Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-02-22
The Feud Of the FergusOnS.
by KATE NJ. CLEARY.


{; / don't believe something's gone
wrong with the gear!" She was peer
ing eagerly between the stting-room
curtains of warm red chenille. Come
here. an see, Lcssie-your eyes are
yOunger'n mine"
But the girl sitting listlessly by the
little open stove did not stir nor
speak. Her bright bit Of knitting had
fallen neglected on her lap. Upon l.
fer slender brown hands lay claspei
IN the idleness OF indifference.
Seems like you don't take interest
in noihin' since you been up to Care
Vile to visit" went on her mother ir-
ritably. She sent sharp glance In the
direction OF her daughter. Then she
turned again to the window. Its
broke or something" she enunciated
with brisk recurrence of curiosity.
The mans comm this way. He's
leading the horse. He's comm straight
here!"
1t was a comfortable. common little
room that wherein mother and daugh-
ter sat. The rag carpet had mellowed
to dull tones and tints so subdued as
TO suggest the wonderful weaves of the
Orient There was glass lamp on the
crocheted mat OF green wool which
ornamented the round walnut center
table. The couple of wooden rockers
had crazy-work cushions and head
rests. On the shelf which did duty for
n mantel was a clock. a china dog, and
two trost-whitc glass vases decorated
with scarlet roses. The yellow light
of the winter afternoon came in be-
tween the chenille curtains, ana gave
to the oval cheek of the girl BY the
hearth an almost peach-like translu-
cenoe. Except for that skin OF child
like fairness and the lustrousness of
her long gray eyes. Lessie Ferguson
could hardly have been called pretty
girl. Her tace in repOse was sober
almost somLre. But when she was
pleased, gay. animated she quite took
the palm from the other girls in that
part OF the county. Just now her face
reflected her mood, which was that OF
downright melancholy.
Mrs. Ferguson. still sentinel at the
window, kept issuing bulletins. He's
got far as the rye patch now. First
thought t was Ellis Dix. but it amt.
Ellis don't come here much since you
got to putin on airs after gittin' back
from Cartville. This one is tallern
Ellis-he's got moustache too. He
don't belong in these parts. You go
to the back door Lessie. I'm skeered
of the wind in my face with the neu-
ralgy got. Find out where he's from.
You can tell him where's the tool
chest in the barn IL he wants to fix
his harness. There-he's knockin'!"
Mrs Ferguson looked frowningly
after the slow-moving form of her
daughter.
81 wish I'd never let her go visitin'
to Cartville." she was muttering to
herself in accents of annoyance.
''Praps II / hadn't told her she
shouldn't have had anything to say to
that Rene Ferguson she'd never have
thought of lookln' at him. Like as not
I was just the contrairiness of a girl
that made her take up with him. An
then, to come home and throw over
Ellis Dix like he wasn't worth wlpin'
her shoes on-him with the likliest
bunch OF steers Of any man in the
township! Sayin' she'd marry Rene
or no one. An now mopin' away
like the life was throwed after her.
We've had trouble enough with them
Fergusons of Cartville. If they was
blood relations instead of only hap
PENN TO be folks of the same name,
their family and our'n couldn't have
got on worse all these years we been
dealin' up to Cartyille.'
Iessie. opening the back door. saw
i silhouetted against the white expanse
of the snowy prairies. a big, burly fig
ure in great-coat and slouch hat.
III you need the tool box" she be-
gan with perfunctory politeness,
you'll find it in the t-hand---"
She broke off with a little gasp-her
heart plunging.
"Lessie!" said the stranger. My
girl--Lessie."
Then the slim little form in the blue,
gold-braided gown was swallowed up
in the fervent grasp OF two powerful.
rough-coated aiJns,
"Oh, Rene" Her voice was sweet
tremulous "Oh. Rene-how dared
you?"
He kissed the loving reproach on her
lips to silence.
For youl" he answered. "Iye
driven over from Cartyille to see your
father. I'm going to ask him for you.
And II he refuses" The masterful
lAAlr haf ann ft.fS h O..