Hyder weekly herald., 1932-02-13

AVA of soapy water and shook hand free from the warm suds to brush some scraggly hair off her face as she watched sedan come up the road. Then she wiped her hands on the side of her apron and picked up the basket of clothes to carry to the lines strung across the yard.
 She was tired and in a few minutes Bee Williams would be there with an other new silk dress and more tales of her wonderful life in the city. AL ready the car was turning into the lane. Mil surveyed the wash Tapping on the line; heavy flannel shirts, col orless aprons and house dresses. No silks there. Her eyes were bitter as she turned to greet Bee.
 Hello, Mil. Why, honey, what's the matter? You look as if somethin' ter rible was goin' to happen
 Mil shrugged "Nothin' now could happen around this here place."
 "Aw gee, Mil. why don't you come back with me? We'd have a grand time in the city. Frank could find JoD TOT you easy.
 Nils eyes looked almost hopeful. but she, shook her head. "Oh, couldn't take chance. I'd never get away without pa knowin' it, and If he did ." she shruddered.
 But he won't have to know. You can fix things up on the sly and slip off during the day when he and Erie are In the fields. Pa will lend you money enough to get there. l know what I'll do; when I get back Frank and I'll look around for a place for you and let you know when to come. How'll that be-"
 Half afraid to agree, Mil nodded as- sent.
 Il must be gettln' back with the car now. Don't forget to come to our party tonight. We're going to have the Baxter boys over to play" she called as she walked back 10 the car, her cheap red silk dress blowing around her knees.
 Mil remained seated awhile looking over the barren areas of Dakota farm land which stretched on every side. Scrubby bushes poked up here and there. She pictured without turning about the scene behind her. A three room shack, hideous and unpainted, four rooms, if one counted the place above set between the rafters which served as a place for Erie to sleep. She thought of Eric and wondered if he ever felt as she did.
 Her thoughts passed on to her fa- ther; hard Hank Hanson he was called. For thirty years he had clung to his claim. thirty lonesome years of hard labor for his women folk. First her mother, whose more genteel rear ing, unable to stand the grind, had made her leave twelve-year-old Mil to carry on her work. Now after sixteen years of 1t Mil rose as she saw her father approaching from nearby field. She finished hanging the wash and went into the shanty to pre- pare the monday meal. Her father entered but she did not look up.
 ''Sorta late gettin' dinner, ain't ya?"
 "Yuh, l guess so," she answered list lessly
 Suppose Bee Williams kept you talkin' all mornin'. Saw her ear from the field.'
 Mil finished the supper dishes early. She had nothing nice to wear to Bees house but she wanted to go. It would be her first party in three years. When she put on her old voile she looked clean, nothing more.
 Her father watched her prepara- tionS. Hope you ain't plannin' on takin' the horse any place, Mil. I've got to go over to Simons to borrow his harness"
 She turned without word and re- entered her small bedroom.
 Every day she waited for word from the big city in the bordering state and always she was preparing for her de- parture, little things at time 50 he wouldn't notice. Finally letter came. Hank Hanson met the mailman him. self and brought 1t in.
 ''See you got letter from Bee. Whats she up to now?'
 Mil went to her room to read it. "Come as soon as you can," she read. "We have found lady who will wait for you"
 Bee had planned everything. The next morning Mil sent a note to Mrs. Williams with the mailman saying that arrangements were all right for the following afternoon.
 Everything was on the table at sharp noon the next day. Mil tried to ap- pear calm but her eyes had really anticipatory look for the first time in years. At 1 30 she was ready to leave and taking a last look at the only place which had been home to her she set out for the barn. Half way there she was stopped by an ex- cited clammering of voices near the road. A group of men were huddled together as if they carried something.