Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1907-06-08
A Chapter from Life


ply a voice called out to him to come
In. 1t was a curious voice, fiat anC
strained, as though it were an effort tc
speak. Expecting to see an invalid, the
stranger stepped into the room.
a man OF not more than 80 lay back
In a rocker, his thin, siclly hands, ex.
tended on his knees, his face pinched
and gray-looking
I'm afraid you're ILL.," the visitor
said. Il was going to ask your hos
pitality for an hour or two. We've
been travelling since daybreak and the
horses want a rest but If you'd rather
not be bothered, don't mind saying so.
dare say we can find something else,
though you're not what could be called
densely populated up here" he added
with a pleasant smile.
No, don't go-stay," said the man.
eagerly. I'm a bit Of an invalid, but
| that doesn't matter. It's a treat to see
somebody from the outside world, and
you don't look as If you belonged to
these parts"
Il come from Winnipeg. My names
Drummond, and I'm going up to Black
foot Creek on business. l suppose you've
heard that they've struck oil there"
Il hear nothing. One might as we'll
be dead as live here-better"
Mr.. Drummond glanced around the
room. 1t was a little whitewashed
place, with the usual stove in the cen
Ter, Its long pipe piercing the ceiling
10 warm the upper rooms Through
the window he could see the potato
patch and the fields beyond, beginning
70 sprout into greenneSs. Spring was
on, the prairie, which was covered with
delicate little pink and blue flowers,
which futtered to and fro in the wind
like a waving curtain.
Altogether one might have had more
unpleasant surroundings, he thought
Il suppose it is a bit dreary in the
winter" he said. There wouldn't be
much to do then"
There's nothing. You feel like
castaway on a desert island. Nobody
comes near you, and you hear and see
nothing. You sit over the red-hot stove
until you're half-baked on one side.
while the ley wind finds its way
through every crack and freezes you on
the other. The days are long enough.
but the nights are worse when you lie
awake listening to the coyotes howling
down by the spring, and the wind tears
over the prairie like demon let loose"
You don't look fit for the life"
Drummond said compassionately, LOOK
ing at the thin, refined face and listless
figure You need the comforts of civ
lliZation. 1t takes a strong man to
face this sort Of existence and get any
good out Of it."
IT'S not any choice Of mine, I've new
err been used to it. My wife had
fancy to come up here, but l think
she's almost had enough of it."
II shouldn't have thought there could
be any attraction for lady in such
place. There isn't even much sport"
He concluded that the mistress of the
house must be of robust physique with
manly tastes to take to the wilderness
from choice.
He altered his mind when he saw
her come IN.
She was tall and slender, with rather
hard face, which had probably been
pretty before toll and exposure to all
weathers had aged and roughed 1t.
Hers was the slenderness of strength
and clean proportions; she was as
straight and upright as a dart. Drum
mOnd thought what contrast she made
to her husband. But though he was
not prepossessed by her appearance
and her chilly greeting increased the
feeling-she was quite different from
the loud, sporting woman he had imag.
lned. She put a bowl Of potatoes down
by her husband. who appeared to be
embarrassed. This gentleman will ex.
cuse you getting on with these" she
said, with a nervous laugh. They are
wanted for dinner. Shall l show youI
man the stables?" she added turning tc
Drummond. You will want shake
down for your horses"
Don't let me trouble you. can fine
them myself or anybody can show me
the way"
There is nobody but me and Gran
and he is engaged Just now. My hus
band, as you see. Is not strong enough
70 do much. so we nave changed places
lie looks after the house aud does an!
little jobs he can"
Drummond could say no more HI
lcausht a half-shan.ed half-DleadIni