Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-23

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The vehicle was filed With ladies'. 4
half dozen who were talking and laugh
ing merrily occupied the lengthvise
seats OF the carriage. One sat beside
the driver. Dallas put herself In their
path and waited
How often she had watched these
snme ladies cantcr out Of post on
their horseback rides, officers attend
ing them, or seen them make rolllck-
ing walking party to the bluff top,
And she had pictured how some day
they would be ferricd to the bend.
They could not have heard how her
father talked. If they had. they would
not blame her II they passed her,
they would smile and bow, maybe stop
to speak.
She was all aglow now. The am.
bnlance rolled near. 1t was closed on
its sides and the women within could
not see her. The woman on the seat.
pretty. slender. dnintily clad, did Dal-
las leaned forward eagerly, face flush
ed eyes shining
The woman also leaned forward and
looked Dalla, up and down searching
ly, coldly. Her lips were set IN n
sheer. Her orcs frowncd. Then the
ambulance howled smartly along. the
driver catching at a lender with his
whip.
"Who's that. Mrs Cummines?' Tie
women in the rear of the vehicle were
pecrlng out
Mrs. mings answered over her
shoulder, why. It's the Plow We
man"
There were "Ohs" and Abs and
laughter.
The girl by the roadside heard
Sighted. rebuf-ed, wounded to the
quick. she stumbled homcward, her
sight blinded ly tears
She did not wait for Lounsbury
again. Once sh. thought Of writing
him. OF summoning him through n note
given Sqnaw Charley; but, recalling
her fathers treatment Of the store
keeper, she questioned II the latter
would heed her message. she felt
herself isola ted, but no hint Of her
bitterness was allowed to reach Mary
lyn. The younger girl knew only
bright words and unceasng, unsclflsh
care.
For one thing Dallas was deeply
hankful-Matthcws did not trouble
the shack David Bond had told her
that when the troops left for the sum
NOR campaign the interpreter would
ride with them. the evangelist being
retained at the fort to I'll the other.
place. The latter dccla- red that, by III,
pilot. report. I.oun-burv's name made
Matthews lay back his ears" nv
that he 10 longer storlned about los
ing the claim.
And now came the warm days day.
in swift. srce, contrast to those JUS
gone. sun and shower handed th'
sky with triple arcs OF prolAi".. Til'
robins arrived. plump and sAurl
crew. Hcnt lii curlcvs stell;ei nhor.
utterins will, and mellow calls. Thl
dwellers OF ihc ground threw up frcc,
dirt around thoIr burrows. The marsl
violets opened pale lilac cups, and tht
very logs OF the shack put forth nn
bilious sprigs. so that from tho from
the grotesQuc head Displayed bv!etI'
of green whi-kcr Tn" prairie was
awake, blood and son nnI rap.
Ben and Betty showed their h,G'
spirits with coi1ica sporting. Th'
mules frolicLoi together, pitching hlnt
quarters, roaring to box and nlppni
at Simon. Fully as gay was he, thourl
his shaggy TANKS were gaunt. III
played Mt gorlng them or frisked II
ungainly circles Occasionally, how
ever he gave signs of III humor, low
cred his bread horns threateningl.
even at Dallas, paved up the new
grown grass and charged to and FRI
On the bend, his voice lifted In hoars
challenge.
On the little family the light. tn
warmth and added duties wrought
good effect Lancaster's grumblinl
lessened, and he helped to plant SOM
boxes with cabbage and tomato seeC
that the sutler supplied. Marylyn
coaxed out for IN hour or two daily
Ic W al uttl NitI lltI ~
petite grew Gather to her chagrinI
and when she held the looking Glas
before her she saw faint color in he
cheeks.
To Dallas the spring brought rene W
ed courage and a vague longing. Wit
the first mild evenings she took to ven
turing out, wrapped In her long cloak
for lonely walk. In her love of tn
cleaning she was like wild thing
From birth the twilghts Of the mes
had proved irresistible. When she wa
a child they soothed her little troubles
In womanhood. II sorrow presse
heavily, they brought her strength
The half light. the soft mir and the lac
Of sound were balm to her spirit.
Nightly she strnyed up the ceules
eastward. south or toward the rlvel
until. early in May. a second inciden
occurred and interrupted her ramble'
She had walked "a fer A. the swal
that WINS part way to the Missouri
There she was startled into a sudde
halt. From a point ahead Of her an
to the left sounded a gunshot.
She sank down cautiously and stage
close TO the ground. her fingers steady
Ing her, her breath, suspended. Thel
was no moon, and the stars were OF
secured by clouds. The cottonwood
were a black. shapeless mass. Sh
watched them.
No answering shot rang out; bu
after long wait, reply came frol
the grove. 1t was a laugh, loud an
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