Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1908-06-11
CHAPTER xxx.
The Message Of the Dancing Girl to
Esther

The Message Of the Dancing Girl to
Esther.
To Esther, restless. unoccupied,
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 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
old. The Wizard Desert wrapped her
again with the mantle Of his enchant-
ment. AS of DID, 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 We, child! I didn't know
how powerful pestered was there in
Oakland an the city till I got back
here where b'long. There's folks of
course that's made for totin' society's
pack; some of ems soft, sQuashy crit.
tiers, an some of 'em's plumb good like
Freddy Bryan; but the plains, an
work, an men with blood in 'em, an
freedom-that's what l was born to;
an it's what I'm fit fur She was
tearing an unspeakable bed to pieces
with merci1ess scrutiny. Gosh! The
way a man runs a hotel without no
woman is 'nough to make skunk
sick! .
Esther marVeled at Sally BIS rever-
sion, Nothing Of her violent effort at