The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-02-05
Maize and the Ranchnan.
fBY julia Hauschild.l


and Maaie Hasser as she looked out of
the window, thought of her brother
who was out in the cold rain looking
after the cattle. He had left the day
before and had told her not to worry as
he would be home early that day.
Maize did not know what to do with
herself during the long forenoon, and
after musing for while she decided to
get him q nice hot dinner. No sooner
had this thought occurred to her than
she was busting about the kitchen pre-
pairing his favorite dishes.
After preparing dinner she sat down
and waited for him, but the minutes
dragged into hours until it was six
O'Clock and still he did not come.
Maize grew frightened and decided
to look for him, so she donned her rid
ing suit and mounted her horse and
rode away. The day was fading and it
was growing dark; but Maize did not
notice this, her one thought was of her
brother.
As she rode on it grew darker and
darker and the way became sleeper and
sleeper. 1t had began to rain again
and Maize was wondering how she
would get up the hill, when her horse
slipped and fell and hurt her so badly
that she could not walk.
Maize did not know what to do, it
was raining very hard and the ground
was damp and cold; but before she
could form any plans she heard the pat
ter of horses feet and in moment
somebody was beside her. It was
ranchman who had been looking after
his stock and was returning home.
After few words he gently lifted her
into the saddle and took her home to
his mother.
Mrs. Brooks received her kindly and
told her to come in and warm herself.
Maize was glad to get near the fire as
she was very cold. After she had
warmed herself and changed her clothes
she went to bed; but she slept very lit
| tie that night as she could not help
thinking of her brother who was out in
the cold.
At last she fell into troubled sleep
ing brightly and pair of kindly eyes
were looking into hers. How do you
feel, dear?" asked Mrs. Brooks. Maize
said that she felt all right and asked
for the man who had brought her
there. Mrs. Brooks told her that he
was outside but that she would call him
| if she wished to see him. Maize said
she did and the woman left the room.
A few minutes later the man entered
and asked her what she wanted. 'fWhat
is your manner" asked Maize. "John
Brockis'' he replied. ''Mine is Maize
Hasser." Certainly he replied,
"what is it?''
She then told him where she lived
and asked him to find her brother and
bring him to her. She described him
so we'll that John was sure that he
would know him if he saw him and with
these words in his mind he left the
room. Maize watched him as he mount
ed his horse and rode away. After he
was gone Maize wondered if he would
find him, and when they would be home
The day wore slowly away and when
the evening shadows began to fall they
brought him home
Maize was overjoyed to see her broth
er but her gladness soon turned into
grief for he was unconscious. He hac
accidently got hurt. John brought him
into the house and laid him on the bed
All night long he raved and when the
morning daw0ed he had crossed tbt
river of death.
Maize was grief stricken for she was
now alone in the world. John and hi:
mother tried to comfort her by telling
her that they were her friends and ask
ing her to make her home with them
but Maize thanked them and after the
funeral she went back to her home
among the mountains. A few years
later she became the wife of JohT
Brockis who had cared for her so ten
derby during the past few years.