Smyrna times., 1911-01-18


The full September moon shoue
down upon little cabin on the drv
prairies of western Kansas. lighting
up the faces of IA young man and wo-
man who We're slowly walking up and
down the open space before the door.
Il 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. | thought you were coming to
stay this time. | hope so, for. Rachel.
I've loved you IA long time"
Dan Southard leaned toward the girl
to study the effect of his avowal on
her
But Rachel Winton betrayed no emo
ton.
She merely turned her dark eyes
from the mans eager face and looked
off across the mOonlit prairie
I've been working and waiting, Ra-
chel." he continued, his voice husky
with feeling. until | had 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. | remember. after we were
here. how bravely you worked to help
your parents get started off comfort
to Wyoming to teach that ranch
school"
Dan" she exclaimed almost stern
| ly. II 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 | 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 a hard, hard one.
In my heart | 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 1t makes me bitter. That's why
| 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, | promise it, then suddenly,
with a catch in his voice, Say, grille
there's no truth in the report about
your caring for that rich Wyoming
ranchmanY
MIR. Miles has been very kind tC
me-" she answered without pretending
not to understand. He has offered tC
let father and mother have the lovely
home he owns in Denver if I'll marry
him 1t would be an ideal place fol
them to end their days in"
My God. grille! l couldn't stand i
to see you the wife of anotherr' th'
young man cried. his strong frame
shaken with emotion.
You mustn't care so much, Dan,
|
= feriug making her tones kind. "Ge
a better girl to share your home-On'
who will love you enough to make the
best of this hard life"
Never. never. RACHEL he answer
cd. with passion. Il love only you
If you could but read my heart ant
see how much you would surely car,
just little for me- Your ranchman
rich as he is. will never love you as
do. Rachel. Never"'
Il couldn't love any man we
enough to give up all enjoy and SET
tie down to this isolated life, this cor
tinual treadmill of drudgery," she re
tOrted, turning away, then in milde
tone. Forget me. Dan"
Forget her. That he would neve
dO-he never could. There was a tim
it was when they lived in their COY
cred wagons and ,camped at night b
the trail: yes, and even after the
were settled here-that he had though
she cared for him.
Those had been the happiest days
Southard's life. He had never dream
Z ed that she hated those free. rollir
b prairies so intensely.
Z Blind to this. he had been toiling Q
B his new claim to get things in goc
shape before asking her to marry hin
n Bitterly now he felt that it was a
4 labor lost, for without Rachel Winto
A nothing was worth while.
I After gazing at the girl moment
silent reproach Southard walked ov'
to his tethered horse, mounted an
n rode away.
4 The moon climbed higher as Rach
D stood looking after the vanishi1
u hOrseman.
a poor Danw she murmured. Il
is so strong and good. Father al
. mother love him like a son, but ju
can't. can't!' And the tears gather'
In her eyes.
, 81 was intended for something be
ter. If | wasn't. why should dislil
- the rough. crude ways of pioneer Ii