The Portland daily press., 1900-08-04

down to a whisper, rises once more and
walls.
Across the prairies of southern and
eastern Kansas vast fields of wheat
wave in the wind varied by acres of
yellow, rustling corn meadows of al
falfa and clover fresh from a soil so
loamy that one might thrust ones arm
down elbow deep into its blaclzness and
touch no clay, but beyond, nearer the
Colorado line, vegetation is stunted, the
black soil assumes an ashy look, gaunt
cattle browse upon the parched prairie
grasses, and the smart cottages of the
east give place to huts.
In one Of these huts, about which the
wind howled necessarily, rocking it to
Its inefficient foundation, an old woman
stood slowly pressing her gaunt hands
together and looking, her heart in her
eyes, at a creature who huddled close
to the open fire, sSlivering.
He was a pitiful object. His clothing
was in rags, his shoes were worn until
the toes protruded, and his head was
clean shaven, while his hands, trans
parent and emaciated, trembled weak
ly as he spread them out to the blaze,
famed by the wind, which crept whis-
tlingly up through the wide cracks Of
the crumbling hearth.
The old woman suddenly opened her
arms. She made as if she would have
clasped him in them. Instead she
pressed her hands nervously together
once more and spoke.
"You amt had nothin to eat" she
said. you're hungry, amt your
Eyes" he answered.
She FASTENED to the fireplace and
fumbled with the pots and pans
Hes walked such a long way" she
muttered, "and he's hungry, Of course.
Why didn't l think Of that before?"
AS she prepared his meal she glanced
at him again and again. Her old eyes,
peering through the network Of wrin-
kles surrounding them, gloated over
him.
Il amt blamin you, jamie" she said
by and by. Don't think l am blamin
you. 1t want your fault. How could
you help what was bred in the bone?
You did what your father did before
you. 1t was bred in the bone"
He was silent His hollow eyes fol
lowed her hungrily as she set the plate,
knife and fork on the table. He crouch
ed nearer the fire, his shaven head
turned, watching her.
''The good Lord himself couldn't
blame you for what was bred in the
bone," she wentson falteringly "How
could he? Like father, like child. He
was a thief, and you%oh, jamie She
broke off with a sob, though her eyes
were dry. They were too old for tears.
you've walked so far, dearie, haven't
you? You are tired, amt you? know
you are tired"
She lowered over him.
Il amt blamin you for what's bred
in the bone" she reiterated. 81 amt
blamin you"
BY this time she had prepared his
food and set it on the table. Rising, he
made his way to it with tagging and
weary footsteps and took the chair she
had placed there. She pushed it nearer
to the table and passed her wrinkled
AO14Oo Wy CA LIS sbOOJCU SuOulU0IS.
"There, now," she said "eat," and
she watched him while he ate.
He was famished. He devoured his
food, snatching at it like an animal.
She reflled his plate again and again.
She poured out his coffee and sweeten-
ed it for him as if he were a child. She
lowered over him as a hen would hover
over her one chick, tenderly, brooding-
ly, caressing him with her eyes.
'It amt been so very long seems like
since you were a little child, jamie y
she cooed, "au huddled up in my arms.
That was when we We're among the
best, before he-before it all happened
and we took to hidin out here on the
prairies with the wolves and the coy
otes-before he left me. If he had only
taken me with him, but he wouldn't.
He left me-"
Suddenly he dropped his fork and lis
tened The rays from the candle on the
table lit up his frightened eyes.
She also raised her head, listening.
Don't be scared" she said soothing
". "It's only the wind a-howlin and
a-whistlin."
A shutter blew to.
"You see," she added, 'its only the
wind"
She again filed his cup.
"Even after he went I had you,
Jamie, and the good Lord knows I'm
glad to have you ag'in." She stroked
his sleeve. "I'm glad to have you
ag'in," she repeated.
"And you wouldn't leave me, Jamie,
never no more. If they come, I'll hide
you SOS they can't find you. You won't
leave me ag'in, will you, will youY she
implored
lie shook his head and continued to
eat voraciously.