Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-04-05
l~s+Eara
SHE CHANGED
HER MIND !
: But She Had a Good Rea- !
( SON For Doing So ]
By RUTH GRAHAM

The full September moon shone
down upon a little cabin on the dry
prairies Of western Kansas, lighting
up the faces Of a young man and wo-
man who were slowly walking up and
down the open space before the door.
81 was so happy, Rachel" the man
said, glancing at the strong, beautiful
face of his companion, when 1 heard
your school up in the Wyoming noun
tains was closed and you were coming
home. I thought you were coming to
stay this time. / hope so, for, Rachel,
I've loved you a long time"
Dan Southland leaned toward the girl
to study the effect Of his avowal on
her.
But Rachel Winton betrayed no emo
ton.
She merely turned her dark eyes
from the mans eager face and looked
off across the moonlit prairie.
"Tve been working and waiting, Ra-
cbel,'' he continued, his voice husky
with feeling, until 1 had something
to offer you. I was sure you wouldn't
give up teaching for just anything
you're not that kind.
"But I've loved you ever since two
years ago, when we all anne out to
| these prairies together in our covered
wagons. l remember, after we were
here, how bravely you worked to help
your parents get started off comfort
ably before you went with your uncle
to Wyoming to teach that ranch
school,"
DAN" she exclaimed almost sternly,
Il haven't ceased to remember u old
house, which father lost on that Sc
curity debt, the house we were forged
to leave when we came here! Mother
and 1 were not very brave, for we
shed tears most of the way, though nc
one knew it. We came because it was
the only thing to do, but this pioneer
life is a hard, hard one.
I'm my heart l am at war with i
and always have been. It takes away
youth and kills all high and noble am
billions. See how mother has aged dur
ing the two years we have lived here
1t makes me bitter. That's why l e
back to teach. I'm going to MAKE
enough to take them away from thi!
life"
But, Rachel" he pleaded, you shall
never work as your mother has had to
+ rror,ico 81 rNhon c,,llop1r with 4.
catch in his voice, Say, grille, there
no truth in the report about your cal
ing for that rich Wyoming ranchman?
Mr.. Miles has been very kind t
me- she answered without pretendin!
not to understand. HE has offered t
home he owns in Denver il I'll MARI.
him. 1t would be an ideal place fe
f them to end their days in"
My God, grille! I couldn't stand
to see you the wife Of another tn
young man cried, his strong fram
3 shaken with emotion.
"You mustn't care so much, Dam,
she returned, tender pity for his sui
fering making her tones kind. "Ge
4 a better girl to share your home-on
who will love you enough to make tn
best Of this hard life"
Never, never, Rachel" he answered
i. with passion. II love only you. l
: you could but read my heart and Sc
how much, you would surely care JUS
( a little for me. Your ranchman. rae
: as he is, will never love you as | &,
: Rachel! Never!'
: Il couldn't love any mar well enoug
to give up all ] enjoy and settle dow
: to this isolated life, this continue
: treadmill Of drudgery," she retorte(
: turning away; then il a milder tone
: Forget NE, Dan"
5 Forget her! That he would neve
: do-he never could. There was a tim
: it was when they lived in their GOV
- cred wagons and camped at night b.
: the trail; yes, and even after the.
were settled here-that he had though
she cared for him.
Those had been the happiest days i
4 Southard's life. He had never dream
L ed that she hated those free, rollin
1 prairies so intensely.
Blind to this, he had been toiling o
y his new claim to get things in goo
shape before asking her to marry hin
Bitterly now he felt that it was a
labor lost, for without Rachel Winto
nothing was worth while.
Il After gazing at the girl a moment i
n silent reproach Southland walked owe
to his tethered horse, mounted an
rode away.
The moon climbed higher as Rache
stood looking after the vanishin
Il horseman.
poor DAM she murmured. I'll
is so strong and good. Father an
mother love him like a son. but l jus
can't, can't" And the tears gathere
in her eyes.
81 was intended for something BET
ter. If | wasn't, why should l dislik
the rough. crude ways of pioneer lf
SO terribly"
With this question on her lips Rache
WintOn entered the cabin. where he