The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-04-04
Of . new day gave her . FIRST real

. new day gave her . FIRST real
glimpse of the surrounding dreariness
she stood looking out through the
griny glass of her single window, de-
pressed and heartsick. The low,
rolling hills, bare and desolate.
stretched to the horizon, the grass al
ready burned brown by the sun. The
town itself consisted Of but one
short, crooked street. fianked By
rough, r~amshackle frame structures,
two-thirds of these apparently sa-
looms, with dirty, Tapping tents sand
wiched between, and huge piles OF
tin cant and other rubbish stored
away behind. The street was rutted
and dusty. and the ceaseless wind
swiried the dirt about In continuous.
suffocating clouds. The hotel itself.
q little, sQuatty. two-stortsd AFFAIR,
groaned to the blast. threatening to
collapse. Nothing moved except .
wagon down the long ribbon OF road.
| and q dog digging for a bone behind
a nearby tent. 1t was 30 sQualid and
| ugly she turned away in speechlees
disgust.
The interior, however. offered even
smaller comfort. A rude bedstead. d
leg considerably short and propped up
by q half brick. stood against the
board wall; a single wooden chair was
opposite. and a n~y-specked mirror
hung over a tin basin and pitcher. The
floor sagged fearfully and the !
walls lacked several inches OF reach
ing the ceiling. Even In the dim
candle light of the evening before, the
bed coverings had looked SO forbid
ding that Molly had compromised, ly'
ing down, half-dressed on the outside;
now, in the garish glare of returning
day they appeared positively altny
And this was the best to be had;
she realized that, her courage f>lilne
at the thought of remaining alonf
. amid such surroundings. As sh'
washed, using a towel of her " aftel
q single glance at the hotel article
and did up her rebellious hair. sh'
came to a prompt decision. She ~oul'
go directly on-would lake the mrs
stage. Perhaps her father, or whom
ever he sent, would be met with alonI
d the route. Tue coaches had reguia
meeting stations, SO there was SINAI
n danger of their missing each othel
The question Of possible danger wa
dismissed almost without seriou
q thought. She had seen no paper
since leaving st. Louis, and the new
before that contained nothing mol
definite than rumors Of uneaslnes
r among the Plains Indians. Army OF
d GERS interviewed rather made light {
the affair, as being merely the reguls
ar outbreak of young warriors, easll
suppressed. On the train she had m
AZ with no one who treated h situate
as really serious, and. II 1t was, the
ia surely her father would send son
ID message of restraint. Satisfied upc
II. this point, and fully determined upe
m departing at the earliest opportunlt
she ventured down the narrow, crea
ing stairs in search of breakfast
m. The dining-room was discovered
M the foot OF the steps, a square box
a place, the two narrow windows loo
ali ing forth on the desolate prair
on There were three tables, but only o
,er wa in use, and, with no waiter
,ct guide her. the girl advanced hesitatiI
act ly and took a seat opposite the t
men already present. They glanc
up, curiously interested, staring at
- a moment, and then resumed their
terrupted meal. Miss McDonald's CT
- ical eyes surveyed the unsavory-lo'
AZ ing food, her lips slightly curved, a
then glanced :nquiringly toward
~ men. The one directly opposite v
large and burly, with iron-gray b
and beard, about sixty years OF a
= but with red cheeks and bright ey
and a face expressive of hearty g
nature. His clothing was roug
s~erviceable, but he looked clean
r wholesome. The other was an ar
lieutenant, but Molly PROM
uuelched her first inclination to
dress him, as she noted his red.
famed face and dissipated appearal
AS she nibbled, half-heartedly, at
= miserable food brought by a slove
. waiter, the two men exchanged bal
. q dozen words, the Lieutenant grow
= out m~onosyllabic answers. finally p
ing back his chair. and striding
. Again the girl glanced across at
s older man, mastering courage to
dress him. At the same moment
. looked up, with yes full Of good
NOR and kindly interest.
Looks rather tough, rec
MISS" waving a big hand over
table. But you'll have ter git
to 1t in this kentry."
"Oh, l do not believe ! aver col
di~sconsolately. II can scarcely cl
down q mouthful."
80 l was noticin'; nom the Ea
reckon?"
Fort Yes; Il came last night. a
rself and really l am afraid l am act
cout -zzr, I~onlv lit Ia