Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1914-09-24
BACK TO LIFE
BY LAURA kIRf MAN.

face ranch life with him that only one
woman in hundred strikes happiness
under such conditions.
Pack your trunk, kid" he said kind
fy, patting the bright head that lay de-
jectedly on the round arms. It's got
on your nerves. There's just one thirg
to do and that's to get back to civiliza-
ton. I'll try to follow, girl"
You'll followl" Up came the vel
low head The blue eyes lighted with
hope. "Oh, John!" she cried, do you
mean it,"
He nodded-first half-heartedly, then
more vigorously and convincingly.
"See," she cried. clutching the door
lamb, "can you blame me? What girl
brought up to dances and music and
theaters could drop to this without
going half mad?"
He went to her quietly. Soothingly,
he patted her arm, gradually drawing
her away as he did It.
Il know" he said gently. And
come! Now you're going to pack.
You'll go back to your mother-until
we see what can be done"
Back to life!" she caught him up.
The following morning he drove her
to the station
"Good-by!o he sang out as the train
pulled away.
He stood a long time looking after
it. Then, whistling a tune that had
strange bitches in 1t, he sprang into
his wagon and turned Demons head
homeward
When he reached the ranch he flung
the reins over the mares back and
strobe into the house. No doubt one
Of the boys would attend TO the horse.
He went straight to the little room at
the back of the house which had been
Pearls.
Cod" he whispered, bring her
back! Bring her back"
For, all at once, he knew that unless
he had hopes of her coming back he
could not go on. He had thought he
could grit his teeth and work. Now
he knew that he couldn't
The onlv way be could get himself
to go out with the boys and work was
to tell himself that her first letter
would bring news of her coming back.
And so he lived, in hope, until the
letter came. One of his boys deliv-
cred it to him two nights later, as he
sat smoking on the back step, watch
ing the red ball OF the sun drop behind
the prairie.
With eager hands, he took it. His
fingers trembled as he tore it open. He
bent, shoulders contracted. His eyes
were like fires.
Darling Johnnie" he read. Il can
hardly wait till you sell the old place
and come East"
He dropped the letter He covered
his eyes with his shirt sleeves. His
shoulders heaved. He was sobbing as
he had sobbed when little boy.
But gradually he got back the cour-
age to go on: ooh, Johnnie darling this
is the only place to live! l have been
in dream of happiness since l re-
turned OF course l could not be so
happy If didn't know you were COM
ing soon. Goodness! How | have
danced, and teaed, and played the
pianola!"
After all he did not go on. He could
not. He knew what the rest of the
letter was like. Hearing a commotion
in the corral, he got up and pushed his
steps toward It, He dared not sit and
think.
And It was with welcome that he
saw an obstreperous broncho tearing
round and round the corral, defying
authority.
Don't go In" cried the men in hor-
ror, as he vaulted the fence and made
toward the wild beast.
John laughed. Here, for a moment,
he could forget his pain. He headed
off the animal, corn cred it. Then reck-
lessly. step by step, he neared It.
When he came to he was lying in
bed with doctor bending over him.
One movement told him that his leg
was broken. He lay back, closing his
eyes in pain.
Dimly, he saw figures flying about
waiting on him. He was conscious of
some one puttering over the fire An
other of the boys Strengthened his pill
low. Still another asked him II there
was anything he wanted
There's not letter." he asked
But through the long day none came.
Quietly he lay on his bed with his
eyes wandering out Over the plain.
G'he darkness fell at last Pitoh-black-
ness came.
Johnnie. darling!' he was saying to
himself, as she used to say It. ~Oh,
Johnnie darling"
Or was some one else saying il? Sud
denly II seemed to him that a voice in
the pitch blackness about him was say
ing it. He propped himself up on his
elbow Yes, there It was again:
johnnie, darling!"
And his own lips were closed He
sat up straight now
PEARL" ne cried in the threatening
voice OF "a child. who. if disappointed,
viii 60 into wild, inconsolable, hysteri-
cal crying.
But there was no disappointment Ia