The Afro-American advance., 1899-11-18

small-paned window, deep-set in
the heavy sod wall, and sighed.
The piles of unwashed dinner dishes
over which she WAS at work hardly ne.
counted for that sigh and the view
without was pleasant rather than 9th.
erwise.
II was Sunday afternoon in the late
June, hot and unusually still for that
windy country, but the rolling
stretches of prairie grass and the green
fields Of young wheat and corn still
held the freshness of enrly spring.
But the cloud, mo larger than n
mans hand" is always present in some
form or other.
One was at that moment rising lazily
on the western horizon. over the low
green hills, just as faint summer
cloud, unseen by the girl. whose eyes
were fixed on "A nearer. aud, TO her,
much more attractive object. This, ns
IL apt to be the case when maidens sigh,
was a young man, who, ON the other
side OF barbed wire fence some little
distance away. was busily engaged in
washing bis buggy, which was rolled In
front Of his own little sod house.
He was of middle sire, dark haired
and featured like herself. and clad In
the careless costume Of overalls and
jacket OF blue denim. and dingy from
exposure 90 sun and weather. and the
battered Hombrero OF light felt, which
were usual In his everyday occupation
Of farming.
AZ anyone familiar with that part Of
the country could tell at u glance, they
were young Bohemihns. members Of
that great army Of hardy settlers who
have made homes for themselves In the
previously untitled west.
hut hearts will he hearts In every
place. and Juliet may pine for her
Romeo In ancient castle no more than
IN humble sod house, aa did this com
monplace little heroine. with her plain
but kindly face.
Now. by custom immemorial sunday
IL the rural holiday everywhere, aud n
In especially 80 among our foreign-boru
citizens. who on that day sally forth,
clad in their best ready for visiting
and merrymaking and seeing no incon.
RruitY between church aud mass In the
morning and a dance In the afternoon
and evening.
So, considering this, n seemed that
the Young settler. Albrecht fIolluh,
should bc on pleasure bent, and the
signs indicated that so he was. or
soon should be. Herein lay the sting
which changed for her the sunshine OF
that glorious June day TO gloom.
For Albreeht was 'golng riding" In
his new buggy going without her,
and, no doubt. with some other girl
when II was really her place on that
seat beside him.
And had she not proudly occupied II
until that unlucky night not yet two
weeks ago. but seeming half life
time, as n girls short lifetime Foesp
Such little thing, TOO. an Is general
iy the ease, 90 have caused all this
trouble. She was not sure how Alhreeht
felt, Perhaps he was glad 20 get rid OF
her-~hrre two great tears dropped into
the dishpan at the thought, Just
dance at young friends weddlnr-~it
being their custom for bridal party
10 GO TO a justice or county Judge 90
have the ceremony performed, and then
90 return 90 the brides home for grand
celebration, which usually lasted all
night. Then foolish quarrel. when
Albrccht, heated by excitement aud
beer. had insisted that She danced too
often with the brides elder brother.
She had refused TO listen 60 him. os
course, with the result that he had
walked cut into the darkness and had
never seen her since.
Perhaps she had sought cosertly, and.
no doubt, awkwardly. 60 find an oppor-
tunity OF making amends. but he had ig-
nored or avoided her, though Shey lived
on adjacent claims; hence. for her, al
least. bitter days and nights, She felt
vaguely, In her simple fashion, the hard
ness of the woman's code which bids
her wait and weep" In silence. rule
that has broken many besides country
hearts like hers. Aud all this time the
cloud In the west was rising, IL looked
much like a puff Of black smoke now.
and there were others. not 40 dark.
climbing up beside H.
The dishes were finished and pu, away
In the kitchen safe. . or cupboard. and
the girl sat down 10y her window she
was very gond nt that window In those
days-and raxed ahsently cut. The
Landscape Was left dekolate 10 her. for
Albrechi had disappeared. probably TO
attire himself for his outing.
Her father nodded In the shady door
way over his long curved pipe. I'm the
innas room her mother dIscoursed
yoluhly TO her second daughter In her
native tongue. which In never forgotten
by the sold people. al least. The shouts
Of the numerous younger children came
from without. where they romped
among the farm wagons and machinery.
aud the horses and cattle grased con.
tcntedly on the fepeed.ln prairie that
formed the pasture. II was all hensiy.
but peaceful. ard presently the girls
eyes. heavy with anaecustomed yigils,
slaocd. she did not ses the cloud rapid