Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1906-11-22
lundquist.
~ NORMAN II. cRowELL.

~ NORMAN n. cRoWELL.
Il was evening on the Dakota prai'
rie. Before the door OF his sod shanty
a young man whose haxen hair pro-
claimed his Scandinavian lineage
stood. engaged In the engrossing duty
OF feeding his shepherd dog. As he
tossed the crumbs the dog would leap
nimbly upward and catch them neatly
rs they descended.
"Ah. JIM" he calculated. presently,
"A week-maybe two week and she
ban here!"
He gazed straight ut the dying sun
I and murmured the word "Hilda" In a
subdued voice. Then he walked TO a
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 reverses with
Lundquist. He had labored hard-no
man could put more honest toll into
the struggle with penurious soil
than he-and II seemed now as II oil
was for naught. Beginning with u
wet, disheartening spring, the season
had crept on, piling up against him its
mute but potent protests In manner
that had discouraged many less
hardy man. His best horse, becoming
entangled In the only wire fence
within 20 miles. had been sacrificed
to the casualty list of a frontiers.
mans life. BY mortgaging his crop
he had secured another.
He was now facing his annual inter.
est payment, while the storekeeper In
the town q dozen miles away was
growing suspicious and was demand.
Ing payment Of an open account. His
cr0ps-Only puny stacks OF discOlored
wheat straw standing Imply awaiting
the threshing.
But Lundquist was forgetting all
this as he sat on the bench before his
abode. Hilda was coming to him.
Hilda. from far-0ff Norway. Six years
Il 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 q smile 10 Lundqnist's sun
tanned vIsage. The dog saw II 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. Walt" he had told her.
Wait till Fortune smiles more bright.
ly on these bleak Dakota prairies! II
was a bitter thing to do. but Lund.
quist saw no other course.
Only last year she was prevented
from coming by the sickness Of her
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 14th.
II was now the 9th.
On the 10th Lundquist went 70
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.
Old Jim, for the first time In
months, barked piteously and his
master. starting guilty, made haste
TO throw some bread to the animal.
Pore JIM" said he, "Ay 10 get
yo', -eh?"
Lundquist essayed q laugh, but It
died away holloway.
The next day he had stalked by the
post once 1--WE times In sulky silence
when he heard some one call his
name. He paused and entered.
Banks, the postmaster. had q letter
In his hand.
Letter for you. CARL" he said.
Game this morning."
Lundquist took Il In his hand and
edged away 10 a corner Of the little
once. II was q queer letter-all In
print. like q newspaper. Lundqulst
bent over II and wrinkled his brow.
Read Il for y0u?" suggested the
postmaster, expectantly.
ia! 70 read hem" assented
Lundqulst, perplexedly.
The letter was q cruel stab to the
eager listener. Hilda was detained in
Quebec. The medical authorities had
examined her and found her suffering
with an afiiction Of the eyes that
would prohibit her entry unless
speedily cured To DO this . SUM-