Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1906-05-03
WITH
TONKA'S Homo,
AID ""'''
Copyright. 1908, by Ruby Douglas

the long study taDle III tue lnluule ol
| the room, heaped with magazines and
| varied collection of pipes. made her
| forget that the nearest human habita-
ton was fifteen miles across the plains.
She paused AZ one of the windows,
| snubbing her nose against the pane,
| Ike a child, and looked out over the
| brown, dusty plains toward the noun
| talns This visit to her bachelor broth
or 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 homesick.
THE sun il shining" she exclaimed
| aloud to the empty room. 1T is only
that funny hazy ring around it that
keeps II from being really bright.
Richard is 50 silly and funny over me.
like hen with one chick. What Ia a
snowstorm. anyhow, but fun? I'm go
Ing to take Tonka out for just 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
indescribable 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 invlgorating quality
that had hitherto made riding a de-
light. There was Il 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 ard
back again"
The murky ring about the sun grew
thicker and thicker until the sun was q
mere pale yellow dinner plate resting
on gray blanket. The wind began to
sting Barbara's face unpleasantly.
"Oh, dear" she said, this isn't any
fun. It's 80 hazy | can't see the ditch,
nnd"-shc turned IN the saddle and
looked about in puzzled wtey-"I can't
see the ranch house either. Why-why,
Tonka, where are WEI"
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
of abruptly, but Barbara pulled her In.
"Sllly thing" she said. II don't want
to go to the irrigating 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,
II want to go home! Don't act like
goose,'
With the aid OF the whip she finally
persuaded Tonka 10 turn. and they
started off in the teeth OF the wind.
The drive OF the snow was so heavy
that Barbara could not see Il 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
he frightened,
ut must be blizzard" she thought.
Richard will be frantic"
For half an hour Tonka struggled
through the binding storm, while the
frightened girl on her back clung to
the reins with numbing hands and
urged her on As the cold grew I'M
bearabe Barbara pulled the pony in
and dismounted,
I've got to walk she thought "or
freeze to the saddle.
With the reins on her arm, she
plunged on, her heart sinking more
and more 1--WE are lost, Tonka.' she
said. lost IN one OF those terrible biz
zardsw She stopped to breathe and
TO mound her aching hands against the
pony'S side.
suddenly Tonku lifted ter head with
a Shrill whiuuy which was answered
from out the storm by another whiuuy,
Barbara looked about eagerly. us IT
only stray pony She thought, "or Is
some one looking for me-
Out OF the whirlwind of snow came
the Shadowy form Of man, like Bar.
bara leading his horse. Barbara's
heart gave great throb
Pa. IsLsaHau" she cGsped
Great heavens. Miss Barbara. what
uoes this meangn exclaimed the man.
turning his back to the gale and shout
uG TO be heard above It.
I'm LOST, called Barbara
This is awful answered the man,
his face tense You poor child Why
on earth did your brother let YOU ont
81 such q day. IL shall cIll him 70
sceuul, for this And / am of ua use.
ellis IS my first experience with an
\",ylc1n blizzard /. too, ann lost"
Btrhara's heart sank. Her months
e4uaiutauec with the yomE ENGLISH,
who was their ueares, me-. hhpr
aul who duriug her visit hE uaeu
,ta. a f,s1 t,,itaa sateis llpiV ts.. t.#s...