The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1903-10-08
CHAPTER w.
The etrayed Cow.

| INC otVsyeu SuWs
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, and
had his supper. 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 listless attitude in her lap,
her dark head resting aga.nst the
unpainted door post. her grave face
and thoughtful eyes raised to the
heavens. The moonlight falling across
her face defined II clear and perfect
as marble: upon the clean bare floor
behind her lay her shadow long and
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. low
houses. Dolores began to wonder
vaguely why her father did not come.
Midnight had passed: the hours licked
awny 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 a streak Of
winter light appeared, broadened and
deepened. The girls shadow disap.
peared from the floor; II lay In front
OF her on the door stone.
The COW was cropping the grass on
the roadside. her breathing deep and
contented. Lode. the next neighbor
came up the road with g bucket. His
well was low in this dry weather;
Johnsons well was public property Mt
such times.
"A sheer day" he said apologctical.
ly. looking at die brlndle
Dolores reused herself. a slow
thought coming To her mind. Il have
been waiting for my father" she said.
"Is he still at the tavern?"
Iodie held the bucket suspended
half way down the well; dull sur.
prise was the leading expression on
his face.
Don't ye know where ne went.
D'lores? Warn't ye hyar when he
KEN up fer his gun an started ter
hunt ther COW over yander on ther
mounting? Their COW is hyar;
where's yer feythsr?"
A sudden sharp fear woke In her
mind; she arose and faced Lodie. the
sunlight on her head.
IF 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;
ef he amt thyar they'll KEN fer him:
theys sweared they'd hev him. fer
ther thing kyant be settled tell he
goes"
He swung the bucket up on the
edge OF the well and passed down the
road In silence. his slouching 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
ment started over the mountain In
groups OF twos and threes. Dolores
watched them 20. scarce taking her
eyes from them TIL 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 Il mechanically. As the cloud
appeared and drew nearer out of II
appeared a body Of horsemcn riding
NJ a sharp pace down the rough road.
They slackened 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