The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-12-12
CHAPTER CONTINUED.

,
She looked about the place some
what hopelessly. Her father read her
perplexity.
"It seems as though you would be
In charge here for a while, Reenie,"
no said, $50 you will "a time by
getting acquainted at once with your
equipment. Look the house over and
see what you have &c work with"
swell, / can commence here" she
answered. 'This is Dawes room. /
suppose / should say Mr.. Elden's,
but-what was ii he said about mis-
tering'? 1t would be splendid If 1t
we're cleaned up" she continued, with
kindling enthusiasm. "These bare
logs. bare floors, bare rafters-we've
got back to essentials, anyway. And
that's his bed" She surveyed a
framework Of spruce poles, on which
lay an old straw mattress and some
V0ry gray blankets. II suppose he
Is very tired when he goes to bed"
she said, drolly, as though that could
be the only explanation of sleep amid
such surroundings.
In the south end Of the larger room
tood a fireplace, crudely made of
aabs of native rock. The fires of
many winters had crumbled the rock,
80 that Ii had fallen in in places and
was no Longer employed for it's origi-
nal purpose. A very rusty and greasy
stove now occupied the space imme-
diately in front OF the fireplace, the
stovepipe leading into the ample but
tottering chimney. Near the stove
gas Il bench supporting O tin wash
aasin. a wooden pail and certain frag-
Eents OF soap-evidently all the equip
nent necessary for the simple ablu-
lions Of the Eden household. The
remnant of a grain-bag, with many evil
aences of use and abuse, performed
the functions of a towel, and q broken
piece Of looking-glass gave the ~faintest
.ln~tiriation that a strain of fundamen-
tai relationship links the sexes. By
the western wall was a table, with nu-
merous dishes, and to the wall itself
had been nailed wooden boXes-salmon
and tomato cases-now containing an
assortment of culinary supplies. A
partially used sack Of flour and an
other Of rolled oats leaned against the
wall, and a trapdoor In the floor gave
promise of further u beneath.
There was a window in the east and
another in the west, both open and
unscreened; myriads of flies gave the
only touch of life Go the dismal scene.
Irene looked 1t all over, then leaned
against the window sill n laughed.
Her father had brought her west for
holidays, with the promise of changed
surroundings and new experiences, but
she had promised her no such delight
as this. With the Eden kitchen still
photographed In her mind she called up
the picture or her own city home-the
order; the precision; the fixedness;
the his-sits-here-and-tha
ness; the fairness and emptiness and
formality Of 1t all; and she turned
again to the Eden kitchen and laughed
IA soft, ripping. irrepressible laugh,
az irrepressible as the laughter Of the
mountain stream amid the evergreens.
Then she looked again from the open
window, this time with eyes that saw
the vista Of valley and woodland and
fo0thiIl that stretched down into the
epening prairie. Suddenly she realized
that she vas looking down upon a pic
ture-one of natures obscure master
pieces-painted In brown and green
and saffron against an opal canvas. 1t
was beautiful. not with the solemnity
OF the great mountains, nor the SOL
emnity of the great plains, but with
that nearer, more intimate relationship
which Is the peculiar property Of the
foothill country. The girl drew q
great breath OF the pure air and was
about to dream a new daydream when
the voice of her father brought her to
earth.
Cant you find anything that will do
for a bandage?" he asked.
"Oh, you dear Daddykins !" she re
piled, her voice tremulous with self.
reproach. II had forgotten. There
was a spell. or something; 1t just came
down upon me In the window. The
bandage? Dear, mol The only cloth
see Is the kitchen towel, and ! cam
recommend it. But what q goose
ami Our grips are In the car, Or IN
der It, or somewhere. I'll be back II
I jiffy." And she was on at q sharI
trot down the trail along which she
had so recently come In Dave Elden'i
wagon.
The grips were duly found, and Irene
congratulated herself that she and hel
father were In the habit Of travelling
with equipment for overnight. Arrived
1t the house. she deftly wrapped
Bandage about her fathers injury an'
8 to work at the preparation Of sup
sss-a IA not strange ~ her. a. he