The Bozeman courier., 1927-06-10
CBy MRS. NJ. E. PLAssMANN)

TT WAS Sunday afternoon-I had writ
ten and read until I was tired
Il WEAKNESS unrelieved by an tnterven-
ing nap. when Edith entered the room
where I sat yawning, with the inquiry
Would you like to go for a ride?"
yes" responded with alacrlty.
Then hurry on your coat and hat, Tor
the car is at the door"
I needed no urging, and was soon ready
and in the coupe, with Edith sanowlcneo
in between myself and Max. 1t was for
tunate that she was slender, as space
was limited for the accommodation OF
two occupants and away we Sped que
west, across the bridge spanning the MIS-
souri,, now bank full-with but a lew
feet separating its brown, swollen waters
from the railroad bridge above. Although
it had not reached its highest point, its
increased current added to the raging
Mississippi, would carry further destruc-
ton to the low lands of the South. So
we commented, still going westward along
a smooth highway dotted with cars TO
the limit of our vision. I'VE VIII follow
the road up Sun river" I thought, when
we suddenly swerved aside to take a
course leading northwest.
The road was apparently little used,
being rough and full OF ruts. was not
pleased with the change as we pumped
along over the uneven surface, wonder
ing how any driver could prefer this TO
smoother going. I wondered, but dld
not question. Then all at once the an
swer was vouchsafed:
I'VE are taking you to see where once
must have been a large Indian village.
I smiled at this, recalling my child
hood. when wandering in the thick woods
near my Ohio home, 1 imagined every
hillOck I saw was an Indian grave. 1 also
recalled the famous stone discovered py
Mr. Pickwick, which bore the mysterious
letters afterward interpreted to read
Bill Sykes. His Mark" The imagina-
ton, I reflected, often plays singular
pranks with the Judgment. 1t was not
Unusual. I knew. to find near stream
indications Of two or three tepees haV-
ing stood there-but we were going away
from the river and mounting rapidly to
the bench overlooking the valley.
There was almost no Sunday traVel
along the road we were on. One cal
passed us. and a wagon was later seen
drawn by a span Of horses-the driver
cheering his lonesome way with song: II
was well we met no more as IN one place
there was an abrupt turn, thanked by
hill at our right with an abrupt de-
scent on our left to the deep draw be
low. There were but few houses IN slghC
and these placed in some nook where
they were sheltered from the fierce winds
which at times sweep over this plalI
stretching away to the Bear Paw noun
tains. Occasionally we passed fields
showing signs of former cultivation, or
vacant cabin its tenant having proved
up and left, and then we reached th'
summit.
According to the calendar spring haC
arrived, sung by poets from time lmme
mortal. Soft breezes should blow, ladel
with the scent of many flowers; trees b
in LEAKAGE and all Nature rejoice over tn
fight of winter. Quite the contrary con
dition prevailed. Heavy clouds Overhun
the sky shutting out any trace Of sun
light: the HighWOOdS and Belts, cOnSti
N
and Clark. and the far-away Rockies wer
ow-wrapped nearly to their base, an
the cutting wind from the west was sug
gestive Of icebergs rather than blossom
ing trees and shrubs. 1t penetrated ever
crevice of the closed car, proving tina
Winter had not yet surrendered his scep
ter, and was waging a valiant nigh
against his foe, whose pacificist method
could not hope to win,
We turned into a field where the bal
were down and, skirting the edge OF til
bluff, came to a standstill close to a
abandoned machine, like the many whic