Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-08-21
CHAPTER VII.
The Strayed Cow.

The strayed Cow.
Dolores sat in the doorway walt
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 llstlcss attitude in her lap.
her dark head resting against the
unpalnted door post. her grave face
ard thoughtful eyes raised to the
heavens. The moonlight falling across
her face defined II clear and perfect
as marble: upon the clean bare noor
behind her lay her shadow long and
dark.
The night was silent: the distant
sound of rude singing from the tav'
rrn died away; the lights wen; 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
away one by one on the big clock
In the corner. the moon hun. round
aud golden above the mountain peaks
In the west: In the east "A streak OF
whittier light appeared. bruadcned and
dccpencd The girls shadow dlsap-
pcarcd 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
contcntcd. l.pdic. III" next ncishbor.
came up the road with n bucket. His
well was low In this dry weather.
Johnson's well was public property at
such times.
"a sheer day" he said apologctIcal.
~. looking ut the brlniic.
Dolores reused herself. n slow
thought coming To her mind, Il have
been waiting for my father" she said.
'iS he stIll at the ,aycrnT"
Iodic held the bucket suspended
half way down III" we'll; a dull sur
prise was the LEADING expression ON
hts face
Don't yc know where he went.
piorcsg warnt - hyar when he
KEN up for his sun an started ter
hunt Ihcr COW over yandcr on ,hcr
monntingg Thcr COW Is hyar:
where's yer fcythcTg''
4 sudden sharp fear woke In her
mind: she arose aud faced Lode. the
sunlight ON her head.
III he went over on IA" opposite
mountain To hunt Brindic aud has no,
returned he must have lost his road.
or gotten hurt, or something TO Keep
him"
Yes" said Lode. slowly. AN
thcyK want him 4 ihrr court t"F.day:
81 hc ain't thyaF they IN kem fer hlm:
,hcyA nwcarrd they'd hcy him. fer
,hcr thing Eyant be settled tell he
Eocs.'
lie AWunE the bucket up ON the
cds. uf the well and passed down tho
road In silence. his sIouchinR fRurc
like blot on the exquisite landscape.
breakfast was ready. and Dolores
went In and set the potatoes and la
COZ at one side OF the hearth: ;hc
coffee vas ready to make: she never
made that TIL Il vas r-sdy to be-
drank when all vas ready within
she went out to the hank under the
pines. The Hun VAS hish and warm.
hut under the pines the shadows scrc
cool and dark: aud there she waited
for her father.
By and by the men Of the settle
mcnt started over the mountain In
grpupA of twos and thrccs Dolores
watched thcm so. scarce taking her
eyes frnm them I'LL their slouchinE
figures faded and blended with the
yellow road and tho rugged paths. As
they passed they asked for her father.
every one receiving the same reply.
Later, as Dolores watched. yellow
cloud Ot dust arose where the road
aud the sky seemed To meet. She
watched II mechanically. As the cloud
appeared and drew nearer out OF IL
appeared a body Of horsemcn riding
AT sharp pace down the rough road.
They HlaCkcncd their pace a. thcy
came M. The Girl was plainly dis.
ccrniblc In her print gown under the
pines. They halted at the TickGty
gate. and one OF them dlsmountcd and