Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1909-02-26

ttnation. One learns to read men and
women at first sight In the big, pulls
ing west. and no half trust is given.
She was in need of guidance. and
her new found acquaintance became
her counselor and friend When she
spoke of getting men to help her build
the two room frame house that was to
be her home he came himself.
When she offered him the current
wage he accepted 1T, because he un-
dcrstood how impossible 1t was to do
otherwise. but afterward he sent other
men and contented himself With sug-
gestions that in reality amounted to
superintendent.
Thus two years had slipped away.
Her health had returned, the glow in
her checks told that, and the life in
the open had REINFORCED her for her
old vocation-if she cared for it.
She believed it was her career,
though the glamour Of existence close
to the heart of nature held a charm
she could not deny, and there was
conflict in her mind as to the better
choice.
Then came Stuart's love. She had
grown to like him much, but With
reservation that he did not measure
UP to the ideal she had cherished. She
believed she demanded mental SYM
rathy no less than physical caresses.
To make a perfect union the man
must appreciate with her the books
that held her. and they would pene-
trate together the mysterious paths Of
learning to wisdom. Therein was
Stuart lacking.
Slumber would not come at bidding
the night Stuart told his love. She
tossed fretfully as she tried to evade
the problem before her. Like memo
ries of pain, it refused Punishment.
'Do l love him? Is he necessary to
me? He is dear as friend, l know
but beyond that-what?" she said to
herself.
When sleep came it was troubled
dreams intruded, and she thought she
saw herself and Stuart galloping side
by side over the prairies to the west
ward. Behind them was an ocean of
fire; the cracking of flames sounded
in her ears; she could feel the hot
wind born i'll the heart of the burning
grass. blister her neck.
On and on, with the margin of safe
ty growing narrower until within a
dozen jumps of the furrow that would
balk the fire. Her horse stumbled in a
gopher hole, regaincd his poise, blum
dered again, and she was thrown to the
prairie.
"Jim!' she cried.
The flames We're upon her now. He
slid from his horse, gathered her in his
arms holding her face close to his
breast to shield her from suffocation,
aud staggered across the safety line
with the angry flames turning to Il
sullen, dead red, as If crying out male
dictions on her rescuer for depriving
them of their prey
"Jim, JIM" she shrieked in her de-
irium. Suppose / had lost your
There was rapping at the door,
consciousness slowly returned to her;
she shook recollections of the night
mare from her.
whats the matter, Edith? Are you
hurt:'
NO; Ill be out in minute. Wait"
And she hastily dressed.
you're ill., he exclaimed when she
appeared. "1ou are ghostly pale"
"Oh, Jim, I've had such a drcam!"
she said
Dreams are silly things, Edith
Surely you would not let one brighten
your he sootEingly said.
"But this one did And, Jim, know
now," and her head dropped to hide
the flush of her cheeks.
"Yes?' said Jim, not comprehending.
"What you asked me Yesterday"
"Swcethcart! And your answers" He
eagerly ran to her.
eyes. Jim. l love you" And in the
embrace that followed disappeared the
artihcialities of troublesome philoso-
phies i'll the depth of an emotion print
tive and elemental