The Huttig news., 1914-06-20
BACK TO LIFE
By LAURA HERMAN.


 had known before he asked Pearl to face ranch life with him that only one woman in hundred strikes happiness under such conditions.
 Pack your trunk, kid,'' he said kind ly, batting the bright head that lay de jectedly on the round arms. It's got on your nerves. There's just one thing to do and that's to get back to civiliza- ton. I'll try to follow, girl
 You'll follow!' Up came the vel low head. The blue eyes lighted with hope. "Oh. Johnl" she cried. do you mean it?"
 He nodded-first half-heartedly, then more vigorously and convincingly.
 "See!" she cried, clutching the door jamb, "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.
 'I 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 lfe!" she caught him up.
 The following morning he drove her to the station.
 "Good-by!" he sang out as the train pulled away.
 He stood long time looking after it. Then, whistling tune that had strange hitches in it. he sprang into his wagon and turned Demons head homeward.
 When he reached the ranch he flung the reins over the mares back and strode 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.
 "God'' 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 only way he 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 1t 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 1t open. He bent, shoulders contracted. His eyes were like fires.
 Darling Johnnie,' he read. T 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: "Oh, Johnnie darling this is the only place to live! I have been in a dream of happiness since I re- turned. Of course I could not be so happy if l didn't know you were com ing soon. Goodness! How l 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- TOT, as he vaulted the feAce and made toward the wild beast.
 John laughed. Here, for a moment, he could forget his pain. He headed off the animal, cornered 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 if there was anything he wanted.
 There's not a letter?' he asked.
 But through the long day none came Quietly, he lay on his bed with his eyes wandering out over the plain. The darkness fell at last. Pitch-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 1t? Sud denly it seemed to him that voice in the pitch h-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!" he cried, in the threatening voice of child, who. if disappointed, will go into wild, inconsolable, hysteri- cal crying