The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-20
THE EVENING STOR
Marcia,s Ride.
(By Anne Heilman.)

|
made its disappearance a distinct re-
lief. 1t cast no long afternoon shad-
ows, for between Marcias eyes and
the far horizon stretched only a roll
ing sea OF prairie grass, Drowned all
most to a stubble.
See anythin of pap?" asked
querulous voice from the squeaky
wooden rocker near the back door.
He's coming" the girl answered
1istlessly. Then in a brisker, brighter
II! you'd think she was on her first
mile, and I'll wager my new hat pas
kept that pace for the whole trip.
Bless the pretty creature!''
She's fine mare. Marshy. There
amt many ia Nebrasky slicker, less
it's Charlie Keith's roam with
covert glance; wei. if you'n dish
the supper III get the butter an pre-
'All right! Hello, father. Back
| again Hcw's Bonnie BELIEF
Clippers ever, Marshy See her
reach for We, darter? 1 vow she's got
more sense than some humans. Sup
per ready? How's ma %
Better, and suppers on the table.
III unsaddle Belle. Any mail, father?"
|! wall, now, they want any letters,
carter. but here's the paper. swan
but it's lively times down to Prairie
City. Boomers till We can't rest, an
We hear nothin' but braggin' about the
K1owa reservation an the ride fer, it
next Sat'day. There's settlers pilin'
in by every train, an cowboys, an
chance fer an old Teller like me- Yes,
ma, I'm comin'r'
He entered to the impatient invalid,
and Marcia led her blooded mare to
the shed stable After removing the
saddle and bride the girl suddenly
broke into a dry sob and leaned her
head against the pretty creatures
sleek side.
he? 1t can't be that little quarrel at
the dance. I hate Tom Hobson''-
passionate1y-"I only went with him
because because I didn't care to
show I preferred Charlie when they
came up at the same minute. 1t
couldn't he, understand? Men are
idiots!" ff
Half laughing, half sobbing. she
gave her pet a gentle rundown, adding
she turned toward the cabin.
We need rain awfulIy,'' she sighed,
cas much as we need money. oh, what
alhfe! Work. work. work, ana for what?
it isn't these, it is sandstorms and cy-
clones There's no use trying to get
ahead in this wretched countryp''
What We mutterin' over Marshy?'
supper table. Come in an read the
news to your ma, the papers full of it,
of what?" said Marcia obviously
Why wasn't tellin' We! OF the
ment+ givin' out Injun lands.
swan, if was younger I'd make a race
for it myself. I know Bonnie Belle
could do it. She came from the CITY to-
night in forty minutes and never turned
a hair"
Marcia began to read of that vast
eruption of the stranger and the ten
derfoot," which was Transforming the
small, sleepy town into a noisy buster
ing, open-all-night, fakir-ridden city
nearing its hundred thousand inhabi-
tants, the better portion intent upon
claiming home at the opening. while
the remainder were as intent upon
plumber, lawlessness and deviltry Marcia
read hstlessly for a time, then with
growing excitement.
It'll be a wonderful sight pa that
ride. How | wish that we could get a
town lot at Kiowa, and make a home
there! could teach, then. and you could
perhaps start a mill again, father. and
we'd give up fighting the storms and
bugs on this old ranch. If you only
couldr'
Yes, darter, but I couldn't. How's a
man to make SIGH a run when he can't
move his bride arm 'thout pain ketch-
in him? Pap's too old, an too clumsy,
my girl"
Marcia lay awake far into the night,
thinking. planning. revolving.
It was nothing unusual for Marcia to
ride over to Prairie City for visit
She had schoolmates there who were
always glad to see her, and possibly
other interests drew. her in that direc-
ton. It was the town Charlie Keith
called home, and in which he spent his
brief vacations. Here Marcia had met
him often in the past two years of her
happy school life, and there she had,
seemingly, irrevocably offended him by
one of those sudden, girlish freaks, so
inexplicable to a lover.
She had neither seen nor heard
from him since. Her father noted the
cessation of certain frequent letters,
and the sadness on his darling's beau
When she asked the next morning If
she might s2end the rest of the week
with Fife barrow, in Prairie City, he
GLADLY gave consent
The next two days would have test |
ed the resolution of most men. and did |
sap the strength of many, as they |
stood IN line under the blazing Ne |
braska sun, blistered with heat, parch- |
ed with thirst. gritty and blind with |
the powdered dust. waiting their slow
turn at the registration booth But |
Marcia was a determined girl, and was |
accustomed to hardshiDs. She had |
galloped miles over the sunswept prai- I
ries, she had slept more than once with /
beneath. and she knew what endur-
ance meant. She had started on this /
mad scheme in a mood of strained
excitement. Her lovers continued /
silence, her hateful. monotonously /
barren existence had wrought her feel
ings to pitch where almost any act
was possible; nor did the strain loosen
until her registration was accomplish
ed at sunset of the second day.
1t was five minutes to twelve on that
brassy, sandswept Saturday, and Mar
cia Brooks. mounted on her brave /
chestnut, stood with many thousand
ntf1ars In that rnightY line of battle.