Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1903-11-20

hard, little laugh. "There Is to be no
such day in my calendar. / can't think
of one thing that am thankful for, UNI
less 1t Is that. this dull life will soon kill
me-"
why, Mrs. Clairi / suppose that yon
were thankful that you and Mr.. Clair
were still living In the borderland of
bliss that lovers imagine will last
There was a moments silence Agatha
was busy fastening the collar of her
pretty green serge. Outside the window,
opened to admit the crisp autumnal air,
white-faced man leaned against the
house, the golden straw with which he
had been covering the pansy bed blow
ing unheeded about his feet.
Il am thankful that we have emerged
into the land Of common sense. If we
had done 1t a year and a half ago life
might still mean something for me. Now
| see have made a mistake"
Ten minutes later Eugene Clair came
forward to put his wife and Mrs. Ferris
into the waiting carriage He replied
courteously to the question, of his neigh
Dor and az they were starting, said:
"Good-by, Agatha"
But Agatha was too busy covering her
dress with the robe to do more than nod
In reply.
The sun, red and angry looking, was
just disappearing from sight behind the
forest crowned hills west of Agatha's
home when Mrs. Ferris left her at the
gate. The wind walled loudly around the
house and the young wife shivered as
she hurried up the path.
hone EuRene will hava fire. rba
said to herself. "He always remembers
such things"
For once he had not remembered. The
house was empty and cold. On the table
lay a letter addressed, Agatha"
Chilled by nameless terror she car
ried 1t to the window, and by the dim
light, read:
Dear Agatha-I have a chance to 90
with Fowler to Chicago with carload
Of horses. Must start at once and be
gone week. Hardness is coming in
the morning to see about Mamie. Tell
him he can have her for a hundred and
twenty-five dollars. He will pay you.
Take the money and go to Orley, you can
get your new clothes after you get there.
Stay as long as you like and enjoy your
self. I'll get along nicely, and if Fow-
Ter makes me a good offer l will go d.
rectly to the lumber camps for the win
ter. Ever yours,
EUGENE"
"Sold Mamie" Agatha gasped. Gu
gene gone for a week and l am to tell
Hardness that he can have Nannier'
Mamie was a beautiful black colt.
Agatha knew how proud her husband
was of the intelligent animals beauty
and grace. She had often heard him de-
clare that money could not buy her. And
Hardness was noted for his cruelty, the
last person into whose hands Eugene
would be willing to place Mamie.
Then that mention of the lumber
camps and the hint that he might not re-
turn. What did 1t all mean? Was it
because OF her words that morning that
he was trying so hard to secure money
When the hired man, who lived in the
tenant house, brought In the milk, Aga
tina learned that Eugene had made ar
in case he did not come back.
He asked me If Margie and me would
sleep here" Tom concluded. "Said it |
would only be a few days as you was
goin' away. Margie, she'll take the milk
them"
AhStOuu VI bleepinB THAT night, Agatha |
Clair thought. One result of her think |
ng was that when Hardness came in |
The morning she told him he could not
have Mamie.
Il hardly expected Gene would part |
With her" the man said, good humoredly.
Would another ten be any inducementf :"
Agatha shook her brown head decid-
IDLY. Nothing you can offer will induce
Is to let Mamie 60"
Fowler was to return THANKSGIVING
morning. Would Eugene come with him,
II would he go north? There was no
way OF communicating with him. There
vas nothing Agatha could do. Nay, there
vas one thing-she could pray. Some
lines she would fall upon her knees and
lssail heaven with prayers that were de-
hands. Again the peace that had filed
Ter heart when a child at her mothers
ide came to her, and she trustingly ask
d that Eugene might come home to find
different wife from the one whose dis
ontent had driven him away.
Thanksgiving came. The sky was gray
nd lowering, while the east wind