The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-10-15
|Marcia'sRide
By ANNE HEILMaN.
~
BY ANNE HEILsiAN.

| T%F|T%ETFf.r-+.t'fT
The sun was setting. as for weeks
past, In hot, merciless glare, which
made its disappearance a distinct 10
lief. 1t cast no long afternoon shad
ows. for between Marcia's eyes and the
far horizon stretched only rolling ses
Of prairie grass Drowned almost to Q
stubble.
See anything of papTasked a Queru
lous 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
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 creaturer'
shes tine mare. Marshy. There
ain't many In Nebrasky slicker. 'less
It's Charlie keith's ROAM" with covert
glance. well. II you'll dish the supper
Ill get the butter an preserves, hey p
"All right. Hello. father! Back
again? How's Bonnie BELIEF"
Clippers ever. Marshy. See her
reach for ye. darter. ! vow she's got
more sense than some humans. Sup
per ready? How's mar
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. / swan
but It's lively times down to Prairie
City. Boomers till We can't rest, an We
hear nothin' but braggin' about the
Kiowa reservation an the ride fer II
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.
"Oa. why don't hear? Where is
he? II can't be that little quarrel N
the dance. l hate Tom Hobson"
sionateiy-"l only went with him be.
cause-becanse didn't care to show I
preferred Charlie when they came up
at tine same minute. II would have
been so married.! Why couldn't he un-
derstand? Men are idiots
Half laughing. half sobbirg. size gave
her pet a gentle rub down. adding food,
drink and Il last caress. Then she
turned toward the cabin.
Eve need rain awfully." she sighed
"as much as we need money. oh,
what a life. Work. work. work. aud
for what: II 1t isn't grasshoppers. it's
fires. and IL II isn't these II Is sand
storms and cyclones. There's no use
trying TO get ahead in this wretcheI
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 II
L."
''0f whatY' said Marcia obviously.
why. wasn't tellin' ye? or the
opening Of the reservation an the gov
ment givin' out the InJun lands. I
swan. II was younger I'd make &
race FER II myself. know Bonnie
Belle could do It. She came from the
city tonight In forty minutes and never
turned hair"
Marcia began 10 read Of that vast
eruption OF the stranger and tie ten.
lerf0ot" which was transforming the
small. sleepy town into noisy. bus
iering. open all night. faklr ridden city
lcaFing It's hundred thousand lnhabit.
ints. the better portion intent upoE
home at tue opening. while
be remainder were as intent uDon
Iawiessncss and dcviltry.
Marcia read iistiessly for a time. then |
with g1wing e&cI;e.@cat.
"it'H lie a wonderful sight. pa. that |
Idle. How / wish that We could get q |
own lot az E.owa and make a home |
here: could teach then. and you
,otIld pcthHps start a mill again. fa. |
Der. and we'd give Up fighting the
itOrms and bugs On this old ranch. II
'ou only couId:"
Yes. dagtsr. jut couldn't. HOw'a
man to Inake sch 4 run when he
'an't move his bride ann 'tbout a pai1
.etch.n' h!in: i'ap's too old an toe
'luasy. ms girl"
Maecaa Try awake far ln;3 the night.
blinking, planning. revolving.
It was nothing unusual for Marcia
. ride over tD Prairie City for a visit.
ID" had sclIo0lmaiea there who were
Ilways glad 10 see her. and possibly
Ither Interests drew her IN that dlrec.
Ion. II was the town Charlie Keith
allied home and I'm which he spent his
'ricf vacations. Here Maria had met
lin often In the past two years Of bel
Iappy school life, and here she had.
eemlngly. IFrevocabiv offended him by
ne Of those sudden. girIlsh freaks. 10
nexplicabIe to a lover.
She bad neither seen nor heard from
Ilm since. Tier father noted the cessa
Ion ~ certain frequent letters and the
adness on bis dariings beautiful face
nd longed 10 comfort her. when she
sked the next morning n she might
pend the rest Of the week with Effle
DsFrusy. In Tyrafria rIfr bs s.f..If,, ,,,,s |