Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-12-19
CHAPTER II.

III ~
k5.s-A for at least some days to
Gsh.EAy come her work on the plowcd
strip must cease Far and wide from
tlersmen may have heard of the rail
roads coming, and their first move
would be, perhaps had been, a rush
10 the land Office to file upon quarter
sections touching the survey. And so
no hour dared be wasted before her
father started on his long deferred
trip. The claim on the peninsua-the
claim which the storekeeper had named
as the terminus of the proposed line,
as the probable site for new town
must at once be legally theirs.
When the mules were turned east
ward again Dallas brought them up
for a breathing spell and, going apart
little distance, sat down, her knees
between her hands. A short space of
time had made incredible changes in
their plans, in the possibilities Of their
prairie home Before the cutting of
the last two sods there had stretched
ahead only a succession of uneventful
years whose milca.oucs would be the
growing record of becvcs and bushels,
but now-she could not have credited
her senses had it not been for
glimpse of Lounsbury's horse industri-
ously cropping beside the lean-to
She looked across at the shack. squat
Ting OH a gentle rise at the centcr of
the claim as If it had fed there for
refug, out of the grassy sea whose
dry waves Tapped up to its very door.
It's two small windows looking river
ward, the narrow door OF warped
lumber between and the shock roof of
meadow grass held down by stones
gave it the appearance Of a grotcsque
human head that was peering from out
the plain. AS Dallas for the first time
noted the curious resemblance the
shack seemed TO smile back at her-a
wise, reaSsuring smile.
A moment later the north wind
hooded the sky with clouds, putting
the bend in gloom. She got to her feet
and fastened toward the plow. So
brief had been her meeting with the
storekeeper that Immediately follow
ing 1t his features had escaped her
Now she recalled them and thought
that she recalled that when he had ac-
costed her they had worn a hooking
expression. What If her father in his
sudden excitement and concern should
tell Lounshury that the claim was not
yet filed upon should contide in this
stranger. who might then take advan-
tage of the ignorance, age and Grip
pied condition OF the section boss.
Hurriedly she unhitched Ben and Bet
ty, hung their brides on the names
NJ Io 10 ryr,, 10
Then she started homeward with 81
mon close upon her heels, and as she
crossed the cloud darkened claim she
glanced again ut the shack. It's win
dows We're in shadow, its door almost
obscured There was smirk on its
twisted face.
But when entering the house, she
met Lounsbury's kind, level look the
distrust she had felt unconsciously
vanished.
He was seated astride bench 10 the
left OF the fireplace his hat flung down
In front of him. his shoulders against
the wall, his booted legs thrust out
restfully across the floor. Dallas, see
ing him out of the saddle for the first
time, was struck by his splendid
length, next by his heaviness--a round
but muscular hcayiness that she had
never noted in Il Texan. Leaning back
with folded arms, he showed, however,
despite his weight and rotundity, the
pllance and the litheness of the west
erner. His hair was dark and thick
and worn In n careless part, his throat
was brOnzed above the lacing5 Of his
shirt his face clean shaven, somewhat
square, yet full, and set with blue
eyes that showed an abiding CLINT OF
merriment
If Dallas as she crossed the sill form
ed with the swift keenness OF the
painswoman n new and truer eSt
mate OF Lounsbury, he, saluting cor
daily, failed not to measure her. The
dirt hoored shack, partitioned by Ma
vajo blankets and furnished with un
planed benches, was a background to
tally unsuited TO Marylyn's delicat,
beauty, but for the elder daughter Of
the section boss its very rude sim
plicity seemed strangely fine and fit
ting.
Many women had come under tn,
storekeeper's notice during his frontier
ipuSh4g iNHAtb Nti''li Va pun
ways who toled and bore with the pa
thence of beasts, the women of thu
army, matching in dress and habits
those he had known as 4 boy, and las
of all the kind that always follows II
the track of soldier, scout and gam
bier. Yet never before on the sun
down side of the Mississippi had IN
seen one who possessed along with tn
reserve lonely bringing up enjoin
the dignity and poise that are counted
the fruits of civilization.
ITS good blood" he said to himself
"and"-with glance at the sectiol
boss--'1t's from the mothers side"
Lancaster at that moment was trul
anything but picture of repose. HI
season of delight over the morning
news had been brief and was now sue
ceeded by thorough disquet. He hot
bled to and fro from the hearth, wher
hung pail of fragrant coffee, to tn
farther front window. Lounsbury re
marked his evident worry and, not III
Outstanding 1t, bent down inquiring
toward Marylyn.
She was seated on buffalo robe be
fore the fire zealously tending the col