The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-08-09
Marcia sRide
Copyright 1907, by C. H Sutcliffe. ;.
/
By ANNE HEILMAN.

+ Copyright. 1907, by c. II. Sutcliffe
!. +
J. -. 49,.
The sun was setting, aS for weeks
past, in Il hot, mercileSS glare, which
made its disappearance n distinct re-
lief. 1t cast no long afternoon Shad-
owS for between Marcia'i eyes and the
far horizon stretched only rolling sea
of prairie grass Drowned almost to a
stubble
"See anything of papT' asked a queru-
louS voice from the Squeaky wooden
rocker near the back door.
Hes coming" the girl answered list
leSSly. Then in briSker brighter
tone: How 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 creaturer
shes a fine mare, Marshy. There
amt many in Nebrasky slicker, less
it's Charlie keith's ROAM" with a covert
glance. well, If you'll dish the supper
I'll get the butter an preserves, hey"
"-All right, Hello, father! Back
again? HOw's Bonnie BELIEF"
"Chipper'S 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.
I'll unsaddle Belle. Any mail, fatherT'
"Waul, now, they want any letters,
darter, but here's the paper. l swan
but it's lively times down to Prairie
City. Boomers till ye can't rest, an We
hear nothin' 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 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 dry sob and leaned her
head against the pretty creatures sleek
side.
"Oh, why don't | hear? Where is
he? 1t can't be that little quarrel at
the dance. | hate Tom HObSon"-pas-
sionately-"I only went with him be-
causc-because | didn't care to show l
preferred Charlie when they came up
1T the same minute. 1t would have
been SO marked. Why couldn't he I'M
derStand? Men are idiots"
Half laughing half sobbing, she gave
her pet gentle rub down, adding food,
drink and last caress. Then she
turned toward the cabin.
I'VE need rain awfully," she sighed,
cas- much as we sleed money. Oh,
what u life! Work, work. work, and
for what? If 1t 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 We mutterln' 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 what" 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 l was younger I'd make q
race fer it myself. l know Bonnie
Belle could do it. She came from the
city tonight in forty minutes and never
turned hair"
Marcia began TO read of that vast
eruption of the stranger and the ten
derfoot' which was transforming the
small, sleepy town into Il noisy, bluS-
tering, open all night. fakir ridden city
nearing its hundred thousand inhabit
ants, the better portion intent upon
claiming Il home at the opening, while
the remainder were as intent upon
plumber, lawlcsSncss and dcviltry,
Marcia read listlessly for time, then
with growing excitement,
It'll DO Il wonderful sight, pa, that
ride. How | wish that We could get a
town lot at Kiowa and make Il homo
there. | could teach then, and you
could perhaps start mill again, ia
ther and we'd give up fighting the
storms and bugs on this old ranch, If
you OIllS Coulu-
Yes, darter but l couldn't. How's
man to make SIGH run when he
can't move his bride arm 'thOut pain
ketchn' him? Pap's too old an too
clumsy, my girl"
Marcia lay awake far into the night.
thinkings planning, revolving.
1t 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. 1t was the town Charlie Keith
called home aud in which he spent his
brief vacations. Here Marcia had met
him often III the past two years of her
happy school life, and here she had,
seemingly, irrevocably offended him by
one of those sudden, glrlish freaks, SO
irexplicable to lover.
She had neither seen nor heard from
him since. Her father noted the cessa-
ton Of certain frequent letters and the
sadness on his darling's Beautiful face
and longcd to comfort her When she
asked the next morning If she might
spend the rest Of the week With Etiie
barrow, IN Prairie City, he gladly gave
consent
The next two days would have tested
the resolution of most men and did sap
the strength of many, as they stood in
line under the blazing Nebraska sun,
blistercd with heat, parched with
thirst, gritty and blind with the pow
dcred Gust. waiting their slow turn at
the registration booth. But Marcia was
n determined girl or1 'r'rS -:;------
to hardships. She had galloped miles
over the sun swept prairieS, she had
slept more than once with no roof
above her head and no couch beneath
her, and she knew what endurance
meant. She had started on this mad
scheme in Il mood of strained excite
ment Her lovers continued silence,
her hateful, monotonously barren exist
ence had wrought her feelings to a
pitch where almost any act was posi-
Bile; nor did the Strain loosen until her