The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-01-29
CHAPTER w.
In the Spell of the MIRAGE.


dime as world history goes, but 1t is a
considerable era in the life of rhe
Canadian west. More things-monsen.
tous things-than can be limited at IN
this narrative occurred in the % wears
following the great thrush of 1882. The
boundless prairie reaches of Manitoba
were now comparatively well settled.
and the tide of immigration, which.
after dozen years stagnation. had
Get In again in greater flood than ever.
was now sweeping over the newer
lands still farther west. The vast
sweep of the horizon, once indebted
~ any work Of man, was pierced and
broken with elevators, villages. and
farm buildings, and the Whit of coaT
moke was blown down the air which
had so lately known only the breath
n the prairies.
Mary Harris hurried about her ca
pacious kitchen. deep in preparation
n the evening meal. The years had
faken toll of the freshness of her
oung beauty; the shoulders, in mute
testimony to much hard labor Of the
and, had dropped forward over the
eepening chest; the hair was thin
her. and farther back above the fore
Fad, and streaked with gray at the
<mples; the mouth lacked the rosy
enmousness of youth, and SAT- now
mold. half Of resolution, half SUBJ
nission. Yet her foot had lost little
It's sprightliness. and the sympathy
her fine eyes seemed to have deep-
ned with the years.
A moist but appetizing steam rose
rom the vegetable pots on the range.
nd when she threw back the ircn
DOR to feed more coal the hot slow
rom within danced in reflection along
pc bright row Of utensils hanging
ON the wall, and even sought out
Pc brass plate on the cream separa-
at the far end of the big room.
hrough the screen door came the mo-
otonously redundant clio
clank Of the, windmill. and a
en ear might have caught the light
iash of water as 1t fell In the wood
horse troughs from the iron nozzle
the pump.
nary stuck fork In potato to as
rain II the bone" was all gone. :
esnwhile shielding her face from the
eam with the pot lid. held alof, In
aproned hand. Having satisfied
7seif that the meal was making sat ,
-ctory progress, she stepped to the :
% and sent quick look across the .
'os' to where a streak of black
Se was scrSwled along the sky. I
peuiah'" she called, turning to- (
= the Interior part of the house. d
me, Beulah, set the table. They're
ing from the field" =
moment a girl Of twenty, plain v
1ured In a neat calico dress, en-
u me kitchen. She was fresh and S
nuful as her mother had been that s.
summer In the sod house on the L
and something in her appear e
suggested that with her mothers II
NY and fine sensibility she had in 7
''eo the indomitable spirit which q
made John Harris one of the most A
psfous farmers in the district. She cl
~ IN an easy, unconscious grace p
u'feiance-a reliance that must Il
ast a littk irritating to men Of
nnioned notions concerning wsm- ie
oependence on the sterner sex 81
ne long wooden table. with its a,
ring OF. white oil cloth, into the
~ OF the kitchen. and began plac- d.
M dishes In position. nj
= scraping of heavy boots ON the
snare nailed to the block ar the A,
and John Harris, followed bv hr
ano the hired man, Jim, walked NJ
.ne kitchen. The farmers frame So
.auer than In his younger DAYS 70
ms hair, too, was streaked WITH ~
Out every muscle in his great W,
scented TO bulge with strength. ON
.aee was brown with the prairie -.
.u WIND Of % summers. and 49,
VI worry and care had cnt ,bo,r ~
49, about the mouth and ewes e.
MIN stood Allan, his onlv SON ~ ~
sn'er and lither Of figure. but al. -.
Nuaiiy powerful. The Younger 81,
y vas, indeed. replica of the old. IN my
~ aithough they had their dis. ~
nents, constant association had ~. ye'
speo fine comradeship. and on ~, us'
VI the son. a loyalty equal 70 th ~.
nam, The hired man, jim was IN .n'
ana liner of feature, and his A. A.
teeth cleaned against the nut' au'
Of his face in a quiet smile u !"
FUSED to be displaced in anv IN -
sacy' and at times left the no.. COT
- considerable doubt as to the s ,en
lotions working behind Iar
men all wore blue overalls dars =
sraS shirts, and heavy boots =, run !,
ere guiltless of coat or vest !.
ed their light straw hats o. tina
'ss bench as they passed. Tbe W. WIN
ss'ek splashlng of greasy hands $; sen
ssn basin, followed BY a more IN 10