The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-06-15

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The sun was setting, as for weeks
past in a hot, knerciless glare, which
made it's disappearance a distinct re-
lief It cast no long afternoon shad-
ows, for between Marcia's eyes and the
far horizon stretched only a rolling sea
Of prairie grass Drowned almost to q
stubble.
see anything OF pap p asked a queru.
Dous voice from the squeaky wooden
rocker near the back door.
He's coming" the girl answered list
lessly. Then in a brisker, brighter
tone: How easily Bonnie Belle makes
mile, and I'll wager my new hat pas
kept that pace for the whole trip, Bless
the pretty creatureT
''She's a fine mare, Marshy. There
amt many in Nebrasky slicker, less
it's Charlie Keith's ROAM" with a covert
glance. "Well, II you'll dish the supper
ri get the butter an preserves, hey r.
Gan right Hello. fatherl Back
again. How's Bonnie BELIEF
"ChippePs ever, Marshy. See her
reach for ye, darter. vow she's got
more sense than some humans. Sup
per readyf How's map
Better, and supper's on the table.
I'll unsaddle Belle. ANY mail, fatherT
"Waal, now, they want any letters,
darter, but here's the paper / swan
but it's lively times down to Prairie
City. Boomers till ye can't rest, an ye
hear nothin' but braggin' about the
Riowa reservation an the ride fer 1t
next Satday. There's settlers pllin'
in by every train, an cowboys an
blacklegs galore. Won't be nary chance
fer an old Teller like me. Yes, ma, I'm
comln'w
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 a dry sob and leaned her
head against the pretty creatures sleek
side.
"oh, why don't I hear2 Where is
hsf 1t can't be that little quarrel at
the dance. hate Tom Hobson"-pas-
Nionately--'T only went with him be-
cause-because didn't care to show
preferred Charlie when they came up
Mt the same minute. II would have
been 30 markell Why couldn't he I'M
derstand2 Men are idiotsr'
Half laughing, half sobbing, she gave
her pet gentle rub down, adding food,
drink and a last caress. Then she
turned toward the cabin.
1--WE need rain awfully," she sighed,
'as much as we need money. Oh,
what a lifel Work, work, work, and
for what2 II It Isn't grasshoppers, it's
fires, and IL It isn't these 1t Is sand
storms and cyclones. There's no use
trying to get ahead In this wretched
country
What ye mutterin' over, Marshy 2"
called her fathers big voice from the
supper table. "Come In an read the
news to your ma, The papers full Of
H."
"of whatf" said Marcla obviously.
why, wasn't tellln' YET OF the
opening OF the reservation an the gov
ment givin' out the InJun lands. l
swan, II | was younger I'd make a
race fer II myself l know Bonnie
Belle could do II. 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 a noisy, blus-
terlng, open all night. fakir ridden city
nearing its hundred thousand inhabit-
anita the better portion intent upon
claiming home at the opening. while
the remainder were as intent upon
plumber, lawlessness and deviltry.
Marcia read listlessly for a time, then
with growing excitement.
"Itll be a wonderful sight, pa, that
ride. How l wish that we could get a
town lot at Kiowa and make a home
therel could teach then, and you
could perhaps start a mill again, ia
ther, and we'd give up lighting the
storms and bugs on this old ranch. II
you only cOuldf'
Yes, darter. but l couldn't. How's
q man to make sich a run when he
can't move his bride arm 'thout a pain
ketchln' himf Pap's too old an too
clumsy, my girl"
Marcia lay awake far into the night.
thinking, planning, revolving.
II was nothing unusual for Marcia
to ride over to Prairie City for a visit.
She had schoolmates there who were
always glad to see her. and possibly
other interests drew her In that tlirec-
uon. II was the town Charlie Keith
called home and In which no spent his
brief vacations. Here Marcia had met
him often In the past two years OF her
happy school life, and here she had.
seemingly. irrevocably offended him by
one Of those sudden, girlish freaks, so
tnexriicable to a 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 darlings beautiful face