Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-08-07
CHAPTER I.

the forward gates, ready to
= spring out upon the Jersey
wharf, FESTIVE to reach the waiting
trains, but quite apart from all these
whose faces were set westward three
people "a girl, man nearing forty and
slim lad-llngered on the after deck
as though loath to take their leave Of
the imperial city.
The resemblance Of the INDUSTRIOUS
hive of humankind to height of land
was SO marked, SO singular, that the
girl remarked upon it, and the boy, a
pale lad of seventeen, cried out in shrlll
staccato
eyes; but think Of the real mountains
we're going to climbl''
The girl did not speak for a moment,
and when she did her voice was dis
tinctly sorrowful. IT feel as though /
were saying goodby to everything
| worth while"
Including mel" asked her escort.
She did not smile, but her accent was
kindly as she answered, Eyes, Wayne,
including you"
"Oh, sis, you make me tiredp' cried
the boy. "Just as If going west were
bidding goodby to everything!" He
beat his thin chest. ''I'm just begin
ming to live now. I'm glad to get away
from the stuffy old town. want to
see something besides Fifth avenue
and Central park"
Wayne Peabody laughed good natur-
eddy down at the boy. you wouldn't
care II civilization did stop at the west
! bank Of the Hudson river, would your
II should say not I'm tired of 1t
all-the noise and the pavements and
the heat and the wetness. 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. tits singu-
lar, but have a premonition Of some
dark fate some vague sorrow. new
er felt so before-not even on my trip
| to Egypt. If don't come back want
you to note that / was forewarned.
Let's go forward"
Peabody remarked in low voice:
Louis is transformed already. It will
do him all kinds Of good to go west"
II hope So" she replied rather dreari-
", "but he seems unwholesomely ex-
cited at the present moment"
| Hell get over that"
II fear he will be disappointed: Fa-
theirs trip was made nearly twenty
| ave 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 as 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, as mobile
| and as eager as hers was fair and I'M
passive. Peabody experienced once
| again a twinge Of keen regret that Ann
had not some Of her brothers radiant
4 enthusiasm.
Surrounded by porters and wearing
| an air of command, Louis led the way
to the sleeping car, impatient Of his
sisters deliberahon. On one hip he
carried a 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
| tention.
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
were alike opposed to easy expression
When he tried to take her hand sec
ond time with eyes that entreated she
recoiled.
mo. mol You have no right to expect
| that!"
| He was no longer boy. and he was
bred to self control; therefore, though
his voice trembled little, he spoke
quietly: "Goodby, Ann. Write every
day, won't your"
1 In voice which chilled him she re
Piled: EVERY day is pretty often, but
! you will hear from me. Go and sex
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 witt
pain and grief.
The girl on her part felt sudden
twinge of remorse as she left hin
there. fine. strong. manly sutton. whit
uttered no complaint, though sht
wounded him. The twitching Of hill
lips troubled her, but she did not re
lent. In her heart she said: II cam
help it. It 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 off at last. Now let hel
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 thir
he Isl she thought, as her eyes took Ii
his slight body. "I'll 60. I'll do any
thing for him, II only he can grow
strong and WELL"
She loved that slender lad and as
sumed for him greater weight Of car,
and hope and fear than for any othel
human being. He was 10 like his IA
ther-the soul restless as fame, thu
slender body racked. worn with end
less enthusiasms, the burning, mes
meric eyes and the delicate mouth AL
these she had known and valued ii
hd father, and when the doctor seri
ously advised the Rocky mountains sh,
| readily gave I'D her own plans. ant