Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-10-14
CHAPTER xxx.
The Message of the Dancing Girl to
Esther.

10 Esther, restless, unOccupicd
came Sally BIS urgent invitation to
visit her at Toano. Esther accepted
it at once, deciding not to wait for
the Harmons. Business had delayed
the Judge, and now fear of smallpox
for his wife. A pitted face testified
his own immunity. But Esther had no
fear of the disease; Toano was free
from the scourge; and the breath of
the wide, free desert breezing from
Sally BIS letter reused the wings of
Esther's spirit.
She timed her going to catch Uncle
Billy's train out from Winnemucca.
Through all the years she had written
him at intervals, sending her letters
at first through Sally b.
She wished to surprise him. He was
therefore quite unprepared for the tall,
elegant young woman who waited i'm
patiently at the rear end of the car
to greet him. She saw him glance to-
ward her as soon as he entered, and
her heart leaped. But he came calmly
on, from passenger to passenger. STOP
ping here and there for question or
direction. He looked her way inquir-
ingly once or twice, but blankly.
When he was yet a few seats away,
recognition came. He sprang to her,
his face TRANSPORTED. Thought of
stranger eyes, of Official dignity, fed.
He caught her hands in his own.
Honey! Stella." he cried softly as
he kissed her on the cheek, the years
hunger for her shining in his misty
eyes where undeh the canopy did
you come from, honey?"
She smiled her JOY, but said no
word.
He still held her hands. her rings
cutting under the pressure neither
marked till later, his eyes searching
her glowing face. Her mask had
dropped; her soul was open to him.
He made her as comfortable as pos
sible in the rough car that did duty as
sleeper, coach, parlor and emigrant
car all in one. When the meager bust
ness after leaving each infrequent sta
ton was dispatched he came to her
again; and the long day was not half
time enough for the tale of Esther's
eventful life, every detail questioned
and appreciated by her rapt listener.
Esther opened her eyes the next
morning upon strange life, new, yet
cid. The Wizard Desert wrapped her
again with the mantle of his enchant-
ment AS of old, the hills walked out
of their spaces to meet her She was
back in her own world. back to Sally
BIS loving arms, to Uncle Billy's ten
der solicitude.
Are you happy, Mrs. Sally?" Esther
asked, following her from one to an
other of the rough rooms, as the mis-
tress deftly touched each chaotic spot
to order.
Lord love ye, child, l. didlt know
how powerful pestered ] was there in
Oaklsnd an the city till | got back
here where | b'long. There's folks of
course that's made for tOtin' society's
pack; same Of ems soft, squashy crit
ters, an some OF ems plumb good like
Freddy Bryan; but the plains, an
work, an men with blood in EN-, an
freedom-that's what ! was born to;
an it's what I'm fit fur She was
tearing an unspeakable bed to pieces
with merciless scrutiny. Gosh, The
way man runs hotel without no
woman is 'nough to make 4 skunk
sick,''
Esther marveled at Sally BIS reyer-
sion Nothing CT her violent effort at
culture remained; and her old speech
and manner seemed doubly vigorous
fer the long rest
IF only Bill was-was right peart
agin-" Sally B. began, but stopped
abruptly and shock a pillow danger
ously near 20 its undoing.
Did you hear about Blowhard Cad?"
she asked a little later.
Il overheard his name in the car
yesterday, but learned nothing def
mite
Hos arrested for stealing from the
company"
tTO BE CONTINUED.