The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-26

"Of course, o'course, there's land, whole sections of it." the colonel was demonstrating, wiping his broad forehead in the heat of that Aug ust afternoon. "But you're alone, Miss = Miss Lane. This ain't no country for a woman = alone" He paused awkwardly, having blurted out the whole naked truth in one sentence.
 The girl eyed him steadily. Sud- denly, Mark thought, she seemed somehow Trailer, out of time and place in the hot, crowded room.
 But if she was, if the colonel's blunt warning had shaken her, she covered it up quickly. Colonel" she said and leaned forward with a smile Mark would never forget, 'T,m sorry, but this IS the country -for . woman alone" She paused ever so slightly, giving her words deliberate effect. Then she went on:
 GAS my uncle wrote you, Mother died two years ago. And last year my father. My health wasn't too good even before that. Our doctor advised" = she paused with the faintest tinge of a blush well, he said I should come west, get a homestead. The change of climate would do wonders for me. Uncle said you would know best about a location. a homestead close to town. I wouldn't need to stay long, only 8 few months, per- haps, till the estate was settled. And then :.
 Silence had fallen over the room like Sunday. Standing in tight little knots, the homesteaders were hanging on every word from this strange, petal-ike girl. She looked about, startled, went hur- riedly on, as if sensitively aware of the curious eyes trained on her.
 The colonel. appreciating her glance, brought matters to a head, pushed a big open map across the table toward her, indicated a homestead tract with his stubby finger. She leaned over the map intent for a moment. then went on taking. She asked about roads and water and neighbors, the colonel answering her earnestly There were no roads, you had to dig for water, few neighbors yet. At length, the clerk handed her . legal-looking paper, she signed it and rose to pay her fee
 Is that all, Colonel?" she asked. tucking the paper in her long black purse, adjusting her hat with a delft touch that secretly thrilled Mark. Frank you so much" she said. and turned to go, while the homesteaders shuf- fied awkwardly to one side to let her pass.
 The land ofice buzzed again and Mark Deue was back in the booming present. But not all of him. Something had gone out that door with the girl in white. |A ss.
 He knew that the moment he saw Carrie Lane again that evening. He was walking sback from supper al Ma Parmley's, his boots rattling the boards on the makeshift walk, his fiat-crowned felt hat pushed back from his lean, bronzed face.
 He was talking to Newt Gale about the drive from the stage line with her that day; about the land boom following Lincoln's signing the homestead bill, and about the long, hot spell. Newt was saying how 500 settlers would move into Rock Creek before fall at the rate they were coming The Missouri was bringing them In by the boatloads, there was talk of a railroad.
 Bring in some more like that f,ane miss and I'm settlin' here permanently" Newt added, wip- ing the precipitation from his bald head, hitching his belt. He eyed Mark with 8 nod. "Tell me the