The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-12-25
CHAPTER XII.
WAITING.

H,
their heads at night We're as shifting
as the sands of that rapid, onf1nous.
changing stream of theirs, which ever
cut them off from the world OF their
fathers and kept them bound, but rest
less, chatting, in that same land where
their mothers had stared stolidly at
strange little boatload tugging up the
river that was the forerunner of the
ultimate destiny of this broad north
west country, but which brought in
incidentally-as do all big destinies in
the great scheme bring sorrow to
some one-wrong, misunderstanding,
forgetfulness, to once proud, free
people now in subsection.
At last the authorities found trace
of him far away at Standing Rock,
through the agent there, who knew
him as of an ugly reputation dis
sipated, rowing profligate, who had
long since squandered his government
patrimony. He had been mixed up in
sundry bad affairs in the past, and
had been an inveterate gambler. So
much only were the Kemah county
authorities able to uncover of the way.
ward earthly career of the dead man.
OF his haunts and cronies of the
period Immediately preceding his
death, the agent could tell nothing.
He had not been seen at the agency
for nearly year. The reprobate band
had covered it's tracks well. There
was nothing to do but lay the dead
body away and shovel oblivion over
it's secret.
In the early morning after the re.
turn of the men from their unsuccess.
full man hunt, Gordon, gray and bag.
gard from loss of sleep and from hard
thought, stepped out into the kitchen
to stretch his cramped limbs. He
stumbled over the figure of Langford
prone upon the floor, dead asleep in
utter exhaustion. He smiled under
standingly and opened the outerdoor
quietly, hoping he had not aroused the
wornout boss. The air was fresh and
cool, with a hint of autumn sharpness,
and a premature Indian summer haze,
that softened the gauntness of the
landscape, and made the distances
blue and rest-giving. He felt the need
of inauguration after his nights virgil,
and struck off down the road with
long strides, in pleasant anticipation
of coming appetite for breakfast.
Thus it was that Langford, strug-
cling to sitting posture, rubbing his
heavy eyes with a dim consciousness
that he had been disturbed, and won.
dering drowsily why he was so stupid,
felt something seeping through his
senses that told him he did not do
we'll to sleep. So he decided he would
take a plunge into the cold artesian
pond, and with such drastic measures
Danish once and for all the elusive yet
all-pervading cobwebs which chung to
him. Rising to his feet with unusual
awkwardness, he looked with scorn
upon the bare floor and accused it
blindly and bitterly as the direct
cause of the strange soreness that be-
set his whole anatomy. The lay of the
floor had changed in night. Where
was he? He glanced helplessly
about Then he knew.
Thus it was, that when Mary Ian
guidly opened her eyes little later
it was the boss who sat beside her
and smiled reassuringly.
You have not slept a wink" she
creid, accusingly.
Indeed have" he said. Three
whole hours. | feel tip-top."
You are-fibbing," she said. "Youls
eyes look so tired, and your face is all
worm
His heart leaped with the JOY of her
solicitude.
You are wrong" he laughed,
teasingly. II slept on the floor; and a
good bed it was, too. No, Miss Willis
ton, l am not all in yet, by any
means"
In his new consciousness, a new
Formally crept into his way of ad-
dressing her. She did not seem to
notice it.
Forgive me for forgetting, last
night" she said, earnestly II was
very selfish. forgot that you had not
slept for nearly two days and were
riding all the while incur behalf. i
forgot. was tired, and | went to
sleep. ! want you to forgive me. i
want you to believe that | do appre.
ciate what you have done. MY faith
er--
Don't, don't. little girl cried
Langford, forgetting his new awe of
her maidenhood in His pity for the
stricken child.
my father" she went on steadily,
would thank you il he were here.
thank you, too, even if did forget to
think whether or no you and all the
! men had any sleep or anything to eat
last night Will you try to believe
chat ] did not forget wlt...., -.
so tired
When Langford answered her
which was not Immediately, his face
was white and he spoke quietly with
touch of injured pride.
IF you want to hurt us, Miss Will
llston, that is the way to talk We
cowmen do not do things for thanks"
She looked at him wonderingly a