The Somerset reporter., 1906-05-24
WITH
BY
TONKA'S Honor.
AID ''
Copyright. 1906. by Ruby Douglas

Barbara wandered about the great,
pleasant room restlessly. She liked the
huge fireplace. with whips and rifles
above the mantel The touches, with
the fur robes tossed across them and
the long study table In the middle of
the room, heaped with magazines and
a varied collection of pipes. made her
forget that the nearest human habita-
ton was fifteen miles across the plains.
She paused at one Of the windows.
snubbing her nose against the pane,
like a child, and looked out over the
brown. dusty plains toward the noun
tains. This visit to her bachelor broth
er was suddenly proving lonely, since
he had forbidden her her daily ride be-
cause of threatening snow. Until to-
day everything on the ranch had been
so new and strange to this eastern girl
that she had forgotten to be homeslck.
The sun is shining" she exclaimed
aloud to the empty room. ut is only
tIdl ldhllg Nay ing dlOullNl IL tLhl
keeps 1t from being really bright.
Richard is so silly and funny over me,
like a hen with one chick What is a
snowstorm anyhow, but fun? I'm GO
ing to take Tonka out for just a little
while"
All Lee, peering from the kitchen
window a little later, shook his pig
tailed head obviously at the sight of
slender figure in a heavy riding habit
making its way toward the stables.
ME no like missy glo," he said.
weather velly bad" Then, with an
indescribahle gesture not unmIxed
with disdain, he calmly washed his
hands of the matter and went on with
his pie making.
Barbara found the stables deserted,
but Tonka nosed her softly with vel
come in her great eyes. and pony and
girl swung eagerly out beyond the cor
raj to the open plain. Barbara shiv
cred a good deal at first. The air
lacked that clear. invgorating quality
that had hitherto made riding a de
light. There was raw wind rising
that penetrated her heavy habit
1--WE won't go far today, Tonka,' she
said. with chattering teeth-"just the
five miles out to the irrigating gate and
back again"
The murky ring about the sun grew
thicker and thicker until the sun was a
mere pale yellow dinner plate resting
on n gray blanket The wind began to
sting Barbara's face unplcasautly.
ooh, dear" she said, this isn't any
fun. It's so hazy can't see the ditch
nnd"-she turned In the saddle and
looked about in a puzzled way-"I can't
see the ranch house either. Why-why,
Tonka, where are we"
She looked up into the sky. but dur
ing her short moment Of uncertainty
the sun had become totally obscured,
and as she looked fine driving parti-
cles of snow pelted her face Tonka
shook her head stubbornly and started
off abruptly. but Barbara pulled her in.
SILLY thing" she said. 81 don't want
to go to the irrgating ditch We must
get home as soon as ever we can"
But Tonka had ideas Of her own on
the subject AS Barbara pulled on the
rein she shook her head again and
started to back
"Tonka," scolded Barbara raising
her voice above the roar Of the wind,
~ want to go home! Don't act like a
goose"
with the aid Of the whip she finally
persuaded Tonka to turn, and they
started off in the teeth Of the wind.
The drive Of the snow was so heavy
that Barbara could not see a horses
length In front of her The cold was
so intense that she felt as II her face
were being scared. and she began to
be frightened.
at must be a blizzard" she thought
Richard will be frantic"
For half an hour TOnka struggled
through the binding storm, while the
frightened girl on her back chung to
the relns with numblng hands and
urged her on. AS the cold grew un
bearable Barbara pulled the pony In
and dismounted
1--WE got to walk" she thought, cor
freeze to the saddle"
With the reins on her arm, she
plunged on, her heart sinking more
and more. I'VE are lost, Tonka,' she
said lost In one of those terrible biz
yards" She stopped to breathe and
to pound her aching hands against the
pony's side
Suddenly Tonka lifted her head with
a shrll whnny, which was answered
from out the storm by another whlnny.
Barbara looked about eagerly. rs 1t
only a stray pony" she thought, "or is
some one looking for me-"
Out of the whirlwlnd Of snow came
the shadowy form OF a man. like Bar
bara, leading his horse. Barbara's
heart gave great throb.
"Mr. Ingraham!" she gasped.
Great heavens, Miss Barbara, what
does this mean?" exclaimed the man.
turning his back to the gale and shout
g. Ia 81.