The Opelousas courier., 1901-10-19
TN THE PR COUNTRY.
By Berths Gerneaux Woods.


"You ask them, John,' she said,
softly.
They'll like it better from you,'
whispered her husband.
The face of the little wife In the
big wagon frightened visibly at her
approach.
"You must be tired out" Hester be-
gam, without preamble. "We want
you to come up to the house for a
little rest and to have dinner with us.
Won't you?"
A pleased smile breaking over the
young face seemed almost to fade out
the little worried line between the
dark eyes. An answering CLEAN stole
Owe the worn face at her side, but
they both protested family. They
couldn't give SO much trouble; it
would not be right.
"You come right along" said John,
with kindly authority. 1--WE want you,
SO don't make any fuss abou: 1t.
Wen take the horses into my barn;
let EN- try my feed and q good bucket
of my well-water."
The two men went off together,
Hester and the little wife beating their
way back to the sod house. A look
Of cheer and comfort seemed to be
in its brown walls now. How good
it will seem to rest in q house," said
the little wife, with a happy sigh.
Wouldn't you like to lie down a
little while till dinner is ready?" said
Hester. "Come right into my room,
and just. feel that you are at home"
A protecting kindness had sprung up
In her heart for this little creature
with the appealing eyes. You must
be so hot and uncomfortable! There's
cold water in that pitcher, and III
bit Of trouble. Then you must just
rest until dinner"
Unpleasant thoughts were far away
as Hester prepared the simple dinner,
trying to make it as attractive as pos
sible. She would get out some of her
wedding china-why not? John would
enjoy it, and it might make a bright
spot in the day for the strangers. She
even picked a bunch of astragalus,
making q centrepiece of the white,
furry leaves. A sprig of wild geran-
lam was laid at each plate.
There were CHEEKY faces around the
table, and Hester's face was not less
bright than the others.
The gaunt stranger sat a little more
erect now and his face, after even this
brief rest, seemed less sharply out
lined. The warm, human kindness
as well as the outward comfort had
wrought the change, and in some way
made 1t easier to remember in Whose
larger protecting care they were, and
would still be when rolling over the
brown prairie. Bit by bit their story
came out. The man told how he had |
been a carpenter and builder in Iowa;
what a happy little home it had been,
and why they were flying now to the
untried world of Colorado, that Mecca |
for consumptives. The gaunt man
and the young wife avoided the dread
word; they said, instead, people
with any sort Of lung trouble"
Testers dish of canned wild plums
seemed to meet with special favor
from the gaunt man. He accepted the
pressing offer of a third saucerful with
an apologize laugh, and Hester men,
tally schemed to convey a generous
to the canyas-covered wagon,
Il don't know when George has e.
joyed anything So" said the little
wife. "Everything's, so good! And
oh, how nice it feels to be rested!
travelling will be SO much easier
lOw!''
They went back to the sitting room.
John and Hester talked cheerily of the
prospective home in Colorado, and
brought out a book of views of the
scenery. The gaunt man
his little wife bent over them with
Keen interest. It'll be a great move
or u.s." he said. 1T seemed to be
he only thing for us to do, and I'm
glad we're so near there. l feel more
leartened up to-day than any time
'lnce we started. We won't forget
kindness, / can tell you"
"Oh, pshaw!!" said John, and "Don't
peak OF 1T" said Hester; in a breath.
It's been SO pleasant for us to have
vou!''
1t was necessary to take up the jour-
ley again. The two men went out
0 the barn together.
The eyes of the little wife sought
testers. "You have been SO good" |
he said, almost in a whisper, $50 good I
o take us in! This awful dust and !
he heat I wouldn't have minded
hem so much for myself, but it has {
cen SO bad for him. It makes the $
worse, and that always fright :
me. Sometimes when we have .
cen going SO slowly the horses Just o
to creep, and when the dust !
as Utmost seemed to choke him, I {
ave felt as if I should go frantic, I
ii these days that we have been on
le way ! have been longing SO to !
each Colorado. / have felt as If '
1uldn't wait, when the waiting might I
everything to him, and it has q
cen SO hard, almost impossible, to L
eep cheerful before him! That is
ways very hard, don't you think SO?
Then your life is all wrapped up in .
olnebody ~clse's, to keep that n from :
ceiling how you suffer-: And, of =
purse, II they knew, that would make :.
al SO much worse. ;
How the poor young thing was emp :,
ing her heart out! It was as if ali :,
le grief and anxiety of the days in :
le. covered wagon. rolling over the );
aHn-~Y0sAnG- LII - - "