Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-26
The Argus Daily Short Story
Revealed by Fire-By Addison Howard Gibson.
Copyrighted Literary Presa

forced to leave when we came here.
Mother and 1 were not very brave,
for we shed tears most Of the way,
| though no one knew it. We came be-
cause it was the only thing to do, but
this pioneer life is. hard, hard one.
in my heart l 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 to 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. 1 promise it." then suddenly,
with catch in his voice, Say. grille,
! there's no truth in the report about
your caring for that rich Wyoming
ranchman?"
''AIr Miles has been very kind to
! me-" she answered without pretending
/ not to understand. He has offered to
! let father and mother have the lovely
/ home he owns in Denver If I'll marry
! him. 1t would be an ideal place for
| them to end their days in
! MY God, grille! l couldn't stand it
/ 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-
fering making her tones kind. Get
a better girl to share your home-one
who will love you enough to make the
best of this hard life"
Never. never. Rachelr' he answer
ed, with passion 81 love only you.
If you could but read my heart and
see how much you would surely care
Just little for me- Your ranchnan,
rich as he is, VIII never love you as
do. Rachel Neverr'
II couldn't love any man well
enough to give up all / enjoy and set
tile down to this isolated life, this con-
tinual treadmiH of drudgery," she re-
torted, turning away, then in a milder
tone, Forget me, Dan"
Forget heri That he would never
do-he never could. There was time
Kit was when they lived in their COW
cred wagons aud 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 toiling 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 Southland walked over
Ito his tethered horse, mounted and
rode away.
The moon climbed higher as Rachel
stood looking after the vanishing
ihorseman.
"Poor Dam she murmured. "He
is so strong and good. Father and
mother love him like son. but L just
can't, can'tp' And the tears gathered
in her eyes.
az was intended for something bet
fer. If 1 wasn't. why should l dislike
the rough. crude ways Of pioneer life
so terribly?'
With this question on her lips Rachel
Winton entered the cabin, where her
parents were already asleep, and
sought her couch.
For a long time she lay awake. her
mind. much against her will, busy com
pairing young Southland and Mr.. Niles.
Dams clear cut but somewhat boyish
face lost nothing by comparison with
that Of the bearded. middle aged ranch
man who had been wooing her per-
sistently for the past year.
Life with one meant the unceasing