The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-06-30
ole Grip of the Machine.
BY Clinton Dans.sf.ld in -c..mopoli.an

conductor impatiently checked her as
she made for the door.
60 back" he said, brusouelv. "Your
ticket calls for Canfield."
yes, l know" she interrupted, "but
I'm going to get off here instead"
The deuce!" he muttered.
But the woman, with one disdainful
glance at the flying train and the for
iorn station left behind 1t, turned swift
! down a side path and plunged into
tne iorest ways that opened mysterious
tracks to receive her.
on and on she went. When the uui-
etude OF the woods was broken only
by chipmunks flirting here and there,
or twlgs swapping under her feet, she
matted, sat down under a great pine
n laughed.
They thought I was goin' to stay
In that smoky carl! Lord, I've smeit
smoke enough in my time. They call
culated l was goin'to spend a week in
town-me that despises the idee of IT.
Iown indeed! That means folks starin'
at yore hat, and wond'rin' why yore
sleeves amt cut better. You know
what I'm lookin' fer" she added, with
quizzical confidence, to the nearest
chipmunk. ITS freedom-freedom
from every tie"
She stretched out her feet luxurious
ly on the rich pine-needle cushions.
Ills good to be alone! Folks might
say l was alone by myself to home a
heap-but l e was. There was
somethin' standin' at my elbow the
tarnal time sayin', DO this-do that!'"
She threw a handful Of pine-needles
into the stream beside her, and chuck
led to see them loaf away.
What IL stephen could see me now
him that alters has been so careful
to keep me up to the mark! I guess
the w OF us amt wasted nary hour
sence our weddin' tower. HUH" she
shifted disdainfully, this beats a tower
all holler!"
A woodpecker In the tree above loos-
ened a bit Of bark. 1t fell on her lap.
She threw 1t back UP at him with the
eager amusement of a child.
You old scamp, you done 1t a-pur-
pose!"
The w~oodpecker, wisely unafraid Of
the aim feminine, merely went on tap
ping. The m arose and, after a
guilty glance around, hid her "best hat"
In a hollow stump. Then out Of her
satchel she drew a ragged sunbonnet
and a red handkerchief. The banker
chief she knotted round her neck,
Gypsy fashion. The sunbonnet she
pulled over her eyes. This completed
her idea of disguise. She broke a young
sourwood, straight limbed and smoothly
red, for a staff, and resumed her Jour
ney. leaving the bag concealed by the
stump. Sunset found her far from the
stream and the pine tree, and found her
still unweary n joyful.
She stood on a high hill watching the
glories in the west. Presently the won
der of the red light died. Drinking in
the fragrant dusk, she hurried down
the slope toward a distant farm. The
days duties were over when she each
ed the farmhouse door-she took care
Of that.
The housewife eyed her doubtfully.
Yes, she supposed she would give her a
bite Of supper; and, yes, she might
sleep In the barn.
The new made tramp ate her cold
supper as she lay on the soft hay. How
delicious each morsel was. 1t was years
since she had eaten with any pleasure,
though for conscience sake she had al
ways swallowed something at the boun-
tiful home table. But this-this was
.easttng! The sauce of keen hunger
made the pitiful meal food for q god!
Supper over, h lay there, soothed
and companioned by the dumb beasts
In the stalls below her. The occasional
turbed her. Only once In the night she
woke. That was when a tiny thrush,
sleeping under the caves, sent forth a
sleepy, exquisite song.
h felt the first arrows Of dawn
pierce the darkness and sat up, confus-
edly-then joyfully, as she remembered
that the whole day was hers. The cat
tie stirred alphabetically. Sounds Of
hustle came from the farmhouse.
At last she saw a boy and girl, just In
their teens, come down the path to-
0ofhar tho Oir1 with noi1 in hand Tn.
ella rolled out of sight in hay and over
heard an anxious dialogue.
Don't go In the loft urged the girl,
timidly. There's a Gypsy asleep there.
She-she might hurt you'll"
"HowP" asked brave thirteen, skep-
tically. IT guess I amt afraid Of no
old woman" He walked boldly into the
barn, the girl following. Yet he did
not go into the loft.
When the girl had finished milking
she found the supposed Gypsy beside
her.
"Dearie," said the woman, coaxingly,
give me a drink"
The girl turned her blue eyes irreso-
lutely on the stranger. Her smooth
young cheek flushed. Then she lifted
the pail of rich, foamy milk n Luella
drank her fill from the edge. When she
had satisfied her thirst the girl said to
her, timidly:
you ear have a biscuit. Shall L
bring you one?"
DO" said hte smiling tramp. You're
ez good ez you're pretty"
The boy stood watching her In his
| sisters absence, his hands in his pock-
| cts, his sturdy legs wide apart.
you ought to try to git some work to
| do he said, reprovingly, quoting his
elders.
do you think" said Luella, with
frank camaraderie, that because I am
| old I can't enjoy a bit Of playtime now
| and them" The boy frowned, puzzled.