The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-01-08

a square meal an sleep an bit OF
western hospitality. Places, too. il
you like, where there are men 10 saw
good word for Aleck McCrae. How's
that suit your"
Harris took his friends hand in n
warm grip. He rightly guessed that
McCrae was not bartering his services
Ior hospitality, but was making il
easy for Harris to accept them by an
pearing TO bargain for a service i'm re-
! turn. So they shook hands together
on the side of the bank overlooking
lhe little coulee. and as tlny looked
IN each others eyes Harris realized
Tor the first time that McCrae was
sun a young man. A sense of com
raueshlp came over him-a feeling
mat this man was more of a brother
IMAM father. With admiring eyes
he looked on McCrae's fine face. his
broad shoulders, his wonderful ply.
Sique, and the question he asked
Sprang from his lips before he could
arrest ii.
why don't you get married. Mac?"
who. meY said McCrae. laughing:
but Harris detected tone in his
voice that was not all happiness. and
me thought came to him that Me
Crae's craving for hospitality might
root deeper than he supposed.
It's a long ride to the land Office" |
continued McCrae, IAN you can't file a
-
corner post an make sure of the num-
Der or this section. an put as much |
road behind us as we can tonight"
After filing at the land office Harris
returned at once to the ArthurS' home
stead. The news that the Harrises
were TO be neighbors within 40 miles
was received with enthusiasm by both
Fred and Lillian Arthurs. But Har-
rls was now consumed with a burning
energy; he allowed himself only a
precious half day at the home of the
arthurses, babe his wife an affection
ate farewell, and, with a CHEEKY good
~ to the warm friends on the home
stead, he was away down the trail TO
Emerson.
On arrival at Emerson one of the
lrst men he met was Tom Morrison.
lhe two pioneers shook hands warm
and in few words Harris told of
'aving selected his claim. waxing en-
husiastic over the locality in which
lis lot was to be cast.
Il must get out there myself" said
forrison.
DO" Harris urged. "There are ,
ONE other fine quarters in the neigh .
orhood, and nothing would be better :
han to have you on one of them" .
The west-bOund trip was made in >
God time. although not without diff /,
llty at some points in the road. and .
efore the tenth of April Harris was q
ack under the shelter of Arthurs' a
'of. He was for pressing on alone in 4
lie morning, but he found that his =
life had made all her plans to ac- :,
'mpany him and would listen neither
persuasion nor reason.
But, Mary. there's no house. and no !,
lelter, and no Notwithstanding but -
y and grass as far as you can see.' =,
All the more reason / should 60" ~
e answered. IF you have to rough 9.
in the open you at least deserve ..
ur meals cooked for you. and such =.
her help as a woman can give. ~
ally must be with you. I really -.
lst, John, and you know-Pm GO Sn
?" qt
So at last he consented. The sup
es of provisions were increased, and
,ether they set out to wrestle their
tunes from the wilderness.
On arrival at the homestead the
ing wife Immediately gave evidence
It she intended to bear her full
ire Of the pioneers duties. A COM
-atively dry spot was found among
little poplars, and here she built a
t with blankets and a bit Of rag
pet that came In most handy for
h purposes. Their stove was set
and although II smoked stubborn
for lack of draught, 1t furnished
t for cooking, and when Jack re-
ned from lettering the horses the
,ll of frying ham and hot tea struck
nostrilA
Well, that's better than rustling for
self, will admit" he said.