Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-02-14
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Y EARLY the ii. { boat load OF

staccato:
Yes; but think of the real mountains
we're going to climb"
The girl did not speak for moment,
and when she did her voice was dis
tinctly sorrowful. II feel as though
We're saying goodby to everything
worth while"
"Including me?" asked her escort.
She did not smile, but her accent was
kindly as she answered, Yes, Wayne,
including YOU"
"Oh, sis, you make me tiredv' cried
the boy. "Just as if going west were
bidding goodby to cverythingr' He
heat his thin chest I'm just begin
ming to live now. I'm glad to get away
from the stuffy old town. 1 want to
see something besides Fifth avenue
and Central park"
Wayne Peabody laughed good natur-
eddy down ut the boy. you wouldn't
care If civilization did stop at the west
bank Of the Hudson river, would you?"
II should suy not. Pm tired of it
all-the noise and the pavements and
the heat and the wetness. l want to
get out where the wolves and the
cranes and the cowboys are; want to
hit the trail and find where fathers
camps were"
The girl spoke 'musingly. Its singu-
lar, but have q premonition Of some
dark fate-soue vague sorrow. new
er felt so before-not even on my trip
to Egypt. II don't come back want
you to note that was forewarned.
Let's go forward"
Peabody remarked in low voice:
Louis is transformed already. 1t will
do him all kinds Of good to go west"
Il hope so," she replied rather dreari-
ly, "but he seems unwholesomely ex-
cited at the present moment"
Hell get over that"
81 fear he will be disappointed. Fa-
Tiers trip was made nearly twenty
five years ago, when it was really
wonderful land"
HE is young. He will reimagine It,"
The boy stood like some beautiful an
imal poised for a spring US the ferry
shouldered its clumsy way into the
Jersey dock. He was of less bulk than
his strong, composed, modish sister,
and his face was as dark, US mobile
and us eager as hers was fair and i'm
passive. Peabody experienced once
again twinge of keen regret that Ann
had not some of her brothers radiant
enthusiasm.
Surrounded by porters and wearing
an air Of command, Louis led the way
to the sleeping Cur, impatient Of his
sisters elaboration. On one hip he
carried pair of large field glasses and
over the other costly camera, while
half concealed cases Of pencils and
pads of drawing paper bullying from
his pockets announced his artistic In
tentlon.
AS the time for the train to start
drew near Peabody strove to win some
softer word from Ann, but she was
not Of those who manifest emotion.
: Her training and her temperament
We're alike opposed to easy expression
When he tried to take her hand sec
ond time with eyes that entreated she
, recoiled. -.
mo, no! You have no right to expect
! thut"
He was no longer u boy, and he was
bred to self control; therefore, though
his voice trembled little, he spoke
quietly: "Goodby, Ann. Write every
: day, won't you?"
In voice which chilled him she re
piled: Every day is pretty often, but
you will hear from me. Go and SEE
mother, please. She will not say SO
but she will be glad to have you come
Depend upon me-" he said, lifting
his hat. His bearded face betrayed NJ
emotion, but his eyes were hot will
pain and grief.
The girl OH her part felt n suddei
twinge Of remorse as she left hin
there. fine, strong, manly suitor. wht
uttered no complaint, though SIN
wounded him. The twitching Of hi
lips troubled her, but she did not re
lent. In her heart she said: II can
help it. 1t isn't in me. He shouldn't
ask it,
Louis threw himself Fat on the coucl
in their stateroom and said boyishly
Gee! We're OF ut last. Now let he
whiz. This old train can't go fas
enough for me-"
Looking down at him at that mo
ment, AIMS bosom swelled with al
emotion almost maternal. "How thil
he is," she thought, Us her eyes took II
his slight body. "I'll go. I'll do any
thing for him, If only he can grow
strong and WE'LL"
She loved that slender lad and as
Isumed for him IL greater weight of car
and hope and fear than fei any othe
, human being He WA, ST. Ike his ia
ther-the soul restless us flame, tn
slender body racked, worn with end
less enthusiaslns, the burning, mes
merle eyes and the delicate mouth. Al
these she had known and valued Il
her father, and when the doctor SER
ously advised the Rocky mountains sh
readily gave up her own plans, an,
here and now she sat, rushing towar,
the west to town repulsive to her,
place of emptiness and WEAKNESS, a SC
| cial desert, where no one lived but he
cousins, the Barnetts, to whose hos
pitable door they were bound as voy
ayers on u wide sea to Il snug harbol
4 w lluOuI luuL uOIuc us u punt VI III
rival Ann Rupert would have been Il
such uncertainty of mind as besets
sailor on u chartless sea.
4 She was making this abhorrent tril
in order that her brother might thrIv
in his physical well being as well rs II
\ his art He had recently determined
\ on being an illustrator of wild ANNA
books. Pm going to study them u
first hand" he repeated often, 9TH
| way Melborn Foster has done. And
besides, / want to illustrate father
Journal" This journal. the record of .
"trip into the west made by Philip Ru
| pert before his marriage. had come Il
4 he the most powerful Influence in thu
lads life. 1t was worn little rec
! book in which the father had writer