The Prescott daily news., 1910-03-12


 up the faces of young man and wo- man who were slowly walking up and down the open space before the door.
 T was so happy. Rachel" the man said. glancing at the strong, beautiful face of his companion. when heard your school up in the Wyoming noun tains was closed and you were coming home. l thought you were coming t, stay this time l hope so. for. Rachel. I've loved you long time"
 Dan Southard leaned toward the girl | der.
 But Rachel W.nton betrayei no emo- ton
 She merely tr.n.i N. 'or11 eyes from the mD.I'S >oked of acr,<s the mo.
 king ard vAitinr. Ra- (. .,"E tod. hi; voi i... husky with foesn.,, until l h;tn something to offer you. was sure you wouldn't give up teaching for just anything you're not that kind
 But I've loved you ever since two | years ago, when we all came out to these prairies together in our covered wagons. l remember. after we were here, how bravely you worked to help your parents get started off comfort ably before you went with your uncle | to Wyoming to teach that ranch school"
 "Dan," she exclaimed almost stern ly, +I haven't ceased to remember our | old house, which father lost on that security debt, the home we were | forced to leave when we came here Mother and I were not very brave, for we shed tears most of the way. though no one knew it. We came be- cause 1t was the only thing to do, but this pioneer life is a hard. hard one.
 Tn my heart 1 am at war with it and always have been. 1t takes away youth and kills all high and noble am bitions. See how mother has aged during the two years we have lived here. It makes me bitter. That's why 1 go back 60 teach I'm going to make enough to take them away from this life"
 But. Rachel" he pleaded you shall never work as your mother has had to, I promise it." then suddenly. with catch in his voice, Say, gtriie, there's no truth in the report about your caring for that rich Wyoming ranchmanT'
 MT. Miles has been very kind to me-" she answered without pretending not to understand He has offered tb let father and mother have the lovely home he owns in Denver if I'll marry him. It would be an ideal place for them to end their days in."
 My God. grille! couldn't stand 1t to see you the wife of another" the young man cried. his strong frame shaken with emotion
 You mustn't care so much. Dan," she returned, tender pity for his suf- feriug making her tones kind. Get better girl to share your home-one who will love you enough to make the best of this hard life"
 Never, never. Rachel!' he answer ed, with passion. 'I love only you. If you could but read my heart and see how much you would surely care just little for me. Your ranchman. rich as he is. will never love you as do, Rachel. Never"
 "T couldn't love any man well enough to give up all enjoy and set tie down to this isolated life, this con tinual treadmill of drudgery," she re- torted, turning away, then in milder tone, Forget me, Dan."
 Forget her! That he would never do-he never could. There was time It was when they lived in their GOV cred wagons and camped at night by the trail; yes. and even after they were settled here-that he had thought she cared for him.
 Those had been the happiest days in Southard's life He had never dream ed that she hated those free, rolling prairies so intensely.
 Blind to this. he had been toiiing on his new claim to get things in good shape before asking her to marry him.
 Bitterly now he felt that it was all labor lost, for without Rachel Winton nothing was worth while.
 After gazing at the girl moment in silent reproach Southard walked over to his tethered horse, mounted and Fode away.
 The moon climbed higher as Rachel stood looking after tue vanishing horSeman.
 .ho s.TJp