The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-30
CHAPTER XXXII

" HE wide valley was brown,
1 with green splots and trac-
E7=SssS=S! ings for slough and stream.
49, The distant ranges were
gray. The sky showed the misty blue
Of the dog days. Far off to the north
and west black streaks edged the hori-
zon, where smoke rolled up from prai-
RE fires
Brannon was quiet 10 the point OF
lethargy. Guard was mounted and
daily dress parade held tremendously.
The trumpet blew its unvarying round
of commands. There was no hunting
and no field duty beyond the scouting
of the eastern shore The hoarse sa-
Lutte of an upward plying steamer rous-
ed the garrison to life one morning.
but the interruption lasted barely half
an hour. Then the steamer. her pilot
house screened by sheet iron and her
decks a-swarm with infantry, rounded
a bend In the river and went coughing
away out of sight. Once again inter
est centered at the site of the pony cor
raj. where a platform was slowly
building
Life at the shack was even less
eventful For Dallas it was a season
of idleness. The pumpkins and the
melons were swelling. The tasseled
corn wanted weeks before it would
ripen. The field and garden were free
of weeds. With no work to do. alone
except for her sister, the elder girl had
ample time to worry
Marylyn saw that she was dispirited
and increased in tenderness toward
her, following her about with eyes
that entreated vet were not sad. At
breakfast she spitted the choicest cuts
for Dallas. In the noon heat she was
at her elbow with a dipper of ginger
beer; at supper cOaxed the elder girls
failing appetite by offerings of tasty
stew, white -four dumplings and pone
AS for herself, Marylyn needed neither
urging nor tidbits. She ate heartily.
Her sleep was rest for both body
and mind. Every afternoon she stroll
ed across the bend to the cottonwoods.
The butterflies Jared beside her. Over
head between sun and earth hung le-
gions of grasshOppers like a haze.
Underfoot bluebell and sun1lower nod
ded. And the grove was a place for
dreams
And Dallas-was q wild thing that
cannot tell Of its wound.
She uttered no complaint even to
Simon. The outburst that followed
Lounsbury's return was her first and
last. She questioned now If her suf-
fering justified a lament. In this she
resembled her mother A woman com
ing to the section house one torrid day
remarked wonderingly that Mrs. Ian
caster gave mary a whimper" The
latter looked up with a smile Il don't
think I'm sick enough" she said. 9th
er people worse off have a right to
groan." Dallas, certain that Mary
lyn'S heartache was the keener, would |
not be behindhand in restraint. and
her sisters happiness. forethought and |
desire to please all drove the thrust of
penitence to the hilt and turned the |
knife in that secret wound.
She found no solace in Marylvn's |
friends of the calico covers Her
thoughts were too tempestuous for that. |
They were like milling cattle Around |
and around they tore, mingling and
but stllling in the end to fol
low the only course-self denial. Once
so rebellious, she was growing meek at
last-meek and full of contrition. She
was coming to dwell more. too. on the
lessons that the evangelist had taught
her. She was coming to think of lean
ing where David Bond had leaned
she who had always been q prop.
There was the old terror that had
stalked beside her down to her moth
er's death. She had fought her way
with it, and the conflict had given her
strength. There was the jealousy that
lad smirched her sister love She had
fought it, too. and bitterly, scorning it
because she knew it for a hateful in,
leritance. Now was come a third mis-
Try and the worst. She saw herfelf as
| traitor. This was not mere reproach.
t was the torture OF a stricken con-
science
Her face grew thin, her hand IN
iteady, her eyes wore q hunted look. ;
1t night hers were the scalding tears
hat dampened the pillow.
And so the days went by. Whatever
'angs of remorse. whatever longing
he endured, she remained faithful to
he resolution that she would not give
way to temptation again. But every
light brought the lonely watcher to
he swale
CT APTTP XVVTTT