Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1900-06-13
A Western Girls Story.
66 G7 FRAID!' l cried out with a
E laugh. why on earth should
N-se- hn O. fro Id

AZ
be afraid?"
And l suppose my face must have
mirrored forth the careless independ-
ence of my spirit, for my brothers
rugged countenance Frightened UP as
l spoke.
We lived alone upon a solitary road,
miles away from any human dwell
Ing place, In one of those antique,
gable-ended farmhouses which look 30
picturesque to an artists eye In the
summer time and SO indescribably .deS-
olate when November gales are howl
ing around the chimney tops or winter
SHOWS are heaping up their feathery
pearl upon the doorstone; we-that Is,
the old bedridden aunty, my brother
Robert and myself. AS for servant
girl, dear me, when l become rheu-
matte or lose the use Of my limbs l
might need one, not before.
We had just received $1OO- from the
railroad people for the years wood
which Bob had cut and hauled to the
junction-$10O, all in nice, clean, crac-
king tens-and Bob and and Aunt
Jemima all agreed-for once entirely
unanimous-that so much money ought
not to remain over night In the house.
So Bob was taking the 500 to the
Ottarsfeld bank, twenty miles away.
over rough and uneven bride road.
And 1 and Aunt Jemima were left
alone.
In spite of my reinsurance Aunt Je-
NINA persisted in going to sleep with a
flatiron and two pokers under her pill
low.
sat before the fire until past 9
o'clock, finishing a pair Of gray mixed
stockings that was knitting for Bob.
And then rising with a yawn, looked
out Of the windows. 1t was raining
and
Merciful heavens. l started back
with low cry, as 1 saw a white, wild
face pressed suddenly against the out
er side of the pane-a face made paler
still by the contrast of heavy black
mustache, and hair the most raven Jet
l ever saw.
My first impulse was to run and hide
my second to face the matter out.
what do you want?' asked, open.
ing the window little way. "Who are
your
.I am belated traveller. need food
-rest--rags to bind up my hurt foot
See!' And then | saw that one of his
feet was bleeding.
I hesitated an instant. He perceived
my doubt.
"You are afraid to let the vagrant in, u
he said, bitterly. "Well, don't wonder
much. But there's no danger. Let me
In, as you have dear father or broth
er of your own. Give me but a crust of
bread drink of milk. 1 will go on my
way with the earliest dawn OF the
morning"
My decision was taken at once. His
ale face, his blood stained foot, his
plteous voice, so unlike the profession.
al whine of the regular mendicant, all
appealed to my womanly pity. l re-
membered my brothers. caution, but
also remembered that there was an un
used one story wing, on the north end
of the house, fitted up In rude sort OF
way for the occasional sleeping place
of the additional farm hands that We
needed in the height of the season OF
harvest.
eco around to the farther door," sait
I. 'T will let you ln."
admitted him accordingly. Gaunt
pale and limplng, he came in.
"There is n bed" said !. "And hert
Is food. While you eat I will get salv,
and a bandage for your foot"
When I returned he was eating a,
creedily as If he had not tasted foot
for week, and drinking long. draught.
of coffee.
you are hungry" said I, kneeling tt
my task. c
"I hope you may never be as nea1
starvation as have been this day h,
responded. in low. thrilling voice
THANK you, young woman-the foo
FOOLS easier now"
So I left him. -.-......
I went to bed and fell fast asleep IL
less than fifteen minutes.
The sound Of the old wooden clocl
striking 3-or something else-rouse'