Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-03-09
FINDING OF
I" HER"
By LOUISE ]. STRONG
.... Copyright, 1903, by T. C. Mcclure.

as the travellers reached their various
destinations until only three were left
TO be stranded by a breakdown at u
cluster of houses called town. Two
of thesl were residents of the country,
neighbors returning from a business
trip necessitated by the bogus sales of
bogus land agent. which had involv-
ed their property.
The third traveller was woman
from far New England town, whose
whole life up to her comedy middle
age. had been spent in the rush and
turmoil of ii monster factory. To her
the wide, illimitable plain was reve-
lation of the vastness of Gods domain,
and she brooded over 1t 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 as 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.
Sut uhd dtGtpleu tlle uttulHilE ucCi-
dent without worry or impatience and
after supper sat on the porch of the
small hotel. her eyes fixed in 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 n nod.
lat 1t nJ I .xytth
the assurance of knowledge gained by
experience. He was a married man.
They lounged out and took n bench
near her.
"Going on with the coach. ma'am?"
Lee ventured after awhile.
"Why, yes" she replied pleasantly,
rousing. I'm going out near Wal
lace"
why, that's our postoffice! Just n
shack, you know-store and postoffice
together. Are you locating in that
neighborhood
Yes, quite near. And you are some
of our neighbors? That's goodl l
seem to almost know you. I'm Almira
Burton" She laughed like a pleased
child and put out her hand as she in
troduced herself.
The men exchanged startled glances
at the name, but they shook hands
cordially.
81 am Bob Lee; have a wife (best in
the world and four towheads. This
IS Whsle cambridge, the old bachelor
who lived by himself" Lee went on
ioquaciously.
I'm glad there are children near. l
am going to miss ours at 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
there'd be n railroad soon. | hope
you're not far away"
You bought. | reckon" cambridge
said. Lands all been taken up round
here ever SO long"
Eyes, that's what the agent said;
though II doesn't seem possible. Why.
it's just one great ocean of land out
here. | didn't realize there was so
much-and all taken. But some folks
own miles. don't theyf"
Bainbridge nodded, and she went on
with "A 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 a
garden spot-just rooms and tiny
mite of n dooryard"
ut does" Lee assented. 81 came
from that kind of a home myself
hardware clerk and wife a teacher
back in Ohio. Tell you, we stretched
out here
He did not say that their stretch
covered several miles, as he might.
Were going 10 raise cattle rs soon
as we get started" She seemed sud
denly TO feel herself among friends AMI
neighbors. who had right 10 know
the prospects and intentions of the
newcomers. we think it viii be
easier for Tom, and we've heard it was
more profitable than ordinary farm
ing"
Tom is, maybe. your husband?' Lee
insinuated.
Land, nor she laughed, her plump
face rosy. Hes my brother-all the
folks I've got. | raised him, and, like
me. he's been a factory worker all his
life. He's married and has two little
tots, so smart"
Thomas Fl. and A. Burton-that the
names you bought under?" Bainbridge
queried, with warning glance at Lee.
why, yes; how did you know? oh,
/ expect you saw it in the agents list
of sales"
Eyes, ma'am, and l noticed particu-
larly because that quarter is right next
TO me; in fact, just into mine OF
course | felt an interest in such near
neighbors."
"Why, Pm real glad~ she said
heartily; "real glad. l don't feel at all
as If 1 was going among strangers,
meeting my peighbors this way"
Are YOU going to live there aloneT'