Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-20

RlN0u CltlN Dul, lCAHiIAilS {, her fathers treatment of the store keeper, she questioned if the latter would heed her message. She felt herself isolated, but no hint of her bitterness was allowed to reach Mary lyn. The younger girl knew only bright words and unceasing, unselfsh care.
 For one thing Dallas was deeply thankful-Matthews did not trouble the shack. David Bond had told her that when the troops left for the sum- mer campaign the interpreter would ride with them. the evangelist being retained at the fort to fill the others place. The latter declared that. by the pilots report, Lounsbury's name made Matthews Hay back his ears" but that he no longer stormed about los ing the claim.
 And now came the warm days-days in swift, sweet contrast to those just gone Sun and shower banded the sky with triple ares of promise. The robins arrived a plump and saucy crew. Bent bill curlews stalked about, uttering wild and mellow calls. The dwellers of the ground threw up fresh dirt around their burrows. The marsh violets opened pale lilac cups, and the very logs of the shack put forth am bilious sprigs, so that from the front the grotesque head displayed briStle of green whisker. The prairie was awake, blood and soil and sap.
 Ben and Betty showed their high spirits with comical sporting. The mules frolicked together, pitching hind quarters, rearing to box and nipping at Sirnon Fully as gay was he, though his shaggy Hanks were gaunt. He played at goring them or frisked in ungainly circles. Occasionally, how ever he gave signs of ill humor, low cred his broad horns threateningly even at Dallas, paved up the new grown grass and charged to and fro on the bend, his voice lifted in hoarse challenge.
 On the little family the light, the warmth and added duties wrought a good effect. LancaSters grumbling lessened, and he helped to plant some boxes with cabbage and tomato seed that the sutler supplied. Marylyn, coaxed out for an hour or two daily, rewarded Dallas with smiles. Her ap- petite grew Tather to her chagrin), and when she held the looking glass before her she saw faint color in her cheeks.
 To Dallas the spring brought renew ed courage and a vague longing. With the first mild evenings she took to ven turing out, wrapped in her long cloak, for a lonely walk. In her love of the gloaming she was like wild thing. From birth the twilights of the mesa had proved irresistible. When she was a child they soothed her little troubles. In womanhood. if sorrow pressed heavily. they brought her strength. The half light, the soft air and the lack of sound were balm to her spirit.
 Nightly she strayed up the coulee, eastward, south or toward the river, until, early in May, a second incident occurred and interrupted her rambles. She had walked as far as the swale that was part way to the Missouri. There she was startled into a sudden halt. From a point ahead of her and to the left sounded gunshot.
 She sank down cautiously and stayed close to the ground. her fingers steady ing her. her breath suspended. There was no moon. and the stars were ob- scured by clouds. The cottonwoods were q black. shapeless mass. She watched tham
 No answering shot rang out: but, after a long wait, a reply came from the grove. It was a laugh, loud and taunting.
 She stayed crouching and presently saw a small black object leave the big blackness of the trees and advance. Frightened, she arose and retraced her steps, glancing behind her as she went. At the shack. having found the latchstring. she backed into the room.
 Her father and sister were asleep. Next morning. on plea of not wishing to alarm them. she refrained from tell ing of the shot. It may have been a hunter, she reasoned. or a drunken trooper or one of the Shanty Town gang. But the lauEh-it rang in her ears.
 Several twilights passed: then she ventured out again. \ lip of moon was s1s.N ur- stars hung low and white. And when she neaTed the swale she saw. a good distance before her. that small black object separate itself from the grove again and move forward.
 She stopped. She was not frightened now. She knew who 1t was. And when she saw his arms come up and caught the giint of metal she called out to him: Don't, Don't, It's me-
 There was a gu4teucd exclamation. and the arms fsII. Miss Dallas"' he cried and sprang forward
 Fl was sure it was you" she ad- mitted tremulously. And you've been guarding here all the time-'
 L0uasbury was panting. Suppose I'd fredT' he said T had a mind to. Crimfni-'
 "YOu-d "a missed likely Maybe not You see. thought. well that Matthew's or that precious brother of his. they might get tO both ering y0u folks Anyway. ain't it dan ger0us for you tO be out here late like thfsy
 ~It Is for you You get shot at keeping guau1 oa us
 He thuzpei the swale impatieatly with the b1tt o< his gun ~Oh. fl was vou. she persisted