The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-01
CAST OF CHARACTERS

CASI OF CHARACTERS
CARRIE LANE-an eastern
girl who came into the frontier
west to find ahome.
MARK DEUEL. homesteader
who keeps his business to himself
ASHTON OAKS-a land agent,
with town lots to sell.
YESTERDAY: Ashton Oaks fol.
lows Carrie to her claim, tries to
interest her in buying town lots.
When she refuses, he drives away,
angrily, promising that neither
she MOI Deuel. has heard the last
Of it. Late that night, Newt Gale
sees a figure crouched in the
darkness near the land office, rec
ognizes Oaks.
CHAPTER vi
Mark went to bed but he couldn't
sleep after leaving Carrie Lane.
There in the shadows, she had
stood close to him, called him
Mark. mark, I am afraid, terri
bly, afraid" she had said. And he
had wanted to take her in his
arms, protect her.
Now, he could imagine her near
him again and saying, mark,
Mark" yer and over. He could
imagine he was kissing her and
telling her not to worry, that every
thing would work out all right, that
he would see life would always be
all right for Carrie Lane.
All through the next day, Mark
pictured Carrie Lane, heard her
calling his name, until it seemed
he could not wait another hour
to see her. Even Ma Parmley no
ticed his preoccupation at the sup
per table and promptly laid it to
Carrie Lane, loudly-al of which
didn't held Marks embarrassment
before the other homesteaders.
Saturday, Mark saw her, e
in the afternoon as she was pass
ing the hotel. His nerves tingled.
She had come to town to stay with
the Taylors. Her soddy would be
completed Monday and she would
move in.
might be a long time again be-
fore you'll see me-" she told Mark
jokingly, as he stopped, apparent
ly casually, to talk with her and
the Taylors.
Doesn't at call for some sort
of celebration, them" Mark ask
ed, instantly Selling his o%pportuni-
THERE'S a dance her tonight over
the store. I'd like very much to
take you-that is, if it's all right
with the Taylors."
Mark marveled afterward that
he was able to say all this so
quickly when his heart ceemed to
pound till it hurt. He had wanted
to call her Carrie" too, but
somehow he couldn't quite bring
himself to it.
"An right with u.s." Mrs. Taylor
raised her brows. wouldn't be
all right with us if you didn't"
She winked at Ed. who promptly
reminded his wife the Taylors
were going to the dance, too, if
Mrs. Taylor could "scare up a
clean shirt somewhere for him.
Carrie and the Taylors W e r e
ready and waiting at Sioux Springs
House when Mark came for them.
Carrie wore the same white dress
she had on that first day Mark
saw her. Lociing at her, Mark
was speeches. for a minute. "You
sure look nice" he told her, awk-
wardly.
The Taylors had put on their
Sunday cle les and they looked
little like the homesteaders who
had come to town earlier tn a t
day. Marks vest, white boiled
shirt and gray suit had wrought
as great a change.
Carte was happier than he had
ever seen her as they walked
down Main Street to the dance
hall over Bill Williams general
store. Together they made a strik-
ing pict,'~e-Mark, tall, imposing,
handsome; Carrie on his arm, gay,
laughing, bonneted head held high.
In+'itively, denim-clad home
steaders and booted freighters
reached respectfully for their hats
as t couple passed, gathered in
curious little knots in their wake.
The party was well under way
when Mar led the way up an
outSi[e airs to the low-ceilinged
dance hall. A solitary fiddle whin-
ed above the din of dancing and
conversation. Mark recognized the
"Arka1.sas Traveller" 3
The small room was hot, crowd
ed. Lanky, awkward young sod
dies lined the dance floor, packed
to overlooking. Carrie saw quickly
the men outnumbered the women
three to one, felt every eye upon
her.
They swung out into the JOS
ting, milling crowd, Carrie in