The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-07

Tae sun was setting, as for weeks past.
| in hot. merciless glare. which made It's
/ disappearance a distinct relief. 1t cast
no long afternoon shadows. for between
/ Marcia's eyes and the FAR horizon
stretched only a rolling sea of prairie
grass. Drowned almost to a stubble
See anythin' Of pap2" asked queru-
/ lous voice from the squeaky wooden
rocker near the hack door.
He's coming" the girl answered. list
lossly. Then In a brisker, brighter tone;
flow easily Bonnie Belle makes it!
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 d fire mare. Marshy. There
amt many IN Nebrasky slicker. less IFS
/ Charlie Keith's roam" with a covert
glance. well if youn dish the supper
I'm get the butter an preserves, hey?''
"Ai right! Hello. father. Back again
/ EIows Bonnie BELIEF
Clippers ever. Marshy. See her
reach for We. darter? I vow she's got
more sense than some humans Supper
ready? How's MAJ
Better. and supper's on the table. HI
unsaddle Belle. Any mail. father?'
wall, now, they want any letters.
darter. but here's the paperA I swan but
/ it's lively times down to Prairie City.
/ Boomers till &c can't rest. an ye near
nothin' but braggin about the Kiowa
/ reservation an the ride fer it next
[ safe day There's settlers pilin' in by
I every train. an cowboys an blacklegs
galore. Won't be nary chance fer an old
I feller like me. Yes. ma. I'm COMM"
/ He entered to the impatient invalid.
and Marcia led her blooded mare TO the
shed stable. After removing the sadd.=
ard bride the girl suddenly broke into a
/ dry sob and leaned her head against the
pretty creatures sleek side.
"Oh, why don't ] hear? Where is he?
/ II can't be that little quarrel at the
dance I hate Tom Hobson' passion
ately-"I only went with him because
because didn't care TO show ] preferred
Charlie. when they came Up at the same
minute It would have been so marked.
Why couldn't he understand? Men are
idiots."
Half laughing half sobbing. she gave
her pet a gentle rundown, adding food,
drink, and a last caress- Then she turned
toward the cabin.
We need rain awfully." she sighed,
"as much as We need money. Oh, what
a life. Work. work, work. and for what?
[ II it isn't grasshoppers it's fires. and if
/ Il isn't these. il is sandstorms and cy-
clones There's no use trying 10 get
ahead In this wretched country
What ye mutterin' over Marshy?
called her fathers big voice from the
supper table. Come IN an read the news
to your ma, the papers fun Of IT,"
"Of what" said Marcia obviously.
WHY. wasn't / teilin We, OF the open
/ ing OF the reservation. an the gov'ment
givin' ont the Injun lands. 1 swan. if
was younger I'd make a race fer IL my
self l know Bonnie Belle could do 1t.
She came from the city tonight in forty
minutes and never turned hair.
Marcia began 10 read OF that vast
eruption Of the stranger and the ten
derfoot," which was transforming the
small, sleepy town into a noisy buster
ing, 0pen-all-night, faker-Tidden city,
nearing its hundred thousand Inhabitants,
the better portion intent upon claiming d
home at the opening, while the remainder
were as intent upon plunder. lawIessness,
and deviltry. Marcia read hstlessly for a
time. then with growing excitement.
"Itn be a wonderful sight, pa, that
ride. How I wish that We could get a
town lot al KioWa. and make a home
there, I could teach. then. and you could
perhaps start mill again. father. and
we'd give up lighting the storms and bugs
on this old ranch. II you only could!
Yes, darter, but I couldn't How's a
man TO make SIGH d run when he can't
move his bride arm 'th0ut a pain ketch-
in him? Paps too old, an too clumsy,
my girl"
Marcia lay awake far into the night,
thinking, planning. revolving.
II was nothing unusual for Marcia 10
ride over TO Prairie City for visit. She