The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-02
LUCY ALDEN'S CAPTURE.
lRhoda S. Regent. in Peoples Home
Journal


threshold of her ranch home in deep
thought.
To find this simple homestead one
must travel far beyond the end of the
railroad, across the fiat stretching to
the south, ford the clear creek where
the pecans hang over and the air is
musical with call of hooking bird and
canary, up and down arroyos, dry from
the drouth of the long, hot summer, till
on the smooth prairie just beyond the
dwelling of two rooms, the rough
boards beginning to gray with the sun
and wind of six months
And it was of this that Lucy Alden
was thinking Not of the rough shanty,
tis true, but of the great stretch OF
nothing, as it seemed, to the front and
far behind-to this side and to that.
And of the mother whose frail health,
after the removal to this western life,
had Succumbed in a few months. Re
mem brance brought tears with the pic
ture OF the silent little band carrying
this loved one to the undulation beyond
the corral, where in its warm bosom
was laid earth to earth.
Since then Lucy had given way to
dependency. She took little interest
in the house, passing much of her time
on the bed noping or crying, or at the
doorstep desoIate and melancholy,
though the wind petted her with its
freshness, the air was so filed with
JOYOUS life, and the ever moving f1ocks
OF grazing sheep suggested peace The
men coming to meals unexpectedly
worried and fretted her, a fact she al
ways let her father see; though the
path to the spring was shady and no
water so cool, she saw only the stones,
and while she hated the house because
it was rough, bare and hot she per-
sisted in hanging about it and living
over and over again the sad last DAYS
of her mothers life Her father and lit
tie brother Robert did in their mascu-
1nt%fr, 1f
her, but dependency brings selfishness,
and as she saw no happiness in living.
she made life unhappy also for others.
Cheer up, pet her father would say
as he left in the mornings Thank
God, the three of US are yet left to-
gether."
Lucy's good angel was near her in the
soft air and sweetness of this evening,
and conscience suggested that grieving
and despair might be ingratitude TO
her God, her people and herself and by
the time the sun was sinking like
great ball into the vast prairie ocean,
and the bluejay's harsh call had die9
away, and the twitter of the red bird
and mocker subdued, she had resolved
to make those bare walls inclose a
home, to take a mothers place to the
growing boy, and by resolution ana
self-dependence aid her father in his
hard fight with a new country. Many
recollections of omitted duties came
trooping by in the hush of the short
twilight, bringing the consciousness
that, after all, hers had been the mis-
sion to uplift and to strengthen them
Far across the prairie came the cheer
full song of her father, Home, nome.
sweet home." then the chunk-chunk OF
the saddles, and d few minutes brought
him and Robert. a boy of ten, to the
wire inclosing the houseyard.
We'll daughter lonely for father?
Come, give me a kiss, and then get me
a snack We've found the sheep today
in bad condition from scab, and we must
finish rounding them up tonight into the
corral ready for a drive to the dipping
pen. Don't feel bad over 1t, Lucy. as
the Dout came into her face Robert
will stay with you, and in two hours
I'll be home again..
Lucy had run to him bright and eager
with her new resolutions, which We're
now put to the test A lump in the
throat has to be swallowed and the voice
steadied before she could bring herself
to say, why, that's all right, father
him loose in the Enclosure, while Lucy
hurried to place supper. They then sat
down to the table as she put on II the
simple meal of pork and frijoles, OF
which she had given them great Suffl-
cheney of late. True, there was little
else to be had, but, maybe
Mat Barnes was killed today by a
Mexican herder. sis reported Robert.
what? How? What for?" rapidly
cried Lucy with terrified face.
Mat Barnes had been overseer at
ranch close by, and being of a lively
nature, had easily gained the affections
Of the young folks for miles around
Lucy in particular, had been drawn to
him and he was the only one of the
many that came and passed she made
any efforts to entertain
KNITTED of course, and killed instant
w. Robert liked Mat, too, and was not
of brutal nature, but he enjoyed tell
ing the news and Lucy's terror.
.sNTat mt ont about the way one
IF the m en- was treating the sheep, Lu
cy.'' explained her father, land without
a moments warning Giacomo turned
on him and stabbed him.
THAT thieving old greaser!" cried
Robert You remember old Giacomo
same one that escaped from
Sherwood jail? He ought to have been
hung long ago, if only for the way he'd
cut into the flesh while he was shearing
sheep"
Yes" assented Lucy, in a hushed
voice what did they do to him?"
DO? They haven't caught him! It'll |
"a Ike a greaser to catch a greaser. Like |
IS not he's prowling around our place"
Come, come. Robert, you are fright |
ening sister unnecessarily Well, daugh- |
.er. that was a good supper. Only |
BEANS and coffee for a bill of fare. but |
1lentv of love and content to flavor it. |
Don't sit I'D for me if you are tired, |
md. Robert, tell sister of our trip over |
% Hog Back
I,ucv's father kissed her affectionate- |
v. and calling the collie, threw himself /
m TO his horse and was off.
AS they washed the dishes the cnlld- /
en- talked little of the days trip to the /
Iivide, and a great deal of the murder, |
uch subjects holding an uncanny fas-
ination over the young mind.
After the work was done Robert start |
d a little blaze in the fireplace of the /
ther room-a bedroom-the wind hav-
ng risen, and from a northerly direc-
ion Lucy closed the outer door, not
Without a frightened look into the dark
'eyond, and felt a momentary wish
hat the door had lock to it--some-
hing not often seen in the new south
vest where animals are more to be
cared than men. She drew up to the |
ire and was soon lost in thought, as