The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-12-14
STORy

rows would rise up out of the dead
grass and whirl away like withered
leaves borne aloft on an autumn
breeze, while near the roadside saucy
little prairie dogs perched above their
holes and chartered and barked def
ance at the dilapidated vehicle as 1t
went numbering by.
On board across the front part of
the wagon, lines in hand, sat girl ap-
parently not more than nineteen years
old, though she was in reality twenty
one. A mass of dark gold curls peeped
from under the hood that covered her
shapely head, her eyes were bright
hazel, and the breath of chill wind that |
crept up under the canvas gave vivid |
color to her pretty cheeks.
Faith, how much farther is 1t to |
Uncle Ethan's" anxiously inquired a |
youth Of ten who occupied low bench |
that stood in the center Of the wagon
bed.
"a long way yet, dear, am afraid"
replied the girl. more than hundred
miles, should say
"Then we tan't have no Trismus,"
plaintively sighed curly haired mite
scarcely more than five years old, who
lay half buried in the folds Of huge
buffalo robe. a
I'm afraid our Christmas will be
rather dreary. Bessie" responded
Faith, momentary shadow crossing
her fair face, "but let us be thankful
we q vNin oh
cold,'' she added quickly, casting her
eyes about the interio. Of the canvas
covered wagon, then out across the
dreary stretch of houseless prairie up
on which a few scattering flakes Of
snow were beginning to falL
At the rear end of the wagon was
pile of bedclothes. while in clear
place near the middle stood a small
heating stove, in which cheerful wood
fire was burning. On the ridgepole at
the top of the bows hung several cook
ing utensils, and under the front seat
was good sized provision box, con
tanning part Of sack of Hour, some
sides Of bacon, tea, sugar and few
other necessary articles of food.
A little less than a year prior to the
present time Faith Haskins' father had
died, leaving her alone on bleak Ne
braska claim and with her little broth
er and sister, Clinton and Bessie, to
care for. Their mother had been taken
from them only eight months before
her husband. The condition was
aeliou, one, as they were left verT
Door, ,and there seemed nothing in the
future sufficiently hopeful to mitigate
heir grief. Faith however, true to
or l.amc, cid not despair, but went
.:.avc.3- 10 work to support herself and
lie c;1i.d.en During the summe-, With
3lts l.s..:. sha cultivated :. sia ~
i.;.1ch OF .s,'o&nS.. ;;.l the winter PIE,
| inus bad e.l!'..c. !. S:.l:s.l sum b. te,c
~: :! ~; taia.i Of &ehool. Relli:.in.
| 1T il ;. Ji:... lie ,:..nost Impossible 81
| in::l II contn.e ,....is mode of life 70.
-. .-4.s i c. ,.:..a, she Ia! Wi tea -
mp ..iat';cr', brother. T. I'm Bar. e..
l Nilo f.:e,i GA IL ranch ia s1l,thwes "a
IA. ~ :'n.l he had advised her to sell
die: s;i,a:%. property aii-i come. WITH
| Clint ~. Jessie and make their hone
| With ii'r'...
y"r:. g.lai:;- had Faith aucsp Ell th,
DER. nv::. tind;ns it impossible to con
ve.; Their few e.-p.ts into cash. she
let tic place in cha ge of Il ran;e.. and,
4 not la. Zig moae- far railroad fare, de-
cidea - make the journay b. wagon.
There We're II score of Ioung claim
hoi.,crs who would have been very
we'll pleased to retain the girl as a
hOusekeeper for themselves, but she
cared for none of them and would not
marry simply for Il home.
1t was a great undertaking, this jour
ney of theirs and at this season of the
year. but it seemed preferable to an
other winter on the claim, and they set
out in apparently good spirits. The
younger ones were indeed happy, as all
children are at the prospect of q
change. They had been travelling for
about two weeks and had reached a
point near the center of western Kan
sas and were pressing on toward "Un-
Gle Ethan's ranch" as fast as the now
jaded mules could take them.
1t was lonely and desolate sight
that met Faiths eyes as they wandered
YEARLY over the brown, cherries plain.
For miles and miles around no sign Of
human habitation broke the monoto-
nous wildness Of the scenery save at
rare intervals when some abandoned
sod shanty or dugout could be dimly
seen, scarcely distlnguishable from the
brown grass which surrounded it.
There ought to be settlement
somewhere near here" remarked the
girl driver as blue line of scrubby
trees doomed up in the distance through
the falling snow. II hope Wen reach
the timber before nlghtfall," she went
on, casting troubled glance at the
threatening SKY.
It was about 4 in the afternoon when