The Lamar register., 1903-08-19
CHAPTER VII.
The strsyed Cow.

Dolores sat IN the doorway wait
ing for her fathers return from the
tavern. He had been to the house
while she was over the mountain. ana
had his Eupper. She herself had eaten
nothing. for she had no appetite IN
spite OF her walk over the mountain
She was quite idle. her hands In
their old LISTERS attitude In her lap.
her dark head resting against the
unpainted door post. her grave face
ard Thoughtful eyes raised 10 the
heavens The moonlight falling across
her face defined it clear and perfect
as marble; upon the clean bare moor
behind her lay her shadow long ana
dark.
The night was silent; the distant
sound OF rude singing from the tav-
ern died away: the lights went out
one after another in the long, 10"
houses. Dolores began to wonder
vaguely why her father did not come.
Midnight had passed; the hours uckeh
away one by one on the big CLOCK
In the corner. the moon hung round
and golden above the mountain peaks
In the west: In the east streak OF
whittier light appeared. broadened and
decpened. The girls shadow disap-
pcarcd from the floor; 1t lay in front
OF her on the door stone.
The COW was cropping the grass on
the roadside. her breathing deep and
contented. LodIe. the next neighbor'
came up the rond with bucket. HIS
we'll was low In this dry weather;
Johnson's well was public property at
such times.
"a sheer day" he said apologeticai-
Iy. looking at the brindie.
Dolores reused herself. a SLOW
thought coming To her mind. Il have
been waiting for my father" she said.
rs he still at the tavern"
Iodic held the bucket suspended
half way down the we'll. a dull sur
prise was the Heading expression on
his face.
Don't ye know where he went.
D'Iores? Warn't ye hyar when he
KEN up fer his gun an started ter
hunt thcr COW over yander on ther
mounting? Their cow is hyar;
where's yer feyther?"
A sudden sharp fear woke In her
mind: she arose and faced Iodie. the
sunlight ON her head.
III he went over on the opposite
mountain to hunt Brindle and has not
returned he must have lost his road,
or gotten hurt. or something to keep
him"
Yes" said Lodie. slowly. An
theys want him ct ther court ter-day;
Of he ain't thyar they'll KEN fer him;
thnUsh him
ther thing kyant be settled tell he
goes
lie swung the bucket up on the
edge OF the well and passed down the
r0ad In silence. his slouchlng figure
like blot on the exquisite landscape.
Breakfast was ready. and Dolores
went in and set the potatoes and ba-
con at one side OF the hearth: the
coffee was ready to make; she never
made that till II was ready to be
drank. When all was ready within
she went out to the bank under the
pines. The sun was high and warm.
but under the pines the shadows were
cool and dark; and there she waited
for her father.
BY and by the men of the settle
ncht bNhfteu oNtI thc houhNaih
groups OF twos and threes. Dolores
watched them go. scarce taking her
eyes from them till their slOuching
figures faded and blended with the
yellow road and the rugged paths. AS
they passed they asked for her father.
every one receiving the same reply.
Later. as Dolores watched. n yellow
cloud OF dust arose where the road
and the sky seemed to meet. She
watched II mechanically. As the cloud
appeared and drew nearer out of 1t
appeared a body OF horsemen riding
al sharp pace down the rough road.
They slackencd their pace as they
came up. The girl was plainly dis
cernible in her print gown under the
pines. They halted at the rickety
gate. and one OF them dismountcd and