The Red Cloud chief., 1901-09-06

would tell hcr as SOOn Us nc
Ut reached homo. but when lie
came to the house he drove on
10 the barn. He would put up the
team and do the chores first. The
team was embarrassed and fed, all the
flores were done. bu, still he did not
go to the house. He ;.ct q hammer
aud mendcd the gate, he put another
round Of rails on the pig pen. he
, shucked corn for the morning feed.
and then he got the hammer again
and hammered awhlle--a long While
at the barn door.
lie turned to the house at last. walk
ing slowly. Ms n veyy weary. He
went into the sitting room. already
dark with the shadow Of the coming
night. His wife was busy with prep
a~rations for supper. and singing as
Sue worked. He fumbled around the
mantel until she called
George. what are you lOokin' f0r:'
and started to bring the lamp.
"Nothin'.' he answered hurriedly,
aud gent out through the kitchen
, Iloor and carried in an armful OF wood.
then took the bucket, already full OF
water. threw 1t Out and filed 1t again.
Then he dropped into n chair by the
kitchen door and rested his chin in
his hands.
What's the matter. George? Are
you sickY' asked his wife.
'Nothin'," was his reply. "MOlllc."
lhc said directly.
She set down her pan and canr over
aud stood by his chair.
What, Georgey"
This place amt onrn.'' he answered
slowly.
. Not Ourn?"
" No. When l wcnt to prove up they
said my claim had never been put in,
and the land had been sold several
months. Guess the mans been waitin'
for me to get the crop nearly made
before he makes us git out"
Mollie went back TO her work with
out u word. She kept her face turned
from him rs she busted herself with
1l,e supper.
They both tried ia eat. but failed.
lie left the table first, and went and
sat down on the door step. She tried
for a time to clear the table, hut found
she was only carrying the dishes to
the Kitchen then back Ia the table
= agaln. She left them and went and
rat down beside her husband. Neither
spoke. The baby was asleep and the
house was very still. She slipped her
hand through his arm. At her touch
his head dropped a little lower, but he
spoke no word.
rho last light OF day had died Oh
the tops Of the OZark's highest hills
Thc moonlight came. From the for
est crest Of the mountain 10 the wesI
81 crcpt down until 1t touched the door
step, and then fell upon the grove Oi
wild plum trees that grew along The
branch OF the valley field. Now 4
lighted up the whole valley, and tn,
soft south wind Of May brought thu
perfume of the growing corn. Still
they sat In silence.
IL had been five years since the!
zane in the Joy OF their simple honey
Iu0on to the little cabin George hat
built In the wild forest. 1t was Gov
sr1ment land. md he thought he ha,
liOmesteaded Il. Five years Of hard
est toll and care followed. Now Their
was an open field of eighty acres,
young orchard, barns and II neat, CON
Portable cottage. Ii was their home
.snd a good home they had made it, too
How plain you can smell the corn.
MOllie said at last.
such good corn he said brokenly
sand forty acres OF IT,"
George" she said quite calmly
eve are young yet; We cleared thi
farm and built this house; we "a Il
81 again"
He only shook his head. Her word
brought nc comfort to him. He wa
thinking Of the five years of ccaseles
labor, the best years of his youn
manhood. which could never bc I,
called.
George, simple minded, good hear
ed. had always been the best nature
and most harmless fellow In the wOrl,
= During the days that followed he b,
came moros and grabbed. He SCENE
10 have lost all hope. lie nope
about the house or wandered aimles
~ over the fields. One day no too
his rife and told his wife he wi
going 20 kill some squirrels.
Two miles up the river where ii
y lonely country road passed. through
heavy forest, George hid in IA clum
OF nnderbrush and waited. For houI
he waited, but no n passed. At In
there came the sound of horses fee
sieorge stepped out into the road an
An0tiOned for the rider 10 stop.
= "Are YOU the man who bougl