The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-07-12
M M THE PRAIRIE COUNTRY.
BY Bertha Gerneaux Woods.


The face of the little wife In the
big wagon frightened visibly at her
approach.
"You must be tired out Hester be
gan, without preamble. I'VE want
you to come up to the house for
little rest and to have dinner with MS.
Won't yOuf"
4 pleased smile breaking over the
young face seemed almost to fade out
the little worried line between the
dark eyes An answering CLEAN stole
over the worn face ut her side, but
they both protested family. They
couldn't give so much trouble; it
would not be right.
You come right along" said John.
with kindly authority I'VE want you,
so don't make any fuss about ii.
Wen take the horses into my barn;
let 'em try my feed and II good bucket
of my well-water."
The two men went Off together,
Hester and the little wife beating their
way back to the sod house. A look
of cheer and comfort seemed to be
in its brown walls now. How good
it will seem To rest in house, said
the little wife, with happy sigh.
Wouldn't you like to lie down Il
| little while till dinner is ready" said
| Hester. Come right into my room,
and Just feel that you are at home
A protecting kindliness had sprung up
in her heart for this little creature
with the appealing eyes. You must
be so hot and uncomfortable! There's
cold water in that pitcher, and I'll
bring you some warm. No, 1t isn't Il
bit of trouble. Then you must just
rest until dinner"
| Unpleasant thoughts We're far away
as Hester prepared the simple dinner,
trying TO make 1t as attractive as pos
sible. She would get out some of her
wedding china-why not? John would
enjoy 1t, and 1t might make a bright
spot in the day for the strangers. She
even picked u bunch of astragalus,
making centrepiece of the white,
furry leaves. A sprig of wild gernn-
lam was laid at each plate.
There We're CHEEKY faces around the
table, and Hester's face was not less
bright than the others.
The gaunt stranger sat II little more
erect now and his face after even this
brief rest, seemed less sharply out
lined. The warm. human kindness
as well as the outward comfort had
wrought the change. and in some way
made ii easier to remember in Whose
larger protecting care they were. and
would still be when rolling over the
brown prairie. Bit by bit their story
came out. The man told how he had
been carpenter and builder in Iowa
what happy little home it had been
and why they were flying now TO the
untricd world of Colorado, that Mecca
for consumptives. The gaunt man
ana the young wife avoided the dread
ed word they said, instead. people
with any sort of lung trouble"
Hester's dish of canned wild plum,
seemed to meet with special favor
from the gaunt man. He accepted til,
pressing offer of u third saucerful witt
an apologize laugh, and Hester men
tally schemed to convey II generous
supply to the canvas-covered wagon
Il don't know when George has en-
joyed anything So said the little
wife. "Everythlng's SO good. Ant
oh, how nice it feels 10 be rested
Travelling will be so much casie
now"
They went back to the sitting room
John and Hester talked cheerlly of til,
prospective home in Colorado an,
| brought out book of views of tn
wonderful scenery. The gaunt MAJ
and his little wife bent over them witt
! keen interest. "It'll be a great NOV
for us," he said. 'lt seemed TO b
the only thing for MS to do, and In
{ glad we're so near there. | feel NOR
heartened up to-day than any tim
( since we started. We won't forge
your kindness, / can tell YOU
'Oh, pshawr' said John, and Don
D speak of it, said Hester, in breatl
o It's been 50 pleasant for us TO hay
Y your
\ II was necessary 10 take up the ioul
e ney again. The two men went OF
- to the barn together.
I The eyes OF the little wife sougf
Hester's. you have been so good,
$ she said, almost in whisper, 80 goo
to- take us in! This awful dust an
J., the heat | wouldn't have minde
4 them 80 much for myself but it ha
been so bad for him. II makes til
:. cough worse, and that always frigh
!. ems me. Sometimes when we hay
been going SO slowly the horses jui
l. seemed to creep, and when the dul
|, has almost seemed to choke him,
have felt as If | should go frantl
3, All these days that we have been O
% the way | have been longing so
% reach Colorado. | have felt as if
couldn't wait, when the waiting migl
If mean everything to him, and it hi
r been so hard almost impossible,
q keep cheerful before him! That
!" always very hard, don't you think 81
rs When your life is all wrapped up
ID somebody else's, to keep that one fro
# feeling how you suffer? And,
ID course, If they knew, that would NAL
IN 1t all so much worse.
I'd How the poor young thing was EN-
OF tying her heart out. 1t was as If ,
I'd the grief and anxiety of the days
C. the covered wagon, rolling over L
a. brown plains, had burst its bount
er and must pour itself out TO this III
st ener.
he II wanted you to know" the excit
|