The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-02-13
How Leila Entered Her Claim
scopyrIght. 1901. BY Authors syndicate,
BY FRANK H. SWEET.

Authors syndicate)
met him down the road, and thought
that he had run away. All, you are
hurt" as she essayed to step forward.
Here, let me assist you" He sprang
from his horse, throwing the bride of
the black over his arm as he did so.
"My gray will stand all right. ! am
afraid his owner thought was poor
horseman, and so gave me steed that
was safe. Easy, now; lean on me-"
, He assisted her to the saddle, and
then examined the girths and bride to
see that everything was secure"
"Do you think you are able to go
alone?" he asked.
"Oh, certainly. The bushes broke
my fall. think that my ankle will be
all right by tomorrow"
swell, then, l will not try to keep up
with you. My horse is very deliberate
in his movements, and doubt If I
reach town before dark. Good-by."
As she rode on, Lelia's emotions were
curious mixture of exultation and
dismay. She could be first to enter
claim to the land, but in doing so she
almost felt that she would be taking
an unfair advantage of the man who
had come to her assistance. At times
she thought of stopping and waiting
for him to come up, and of explaining
everything, and offering him a fair
race. Then she would think of her
mother, and of her brother-in-law, and
of the German who had said that he
would like her to have the land. OF
course she had a better right to it than
this stranger; and of course it would
be the height of folly for her to throw
away any of her advantage.
But she could not quite satisfy her
self; and the thought of the stran-
ger jogging along on the old pillow
horse accompanied her into town,
and into the land Office, and grew
stronger when she knew that the
homestead was securely in her pos
session
Early the next morning she started
on her return trip, and soon after
leaving town overlook the old gray
horse and his rider, moving slowly
back toward home.
81 am glad to see you looking so
WELL" said Mr.. Wayne, as she refined
in her horse in answer to his saluta-
, ton. 81 hope your adventure of yes
terday caused you no Inconvenience"
Every little, thanks to you"
They rode on for some minutes in
silence, then Mr.. Wayne looked at
her humorously.
"If you are not in hurry" he
said, 81 will do my best to make the
old gray keep up"
81 have the day before me, and
will be glad to have company"
Thank you" Then: ibid you en-
ter your claim all right?"
Leila flushed and looked at him in
quiringly. He laughed frankly.
II recognized your horse as one
/ had seen in Mr.. Chords stable, and
put one thing and another togeth-
err. But don't think / harbor the
least i'll feeling toward the old gray"
he went on, quickly, patting the an
imal as he spoke; "he and l are get
ting on famously together. And really
and truly and honestly, Miss"
"Staunton."
"Thank you-Miss Staunton, am
a thousand times obliged to you for
obtaining that land. You see, my
brother was wild about my getting
it, and his enthusiasm was so conta-
gious 1 never paused to consider the
consequences. Now, l am lawyer,
and 1 think / see good opportunity
down here for me to practice my pro-
fession. But suppose 1 had buried
myself out on that homestead? Why.
it would have been the extinguishing
of both the profession and myself.
Not but what it is a fine piece of
land" hastily, "and prize to any
one who can afford to live on it the
necessary five years. But you see
could not do that and practice"
Leila looked at him searchingly.
"Are you in earnest?" she asked.
"Really and truly and honestly, as
/ just observed"
She looked relieved.
81 am glad to hear it." she said.
at was afraid that II might not
have acted quite fairly by you"
When they reached the house OF
Mr.. Clifford they found the owner
absent. Mr.. Wayne assisted Leila to
dismount and took the horses to the
stable. Then he came back to the
porch to say good-by.
sit has been a very pleasant ride"
he said, earnestly, and something in
his voice brought warmer color to
her face. MAY call againP'
The color grew deeper, and some-
thing of her embarrassment even
crept into her voice as she answered;
"Yes, certainly"