The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1904-07-07
FINDING OF
HER"
By LOUISE ]. STRONG


destinations. until only three were left
to be- stranded by breakdown at II
cluster Of houses called a town. Two
of them were residents of the country.
neighbors returning from business
trip nccessitatcd by the bogus sales Of
a bogus land agent, which had invOlv
ed their property.
The third traveller was woman
from a far New England town, whose
whole life, up to her comedy middle
age. had been spent In the rush and
turmoil of n monster factory. To her
the wide, iIllmitable plain was reve
latiOn OF the vastness of Gods domain,
and she brooded over II In silent,
dreamy contemplation. She smiled and
answered pleasantly when spoken TO.
but had volunteered no Information
concerning herself, and Lee and Balm
bridge felt some curiosity AZ to her
destination.
They knew nobody In the sparsely
settled region beyond who was ex.
pecting company, and such an event
would be news for fifty miles around.
She had accepted the OBTAINING acct.
dent without worry or Impotence and
after supper sat on the porch of the
small hotel. her eyes fixed i'm wonder.
| ing awe upon the distant mountains,
beyond whose peaks streamed the
glory of the setting sun.
"She looks like home" cambridge
said indicating her with nod.
pGha'u fhnt Lind ~ I m ratnrnnI t,yifh
the assurance of knowledge gained by
experience. He was "A married man.
They lOunged out and took bench
near her.
"Going on with the coach. ma'amY'
Lee vcntured after awhile.
"Why, yes" she replied pleasantly,
rousing. I'm going out near Wal
lace"
"Why, that's our postofiice! Just a
shack, you knOw-store and postotficc
together. Are you locating IN that
nelghborhOOd p
Yes, quite near. And you are some
OF our nelghbors? That's good! |
seem to almost know you. I'm Almira
Burton" She laughed like pleased
tIlllU anu DlI pul htI us Nllt III
troduced herself.
The men exchanged startled glances
ut the name, but they shook hands
cordially.
IL am Bob Lee; have wife (best In
the world and four towheads. This
is Whsle cambridge. the old bachelor
who lived by himself" Lee went on
loquaciously.
I'm glad there are children near. |
am going TO miss ours ut home so
dreadfully." she said.
maybe they won't be what you'd
call near" he laughed. "Anything's
near out here inside of twenty miles"
Our quarter section is two miles
south OF Wallace. and the agent said
thcre'd be railroad soon. hope
you're no, far away"
You bought, | reckon" BNinbridge
said. Lands all been taken mp round
here ever so long"
Eyes, that's what the agent said |;
though IL doesn't seem possible. Why,
it's Just one great ocean of land out
here. didn't realize there was so
auckland all taken. But some folks
own miles, don't they?"
Balnbridge nodded, and she went on
with II deprecatory smile at her former
ignorance. "Our place seemed so big
"A hundred and sixty acres-and that
Is big when you've never had even Il
garden spot Just rooms and tiny
mite of dooryurd!'
at does" Lee assented. II came
from that kind of home myself
! hardware clerk and wife teacher
back in Ohio. Tell you, we stretched
out here
He did not say that their "stretch"
covered several miles. as he might
We're going to raise cattle as soon
ms we get started" She seemed sud
denly to feel herself among friends and
neighhors. who had right to know
the prospects and intentions Of the
newcomers I'VE think 1t will be
easier for Tom, and we've heard 1t was
more profitable than ordinary farm
ing"
Tom ia, maybe, your husband?" Lee
insinunted.
Land, no." she laughed, her plump
face rosy. He's my brother-all the
folks I've got | raised him, and, like
me. he's been factory worker all his
life. He's married and has two little
tots, so smart"
Thomas II. and A. Burton-that the
names You bought under?" Bainbridge
queried, with warning glance ut Lee.
why. yes; how did YOU know? Oh,
] expect you saw it In the agents list
of sales"
Yes, ma'nm. and | noticed purticu.
larly because that quarter is right next
to me; in fact, just into mine. OF
course | felt an interest In such near
neighbors"
why, I'm real glad" she said
heartily; real glad. don't feel at all
as If | was going among strangers,
meeting my neighbors this way"
Are you going to live there aloneY'
Lee inquired boldly.
Her face ciouded 81 must for awhile.
l am going to hire duGout or some
kind OF shelter put up, and | want Ia
start things as soon as | can. Toms
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