Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-12-11
CHAPTER XIX.

e1lo0co, WnlCn aaO D0C0me oppressive ~
did not seem natural for two persons to
b in the same room % Icing without
speaking q word.
II should think you would And It lone
" living In the woods away from any
nsighbors," he said.
II don't care for nsighbors," said the
woman, shortly.
slave you lived here lOngr'
That's a. people reckon tims," was the
answer.
"You don't have far to 60 for fucl,"
was the next remark Of cur hero.
did you say you was book psddlsrr"
she inquired.
II am a book agent"
"Is your business good onsI' she ask
II have done very we'll 20 far, but then
have been at it only q week"
Its good thing to have money" said
the woman, more to herself than to Wal
ter.
"Yss," said Walter "it's very eOnven-
iant to have money: but there are other
thfngs that are better"
"Such al whatr' demanded the woman
abruptly.
"GOod health, and good consolsneO."
She laughed scorntuIly.
I'm tell you there's nothing - good
- money. I've wanted It all my life,
and never could get It. Do you think I
Would live here In the woods II had
money! No, should like to be q lady.
and wear Gne clothes, and drive abcut
IN a handsome carriage. Why are some
people % lucky, while live In this mis-
arable hole"
Perhaps your luck will change some
Day" he said, though he had little faith
IN his own words. He wondered how the
tall, gaunt woman Of the backwoods would
look dressed in silks and satins.
MY lack never win change" she said,
quickly. II must live and die In some
such hovel a. this"
my luck has changed" said Walter,
quietly; "but in a different way"
How she asked, betraying In her
tons some curiosity.
"A year ago-six months agony faith
81 was rich man, or was considered 30.
he was thought to be worth over 4 hun
dred thousand dollars. All at once his
property was swept away, and now l am
obliged to earn my own living, a. you
sea."
'HOw did your father lose his mOnsy r.
by specializing In mines"
The more fool he r.
my father Il dead" said Walter,
gacsly, Il cannot bear to hear him
blamed"
"Humphr ~ calculated the woman. 81
expect you are hungry"
YES" said Waiter, II am; but can
wait till your husband comes"
She took out from q small cupboard q
plate Of bread and some cold meat, and
laid them on the table. Then she steep
Cd some tea, and. when it was ready, she
put that also on the table. Walter I'M
derstOod from this that supper vas ready,
and, putting on his shoes, which wera
now dry, he moved his chair up.
The woman poured him out some tea
IN one Of the cracked cups.
The hrst sip Of the tea, which wa
quite strong, nearly caused q WHY sx-
precision on Walters face, but he man
aged to control himself SO far as not to
bstray his want Of relish for the bsv'
Sfage his hostess offered him. The only
Fedeemlng quality 1t had was that Il
was hot, and, exposed al he had beer
to the storm, warm drink was agree
able.
+sFhere'a some bread and there's some
meat" said the woman. you can helI
yourself"
Walter ate heartily Of the food, aR(
succeeded In emptying his cup Of tea
He would have taken another cup If thert
had been milk and sugar, but 1t wa stoC
bitter to be inviting.
Walter pushed his chair from the table
and sat down again before the Gre. Sh'
rose and cleared the table. replacing thu
bread and meat In the cupboard. Their
was silence for another hour. Walter
wished It were time to 60 to bed, fol
the presence Of such q woman made hin
feel uncomfortable. But it was too earl,
yet to suggest retiring. At length tn,
silence was broken by a step outside.
'sThat's Jack" said the woman, rlsin,
hastily; and over her face there came
transient CLEAN Of satisfaction, the Hrs
Walter had observed.
Before she could reach the door II wa
opened, and Jack entered. Walter look
ed up with some curiosity to see VIVA
sort Of man the husband Of this woman
might Be. He saw a stout man, with low
srIng eyes. and matter red hair an
beard.
"Thsy are Htly mated" thought on
hero.
The man stopped short as his glanc
vested upon Walter. and he turne
quickly to his wife.
"Who have you got here, MegF' b
asked, in = rough voice.
"He was overtaken by the storm, an
wanted me to take him in, and give hll
supper and lodging"
"He's a boy. What brings him int
Ghese woods?"
'He says he's book peddler."
"Where are his books7"
II have sold them all" said Waite
feeling called upon to take q person
Rhare in the conversation.
''How many did you haVe7"
Twenty"
slow much did you charge for them
~Three dollars and a half apiece"
"That's seventy dollars, isn't lit"
eyes"
"Well, you can stay here all night
gou want to. We amt used to keepin'
aavern. but you'll fare as well as we."
'Thank you. l was afraid / hig
Aare to stay out all night"
While his wife was getting out &