La Junta tribune., 1906-11-24
LUNDQUIST
By NORMAN II CROWELL

IL was evening on the Dakota prai-
rie- Before the door of his sod shAaty
young man whose naxea hair pro-
claimed his Scandinavian lineage
stood. engaged in the engrossinS dUy
OF feeding his shepherd dog. As lie
tossed the crumbs the dog would leSp
nimbly upward and catch them neatly
rs they descended
"Ah. Jim" he calculated. presently.
- veek-maybe two week and sAs
ban here"
He gazed straight At the dying Sun
and murmured the word "Hilda" in .
subdued voice Then he walked to Q
bench beside the door and sat down.
folding his strong young arms across
his breast. while the dog crept up
and buried his nose in his masters
lap.
II had been q year OF revefses with
LundQuist He had labored hard-uo
man could put more honest toll Into
the struggle with . penurious soil
than he-and 1t seemed nov a. II all
was for naught- Beginning With
vet. disheartening spriag. the season
had crept on, piling up against him its
mute but potent protests in q manner
that had discouraged many less
hardy man. His best horse. bscoming
entangled In the only wire fence
within 20 miles. had been sacrificed
to the casualty list of frontiers
mans life. By mortgaging his crop
he had secured another.
He vas nov facing his annual inter-
est payment. while the storekeeper in
the town . dozen miles away was
growing suspicious and was demand
ing payment of an open account. His
crops-only puny stacks Of discolored
wheat straw standing Imply awaiting
the threshing.
this as he sat on the bench before his
abode. Hilda was coming to him.
Hilda. from far-of Norway. Six years
1t had been since he had gazed into
her eyes-six years since he had
stolen aside In the crush at the en-
.. barking and kissed her many times on
her willing lips. The thought Of II
brought smile to Lundquist's sun
tanned visage. The dog saw 1t and
wagged his tail In recognition OF his
masters mood
Two years ago she would have
come. but he set his teeth firmly and
sent her that letter which had wrung
his heart. Watt" he had told her.
Walt till Fortune smiles more bright
ly on these bleak Dakota prairies! 1t
was q bitter thing to do. but Lund-
Quist saw no other course.
Only last year she was prevented
from coming by the sickness OF hsr
mother. Nothing. not even poor
| crops. now stood in the way OF her
/ coming. and she was now In mid
| ocean on the steamer that was bear
ing her westward-to Carl.
In q little box under his bunk he
had every letter that Hilda had writ
ten him. They were good reading
during the long winters evenings.
The steamer agent had said that
she should reach Quebec on the 18th.
1t was now the 9th.
On the 18th LundQuist went to
town. He walked up and down the
| single street. keeping close watch on
the depot until the afternoon train
had passed. He rode the IL miles
/ home In moody silence.
The following day he went to town
again and In the evening. when he
went back toward home. his face was
haggard and wan from his days vigil.
He was getting worried. What could
be keeping Hilda? Had something
gone wrong? Lundquist slept little
that night.
ha RruN tv,
months. barked piteously and his
master. starting guiltily. made haste
to throw some bread to the animal.
Pore Jim!" said he. "Ay 70 get
yo'. eh?"
Lundquist essayed a laugh, but II
died away hollowly.
The next day he had stalked by the
post ONCE Ave times in sulky silence
when ho heard some one call his
nome. He paused and entered.
Banks. the postmaster. had q letter
In his hand.
Letter for you, Carl!" he said.
"Came this morning!"
Lundquist took It in his hand and
edged away to a corner OF the little
ONCE. It was a queer letter-all in
print, like a newspaper. Lundquist
bent over 1t and wrinkled his brow.
Read 1t for your" suggested the
postmaster. expectantly.
ia! Yo read hem," assented
Lundquist, perplexedly.
The letter was a cruel stab to the
eager listener. Hilda was detained in
Quebec. The medical authorities had
examined her and found her suffering
with an aniiction OF the eyes that
would prohibit her entry unless
speedily cured. To do this q sum-
cient amount Of money must be ad-
vanced by Lundquist to insure pay