Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-06-27
Marcia 'SRide
By ANNE HEILMAN.
Copyright. 1907. by C. H. sutclifre.

made its disappearance distinct re-
lief. II cast no long afternoon shad-
Ows, for between Marcia's eyes and the
far horizon stretched only Il rolling sea
of prairie grass Drowned almost to a
stubble.
See anything of papT asked queru-
lous voice from the squeaky wooden
rocker near the back door.
He's coming" the girl answered list
lessly. Then In u brisker, brighter
tone: How easily Bonnie Belle makes
1t! 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 In Nebrasky slicker, less
it's Charlie Keith's roam" with covert
glance. We'll If you'll dish the supper
I'll get the butter an preserves, hey?"
'All right Hello. father! Back
again? How's Bonnie BELIEF"
Clippers ever, Marshy. See her
reach for ye, darter l vow she's got
more sense than some humans. Sup
per ready? How's ma?"
Better. and supper's on the table.
III unsaddle Belle. Any mail, father?"
''Waal, now, they want any letters,
darter, but here's the paper. l swan
but it's lively times down to Prairie
City. Boomers till We can't rest, an We
hear nothln' but braggin' about the
Kiowa reservation an the ride fer it
next Satday. There's settlers pilin'
in by every train an cowboys an
blacklegs galore. Won't be nary chance
fer an old feler like me- Yes, ma, I'm
comin'w
He entered to the impatient invalid,
and Marcia led her blooded mare to
che shed stable After removing the
saddle and bride the girl suddenly
roke into a dry sob and leaned her
'ad against the pretty creatures sleek
e.
oh, why don't | hear? Where is
-et 1t can't be that little quarrel at
rho dnn"., 1.aev IuIu IIoUsou---pas-
Sionateiy-"I only went with him be-
cause-because | didn't care to show |
preferred Charlie when they came up
the same minute. 1t would have
stand? Men are idiotsr
alf laughing, half sobbing, she gave
pet gentle rub down, adding food,
ink and Il last caress. Then she
,urned toward the cabin.
I'VE need rain awfully," she sighed.
'as much as we need money. oh.
what life! Work, work, work. and
for what? If it isn't grasshoppers, it's
fires, and if it isn't these it is sand
storms and cyclones. There's no use
trying to 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 full of
it,"
"Of whatF" said Marcia obviously.
why, wasn't | tellin' ye? OF the
opening of the reservation an the gov /.
ment givin' out the Injun lands.
swan, if | was younger I'd make a .
race fer it myself l know Bonnie .
Belle could do it. She came from the /
city tonight 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 noisy, blus-
tering, open all night, fakir ridden city
nearing its hundred thousand inhabit-
ants, the better portion intent upon
claiming home at the opening, while
the remainder We're as intent upon
plunder. lawlesSneSS and deviItry.
Marcia read liStlesSly for time, then
with growing excitement.
It'll be a wonderful sight pa. that
'ide How | wish that we could get
own lot at Kiowa and make a home
mere could teach then. and you
'ould perhaps start mill again. IA
her, and we'd give up fighting the
storms and bugs on this old ranch If
7ou only could-
Yes, darter, but l couldn't. How's
man TO make sich a run when he
ant move his bride arm 'thout a pain
letchin' him? Pap's too old an too
'lumsy, my girl"
Marcia lay awake far into the night,
planning, revolving.
IL was nothing unusual for Marcia
o ride over to Prairie City for visit.
'he had schoolmates there who were
ways glad 10 see her, and possibly
ther interests drew her In that direc-
lon 1t was the town Charlie Keith
aiied home and In which he spent his
rief vacations. Here Marcia had met
i'm often In the past two years of her
appy school life, and here she had.
seemingly, irrevocably offended him by
ne OF those sudden, girlish freaks. so
lexplicable to lover.
She had neither seen nor heard from
i'm since. Her father noted the cessa-
on OF certain frequent letters and the
idhess on his darlfng's beautiful face
nd longed TO comfort her When she
sked the next morning If she might
'ehd The rest of the week with Efie t
arrow, In Prairie City, he gladly gave !
'nsent
b
The next two days would have tested 8
resolution of most men and did SIM c
9 strength of many. as they stood i'm Il
he under the blazing Nebraska sun. u
istered with heat, parched with u
nst' gritty and blind with the DOW u
ieu uust, waiting their slow turn at II
. registration booth. But Marcia was d
determined girl and was accuotomed u
hardships. She had galloped miles 81