The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1914-07-31
The Sowing OF x

Eacou 10 the back OF the stove and
opened h oven door that the biscuits
might keep hot without burning, and
then. pausing in the middle of the
poorly furnished little Kitchen, she
stood for a time taking in all its we'll
known details.
For a little while she stood thus in
the center of the kitchen; then with a
whimsical impulse she moved a step
or two until she trod upon Il rickety
old board that creaked with her weight.
It's protesting cry was Il long heard
voice which for years had answered
at intervals to the girls h%urrying feet
as she went to and fro across the
kitchen. and Ellen chose now to wake
its complaint once more. because it
was part Of the accustomed whole,
which, now that she was breaking
away from it, all tugged so suddenly
and SO strangely at her heart.
She stood in her place on the old
board. and as she did SO tears began
to burn slowly into her eyes.
IL dunno why l keer ter leave
yer all so much," she faltered. putting
her unsteady hands up to her face.
I've jest hated it all lots of times.
Hated Their lonesomeness an Their hard
work an everything, IN now seems
like l must er keered fer hit after ALL"
She stretched out her arms to the
room, and with this action again the
closeness of long familiarity rushed
upon her achingly.
/ For a moment longer she stood, then.
dropping her arms quickly, she turned
and went resolutely into the main
room.
Her mother still sat in the same
blank attitude in the doorway, only
o that the chickens We're gone she
played childishly with her fingers.
Ellen went past her, and going to the
high chimney piece stood upon tiptoes
and reached one hand up, cropping
along the shelf. In a moment her fin
gers struck the thing for which she
sought, and when she drew her hand
down again she held in it Silas DAVIS
pistol. Searching hastily in an old
cigar box she found the cartridges and
with trembling fingers slipped a load
into place. With the swapping to Of
the barrel, the sudden full revelation
Of what she meant to do rushed upon
her, and with a sick repulsion she
flung the pistol upon the table and,
springing back a pace or two stood
looking at it with staring, frightened
eyes of fascination, as though she
looked at Il snake.
For a moment she gazed at it, facing
all that it meant, and slowly she began
to be overwhelmed by a desolate, be-
wildered fright, a terror of her very self
and of her intention. She had broken
from all her accustomed anchors and
faced a thing that was appalling.
Oh, what was she planning to do!
And why was there never any one by
| to give her aid or counsel when she
needed it?
An o~verpowering desire for human
touch and comfort came upon her
something, some one, to save her from
her own mad self. Wildly, in the ex-
tremity of her need, she looked toward
her mother. The woman's eyes an
swered hers with their perpetual blank
ness, but empty as they We're, still they
were human, and with a frightened
cry Ellen fled across the room and
buried her face against her shoulder.
Nanny, nanny" she cried, clinging
to her, and it seemed as though the
sharpness of her necessity must wake
some response in the others dead per-
sonality.
Nanny, NANNY she sobbed
again, covering closer against her. \
light stirred in the eXpressionless face
and some old far away memory of the
days before her fall and before her
little babies had slipped away seemed
to come family back to the old woman.
and as though Ellen were a tiny child
she put her arms about her and sooth-
ed her with murmuring baby talk.
what is hit, honey; what is hit?
Can't hit tell hits mammy?'
Ellen drew herself up in swift sur
prise and searched the withered face.
Was there Il CLEAN of returning reason
there: But even while she gazed ca
gerly the momentary maternal express
sion died away, swallowed by the old
vacant look. and, pushing the girl from
her, the old woman clapped her hands
together and broke into the fragment
OF il foolish song, her body swaying
with the tune and her eyes lit with
empty merriment.
Ellen Sprang to her feet and turned
again to the table. For Il little space
longer she stood wavering before the
pistol, then with Il sudden swoop she
caught it ny and fed desperately out
of the house.
She ran with bent head, scuddinG
along like Il pursued animal, past the
stable and along the path out to the
main road. which, running up from
the Jumping creek Draft. dips over the