Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-20

WIFI green SplOtS anu trSC-
@lsss5T-S1 ings for slough and stream.
E0 The distant ranges We're
gray. The sky showed the misty blue
of the dog days. Far off TO the north
and west black streaks edged the hori-
zon, where smoke rolled up from prai-
RE fires.
Brannon was quiet to the point of
lethargy. Guard was mounted and
daily dress parade held tremendously.
The trumpet blew its unvarying round
of commands. There was nc hunting
and no field duty beyond the scouting
of the eastern shore. The hoarse sa-
lutte of an upward plying steamer rOus-
ed the garrison to life one morning.
but the interruption lasted barely half
an hour. Then the steamer, her pilot
house screened Ly sheet iron and her
decks a-swarm with infantry, rounded
a bend In the river and went coughing
away out Of sight. once again inter
est centercd at the site of the pony cor
raj, where a platform was slowly
building.
Life at the shack was even less
%eventful. For Dallas it was a season
of idleness. Tho pumpkins and the
melons were swelling. The tasselcd
corn wanted weeks before 1t would
ripen. The field and garden were free
of weeds. With no work TO do, alone
except for her sister, the elder girl had
ample time to worrY.
Marylyn saw that she was dispiritcd
and increased in tenderness toward
her, following her about with eyes
that cntreuted yet were not sad. At
breakfast She spittc1 the choicest cuts
for Dallas. In the 400 heat she was
ut her elbow with a dipper of ginger
beer; ut supper coaxed the elder girls
failing appetite by offerings of tasty
stew, white -four dumplings and ponc.
AS for herself, Mary!yn needed neither
urging nor tidhits. She ate heartily.
Her sleep was II rest for both body
and mind. Every afternoon she stroll
ed across the bend TO the cottonwoods.
The butterflies Jared beside her. Over
head between sun and earth hung le-
gions of GraSsEoppers like a haze.
Cnderfoot bluebell and sunfower nod
ded. And the grove was a place for
dreams.
And Dallas-was a wild thing that
cannot tell of its wound.
She uttered no complaint even to
Simon. The outburst that followed
Lounsbury's return was her first and
last. She questioned now if her suf-
fering justified Il lament. In this she
resembled her mother. a oma COM
ing to the section house one torrid day
remarked wonderingly that Mrs. Ian
caster gave mary a whimper." The
latter looked up with a smile. Il don't
think I'm sick enough" she said. 10Th
er people worse off have a right to
groan.' Dallas, certain that Mary
Iyn's heartache was the keener. would
not lie behindhand in restraint, and
her sisters happiness, ~forethought and
desire to please all drove the thrust of
penitence to the hit and turned the
knife in that secret wound.
She found no solace in Marylyn's
friends of the calico covers. Her
thoughts were too tempestuous for that.
They We're like milling cattle. Around
and around they tore, mingling and
warning, but sitting in the end to fol
low lie Oily cOuTSc-Sc!L denial. once
so re0elliOus, she was growing meek at
last-meel AMI full of contrition. She
was coming to dwell moro. too, on the
lessons that the evangelist had taught
her. She was coming to think OF lean
ing where David Fond had leaned
she who had always been a prop.
There was the old terror that had
stalked beside her down to her moth
er's death. She had fought her way
with II, and the conflict had given her
strength. There was the jealousy that
had smirched her sister love. She had
fought it, too, and bitterly, gcorning it
because she knew it for a hateful in.
heritancc. o was come a third mis-
cry and the worst. She saw herself as
a traitor. This was not mere rcproach.
1t was the torture of a stricken CON
science.
Her face grew thin, her hand I'M
steady, hcr eyes wore a hunted look.
At night hers We're the scalding tears
that damponed the pillow.
AND so the days went by. Whatever
pangs of rcmorse, whatever longing
she endured, she remained faithful to
h resolution that she would not give
way to temptation again. But every
night brought the lonely watcher to
the swale.