Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-02-18

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May rains; the nights were cold and
starry, with tang of frost toward
morning; the dawns were rush of
color, and the sunsets indescribable.
At nights we pitched the tent and
made down blankets for the girls, but
Jack and slept under the stars. We
were roughing 1t. but every muscle in
our young bodies was vibrating with
the tense new life Of the open. When
the girls called US to breakfast of
fried bacon and potatoes and steaming
coffee and milk from our travelling
dairy we were. more happy and more
hungry than anything we had ever
known to be possible.
And the girls! We saw them grow
ing browner every day, but with their
sunburn they seemed to take on q
strange new charm end competence.
They treated the whole experience as
high adventure. and after cramped
hours on the top Of "the ark" they
would race like wild things across the
prairies, their hair flying In the breeze.
and q vagrant wind tossing the skirts
about their shapely limbs.
They had taken the precaution to
provide themselves with sunbonnets
but the prairie sun La an impetuous
lover, and their cheeks and lips showed
the mark of his caresses. He was q
rival who did not piQue my jealousy,
for In his embrace I saw the woman
Jean bursting forth from the bud Of
girlhood In q beauty that kept my
blood a-tingle.
There was just one note that both
ered-me. 1t was sounded day or two
after we left Regina In some covert
remark which Marjorie made about
Jeans Mounted Policeman. It seemed
that while Jack and had been away
land hunting the girls. too, had been
doing little prospecting Regina was
the headquarters of the mounted po
lice. and the fine figures Of these young
riders of the plains with their scarlet
tunics and trim gold-ribboned riding
trousers and clanking spurs have
turned more heads than jeans before
and since. 1t seems the girls were
walking along business street when
they saw young policeman coming at
short distance. and they happened
to stop to admire something in win
dow while he approached He also
stopped to admire. and Marjorie said
something-which Jean would not have
done-and conversation started up.
and the policeman seemed to prefer
Jean, perhaps because she had not
spoken first. At any rate he saw them
safely home. and dallied over his re-
sponsibility and the gate post until
they said they must 60 In. He called
the next night and wanted to take
them to ..show," but they would not
go; at any rate, Jean would not 60.
"But you went walking with him."
Marjorie challenged.
HE asked you, too," said Jean, her
pretty face coloring. "You started
with us, and then went back"
II saw how the land lay, or the wind
blew, or iwhatever 1t was. l had moth
ing to do at home, but knew would
be buster there than out walking with
you and your policeman"
Marjorie! How can you"
"And he told her he would call on
her after we were settled"
HE did no such, thingl He asked
me where we were going to settle, and
I told him didn't know, and he said
he hoped he would be patrolling there.
He's going to be sent out from bar
racks soon. and he said 1t would be
safer for me-for us-if someone were
patrolling our district"
"Not for you, DEAR" said Marjorie.
meaningly, and there was little sting
In her words which brought me into,
action.
II believe you're jealous, Marjorie"
said, in tones intended to be severe.
"And aren't your" She retorted. "You
ought to be-"
The truth Is. was. Jean had al.
ways belonged to me so absolutely that
had never thought of the possibility
of rival. Even now L did not think
Of such thing seriously. It was true
that there was no engagement be
tween US, unless the word of man Of
six and woman of four can be taken
as binding, but I looked on Jean as
mine, nevertheless, and l resented the
action of the mounted policeman In
seeking her acquaintance. resented.
too, the fact that she had gone walking
with him, and told her 80 at the frst
opportunity.
It came that afternoon. Jean said
she was tired riding. and got down to