Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-12-27
By ELEANOR GATES,

Author Of 1.-The Biography Of q Prairie Girl"

ter's behalf
But time passed without bringing her
the opportunity. and it was borne in
upon her finally that Lounsbury meant
to remain away, perhaps until he was
hidden to come. Undaunted, she made
plans to waylay him on the coulee
road. Resting the Sharps across her
arm, she set out, morning or afternoon.
on long jaunt
But Lounsbury was not met. On
one such ramble, however, an incident
occurred that was far reaching IL not
fatal in its results. She was going
homeward slowly when she saw ap-
preaching an ambulance from Brannon
drawn by four mule team. She
started timidly aside, then paused.
The vehicle was filed with ladies'. A
half dozen who were talking and laugh
ing merrily occupied the lengthwise
seats of the carriage. One sat beside
the driver. Dallas put herself In their
path and waited.
How often she had watched these
same ladies canter out of post on
their horseback rides, officers attend
ing them, or seen them make a rolliek-
ing walking party to the bluff top.
And she had pictured how some day
they would be ferried to the bend.
They could not have heard how her
father talked. If they had, they would
not blame her. If they passed her,
they would smile and bow, maybe stop
to speak. ...
She was all aglow now. The am
bulance rolled near. 1t was closed on
its sides, and the women within could
not see her. The woman on the seat,
pretty, slender, daintily clad, did. DIAL
las leaned forward eagerly, face flush
ed, eyes shining. ...
The woman also leaned forward and
looked Dallas up and down searching
ly, coldly. Her lips were set In a
sneer Her eyes frowned Then the
ambulance bowled smartly along, The
driver catching at a leader with his
whip.
Who's that, Mrs. Cummings?' The
women in the rear of the vehicle were
peering out.
Mrs. Cummings answered over her
shoulder, why, it's the Plow Wo-
man."
There were "Ohs" and Abs and
laughter.
The girl by the roadside heard.
Sighted, rebuffeu, wounded to the
quick, she stumbled homeward, her
sight blinded by tears.
She did not wait for Lounsbury
again. Once she thought of writing
him, of summoning him through a note
given Squaw Charley; but, recalling
her fathers treatment of the store
keeper, she questioned If the latter
would heed her message. She felt
herself isolated, but no hint OF her
bitterness was allowed to reach Mary
Ign. The younger girl knew only
bright words and unceasing, unselfish
care.
For one thing Dallas was deeply
Observation-Disclosures did not trouble
the shack. David Bond had told her
that when the troops left for the sum
mer campaign the interpreter would
ride with them, the evangelist being
retained at the fort to fill the others
place. The latter declared that, by the
pilots report, Lounsbury's name made
Matthews clay back his ears" but
that he no longer stormed about los
ing the claim.
And now came the warm days days
In swift, sweet contrast to those just
gone. Sun and shower banded the
sky with triple arcs of promise. The
robins arrived, plump and saury
crew. Bent bin curlews stalked about,
Wild and mellow calls. The
jewellers of the ground threw up fresh
dirt around their burrows. The marsh
violets opened pale lilac cups, and the
very logs of the shack put forth am
bilious sprigs, so that from the front
the grotesque head displayed bristle
Of green whisker. The prairie was
awake, blood and soil and sap.
Ben and Betty showed their high
spirits with comical sporting The
mules frolicked together, pitching hind
quarters, rearing to box and nipping
at Simon. Fully as gay was he, though
his shaggy TANKS We're gaunt. He
played at goring them or frisked In
circles. Occasionally. how
ever he gave signs of i'll humor, low !
cred his broad horns threateningly |
even at Dallas, paved up the new
grown grass and charged to and fro !
IN the bend, his voice lifted In hoarse i
challenge. !
On the little family the light, the !
warmth and added duties wrought a
good effect. Lancaster's grumbliug |,
essened. and he helped to plant some |
boxes with cabbage and tomato seed !,
hat the sutler supplied Marylyn, /
,oaxed out for an hour or two daily, |
'ewarded Dallas with smiles. Her ap- !
'etite grew (rather to her chagrin), |
md when she held the looking glass
'efore her she saw a faint color In her
heeks. /
To Dallas the spring brought renew
a courage and n Vagina longing With