprove her discomfort and set an
example of fidelity. left her side to fol-
| low his master all the day long. And 1t
had come to this! She would answer
the pleadlngs of her soul; she would
leave him. She would go home, back
| to noise and hustle and life; back to
friends and voiceful companionship.
Strengthened with sudden resolution,
she sprang to her feet and looked at the
| ClOCh. utIe MdS tlht " tueNh liz
down train. She had money of her
own, the remains of her spinster saw
ings. She would take the pony and
leave at the postoffice note that would
explain the story of 1t all to Jack. With
nervous fingers she set about tidying
the room. When this task was finished
she placed upon the table Jacks lunch
con, noting with tender smile some
of the things she had brought with her
and which she was about to leave-the
i, dainty tea urn, the sugar and cream
holders that Jack had laughed at for
their smaliuess, the cup with broken
handle that was reserved for him be-
cause Of its size and solidity. When
the table was set she covered 1t with a
pink net, and turned to lay out her
pretty travelling dress that she had
worn but once before.
The train pulled In with rattle and
clang of brakes and she climbed aboard
and saw the house fade out of sight be-
hind her. Presently, with shock Of
recollection, she sat up and pressed her
face to the pane. The train was pass
Ing through their farm. The low, sod
barn, the house with blinds pulled
down, and Prince, the dog, running
after the train and finally ceasing, sat
lsfled with having chased 1t off the
premises. At last there was Jack in the
bayfield,; he waved his hat gayly and
the horses looked backward over their
shoulders at their flying rival. With a
frightened gasp Annette shrank into
the cushions. A flood of sickenlng an
guish engulfed her. For the first time
the full realization that she was for
saking her husband crowded upon her.
She forgot the dreariness Of the prairie,
the emptiness of Its landscape, the
acres Of solitude; she forgot her desola-
ton and suffering. The vision Of the
empty home smote her. The words of
Jacks last good-by sounded In her
ears; the presence OF his kiss was upon
her lips.
She slowly Strengthened herself In
her seat and brushed her face as II to
drive away the sight Of it. Then new
look came into her eyes: a holy fire suf-
fused her countenance, such as might
have shone In the eyes of the Christian
maiden and blotted out fear of the
| beast.
Yes, she would return! 1t was not
too late. She could take the next train
back, and intercept that cruel note. He
should never read it-should never
know.
| The sun was sinking low into the
western horizon when she came again
to the town, and its golden light glorl
| fled the tall, red-turreted elevators and
softened the outlines of the gaunt
frame buildings until they looked no
longer hateful to her. She FASTENED
across the sandy road to the postoffice
with almost light heart.
You sent the letter out to my hus-
band?' she cried sharply.
Ii.