Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1901-04-04

terminable prairies, and my buggy
had crashed against the small monu-
ment that some mourning friend or
relative had placed at this savage, soil.
tary resting place.
II tell you, Harry, my boy, I never
want again to experience such an un-
comfortable feeling as that which
flashed over me on my discovery.
This obstruction really appeared to
me to be the mark Of my own end. /
am willing to admit that it was with
something Of the unreasoning power
OF maniac that | lifted and pulled
at the blackboard, until with shout
OF widest joy, / raised It over the
obstruction and jumping into It,
whipped up the fainting broncbos until
/ had driven far away from the lone
ly. soul-harrowing locality.
"But now / saw the strength OF nv
bronchos was fast waning, and,
threatened by this new difficulty, mad
ly urged them on, shouting and ours
ing, crying in my despair. Slower,
slower became their pace. while about
me the storm ragged and snarled, re-
ceded and attacked. hurting the bat
tering ram Of its power dead in the
breasts Of the mean, little, feeble
team, and many, many times bringing
them to a dead stop.
II think ! must have become
maniac as at last | saw one stumble
and fall, with his hoof caught in some
orifice in the ground, while the other
sank slowly, patiently, into the snow.
his life going out in his last struggle
to rise.
II remember indistinctly OF sitting
by the side Of the b-onchos with that
awful storm beating about me, and
laughing and chattering as / toyed
with their ears, or playfully tickled
their sides with the broken butt Of
the whip. Then remember OF
springing TO my feet and gibbering as
| ran, making wide circles about
them, dashing up TO their heads as |
have done In my school days, waving
my arms 20 scare them into scam
per.
Then as the fatal warmth began
stealing over me, sank into the
snow and tossed handfuls of IL at the
scurrying clouds and flying sleet.
when | opened my eyes | believed
myself in dreamland. About me was
every evidence OF comfort and refine
ment. The delicious sense OF warm
fur coverings impressed me, and
raised myself slightly to take in more
OF my surroundings. AS lifted my
eyes they feasted on the fairy who
had provided my dreamlhnd with all
these comforts. She was darlsly, radi-
antly beautiful, and | reached out my
arms 10 bestow a shower Of affection
ate gratitude upon her. Then / re-
called the storm, saw again my dead
team, myself running in madness
about them, and how | had sunk in
exhaustion into the snow. And is this
death" cried to the beautiful spirit |
hanging over me. No. she answered.
you have been saved, and will, hope,
soon be able TO arise
1T Is useless to dwell on my re-
covery TO full consciousness, the |
myriad OF questions asked and the an
swers returned 10 them. My escape
is easily explained You know, Harry.
how II was almost impossible in these
days TO obtain lumber for the con.
struction of houses on the immense
prairie lands OF the west, and how,
even In the present day, houses are
built by cutting long strips OF sod
from the buifalo-tramped earth, laid !
In layers to the desired height, and !
covered with roof OF thatch 80
closely woven AS TO be impermeable
TO the rains OF summer or the SHOWS
Of winter. Rough as they are In
exterior, many OF them are the homes
OF wealthy ranch owners, and are
filed with all the comforts TO be
found In the most palAtial residences
Of the city.
well, in plunging through the
drifts my bronchos had at last fallen
In the yard OF one Of these sod
dwellings. Frank Coleman, the pro-
prictor Of the ranch, pushing from the
barn through the banks OF snow
heaped before the door, saw the dead
team. Shouting encouragement to
the driver he knew must be some
where near, he worked his way about
until he discovered my unconscious
form partially covered by the drift.
Ik.u ..ttL N.t