Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-02-04

establish ourselves In the West. It
was little enough. as we were to learn
in due course, but Jack and I had also
saved something Of our earnings, and
during this particular fall and winter
we were unusually penurious.
"Nail down every dollar" said Jack,
and we all were busy with our mailing.
We prepared to start for the West
about the end Of April, and, as it came
about, my father and Mrs. Lane ar
ranged domestic event on the very
day of our departure. The affair was
quiet and unpretentious; ceremony in
the church at eleven, and dinner at
Mrs Lane's-Mrs Halls, should say
where Marjorie and Jean served, and
we all tried to live in a joyous glow
which was strangely shot through with
streaks of unhappiness. That night at
six we left for the West.
After two days and two nights we
passed through Winnipeg. 1t was in
the gray of dawn, and we did not get
off, but through the window we caught
a glimpse of lines Of lights down q
wide and winding street.
Daylight saw US on the prairies; not
the ''baldheaded," to be sure, but the
well settled country of the Portage
plains, where industry was already
fructifying in trim houses and barns,
and orderly, well-kept farms. And yet
here and there was now the unbroken.
sweep of the prairies. and our eyes
danced and something caught our
breath as we tried to imagine what
they meant. We knew what it was for
men to spend their lives in clearing
ten, twenty. or forty acres, but here
lay a kingdom fresh from the hand Of
God and ready for the pillow. And a
piece of that kingdom in the still far
Their West-32O acres of that kingdom
was to be oursI
And as much more as can buy
from year to year." said Jack. as
though picking up the thread Of our
thoughts, his face alive with enthu-
siasm. "Boy" he said, banging me on
the knee, there's no limit; there's no
limit !" clasped his hand In mine with
pressure that told more than words.
All that day we continued through
the prairies, with here and there belt
Of scrubland to cut across the vision.
All that day we rambled more and
more In the field of fancy-happy
imaginings of the things we would do
with those farms of ours which lay out
there, somewhere to the westward.
waiting only to be claimed And as
evening came on we watched our first
prairie sunset. There were no quick
dusk and darkness, as in the East; the
sun hung long in the western sky. and
as it descended swung steadily to the
nOrthward. AS it fell feather-like ruff
des of cloud almost overhead burst to
color in the richest mauves and Grim
sons, and long ribbons in the west
floating like golden islands In sea Of
amber, caught the glow and silently
unfolded a glory of pink and yellow
and orange and crimson and FURNISHED
brass.
turned to look at Jean. She sat
by the window where the yellow light
blocked out her fine profile against the
drab background of the car, and min
gled in the richer yellow OF her hair.
And her blue eyes were all a-glisten,
as the long. fine lashes dropped and
rose and dropped and rose. And in
the corner of her eye saw a little
pearl gather and grow until, unre-
strained, it stole across her cheek.
"Regina!" shouted Jack; Regina !"
springing to his feet and beginning to
gather up our effects, for we had
agreed that this should be the base Of
our search for land. We were ready
to disembark by the time the train had
come to stop, and our first glimpse
of the prairie city was that of build
ings silhouetted against saffron sky,
and wide streets and open spaces and
the foundation work of the metropolis
that was to be-
Ito be continued