Iron County register., 1900-06-07
Observation-Disclosures 4
In THE PRAIRIE COUNTRY
& By. Bertha Gerneaux Woods.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

from the youths Companion, by Per-
missfon.l
IT was dry, sitting day on the
i prairie. The south wind blowing
with hot. irritating persistency across
the plains raised clouds of dust that
almost hid the view from the woman
at the window of the sod house. She
could see only family the FURNISHED
golden cups of the priclly pear or
the deep crimson of the pincushion
cactus blossoms breaking the monot-
ony of the brown stretch of land. The
creamy hills on the yucca were
dimmed with the dust of the plains.
In the small, square sitting-room.
although the windows were tightly
shut, gray coating lay on the furni-
ture and mantel. on the row of rose
geraniums and the little pot of hello
trope in the window. Hester Gilbert s
lips were tightly compressed and
there was a sad look in her eyes.
That south wind was blottiug out
from her view more than the flower
dotted landscape. 1t seemed to dim
all remembrance of the long days of
perfect weather, when the prairie
seemed an Eden, and strength and
hope grew large with the fresh,
bracing air.
Some one came in with a heavy,
weary step and stopped moment on
the threshold to look at the dropping
figure. Then he approached her with
awkward tenderness, laying his toll
roughened hand on her shoulder.
..What's the matter, HesterP" he
said. softly.
There was a snothered WEAKNESS in
the tones, but her ears seemed deaf
that morning to anything but the
winds piercing voice. Half uncon-
sciously she drew little away from
his hand.
"It's everything" she said, 'every-
thing! Why did we ever come here,
TO such wretchedness as thfs?'
He did not attempt another caress,
except with his anxious blue eyes, and
her face was turned away from them,
hidden in her hands.
He slipped something back into his
nocket. Hester did not see the mo-
tion. 1t was only an Indian arrow
head IQdG nc Ad0 NAH ouAA
=, tbe soil. and had unearthed, think
ing it would make a pretty addition
to her cabinet of curiosities. She was
so tired now that she would not care
for it; some other time, he thought.
Her nerves were all quivering; it was
always so when the south wind blew.
CHESTER" he began again, gently,
awe been thinking for several days
IT don't know but we ought to fix it
some way so you can go back east for
awhile quite soon-sooner than we
Manned. You've had hard time of it
ont here. I know how hard it's been,
w;th the homesickness and all, and"
aNo." she interrupted, 81 can wait.
We'll go together later. just as we
Tlanned all along. You couldn't man.
sqe 1t, John. Why, how could you? ?"
aoh. I'll get along some way
4hat1I be all right. I've been think
;ng could spare little of the stock,
.fter all. You know Brown would be
-Iad to buy what I could spare"
He spoke bravely, and Hester
sn,;led family up to him. In the
dentf of her heart she felt sure she
svn,,ld never consent to such sacri-
soe They would wait until they
oo,,ld take the long planned trip to-
oether, or not go at all. But just
1ow with the wind making her
.-rate her teeth together, she did not
ssratest. She was in the mood to en-
iov M the imaginary self-indulgence, re-
gardless of what it would cost the one
5sarest to her.
..yye,n see," she SAID, briefly.
..1ybere's so much to think over
arst. But it's good of you John, to
che would have called after him
.rd clung to him if she could have
-sen the look on his face as he went
entail the WEAKNESS OF 1t, and the
patience and the brave anticipation OF
The loneliness to come.
IT Tn lust few minutes he was back
at her side