Year: 1872

ljust - vel - s-.-


So we Get up Housekeeping. The ma


who carted our movables thither put u


our stove and bedstead, made us a shel


ter for our hens (Which. BY the way, tn


first strong wind blew over), stoppe'


long enough to drink a cup Of coffee. AM


hoped we shouldn' be lonesome, and thel
set his face homeward. q was week


before we looked upon hsmsn counte
nance again.


At the very outset we began life in I
systematic way; had regular time fo
breakfast and dinner; sewed. and prac
tised our music afternoon and evening
and filed up every niche of the tim'
With reading and writing. Then we hat
all our household labor to perform, wash
ing ironing, cooking and scrubbing. and
though our hands did not keep remark
ably white, we were never more health >
in our lives, or had more. voracious ap
petites.


For time everything went along
smoothly. We had two or three hard
storms with wind and terrific lightning


A giant cottonwood was struck at the
door, and the creek was SO swollen with
rain that it overAowed its banks, and
made pretty good headway towards the
house We soon grew as fearless Of
nights as We had ever been, sleeping
with our windows as well as our doors
set wide open. ....


One day while we were out straw.
berrying. something occurred to unsettle
our cquaninity. We seldom left the
house together, or went from it a short
distance, thinking it safer for one of us
to remain constantly on guard. But this
morning was particularly fresh and
sweet, the prairie grass was fecked with
crimson berries which we were Just in
the mood for picking. Beside, we had
been practising assidously at our music,
and felt the need of exercise in the open
air. do not know how long We had
been at our pastme, eating. gathering the
delicious fruit, laughing and chatting as
girls are won! to do if they are wholly
free from restraint, when we were start
led by hearing few distinct notes struck
upon what seemed to be fathers violin


Kathie dropped her basket and looked
up with whitening face. The violin was
her particular forte, and the notes struck
were in difficult passage of the opera
which she had been practising that morn
ing.


Somebody is at the house. Let us
CO. she said, clasping my arm.


But just then there came a bolder
touch upon the Instrument and the opera
was played through as if by a master
hand.


II believe 1 shall faint" Kathie
whispered.


81 threw my basket of strawberries
straight in her face. forgetting for the
moment that they were not water 1t
was so ludicrous that she could not keep
from laughing She wiped the crimson
stains from her cheeks and forehead. and
took step or two towards the house.


"There is no use in fearing a man or
woman who can play like that" said,
soothingly.


"a woman!" repeated Kathie, half
scornfully.


The fash of her eye and the curl of
her red lip did not understand them.
and go looked at her wonderingly.


"Shall we go ?" she asked, impatient
ly. E


Just then the violin was touched
again, an. old Italian melody floating
softly from it kathie sank down upon
the grass. sudden color rising to her
pale checks.


"Let US 60" said, moving forward
IF we have guests we should meet and
welcome them"


Kathic put out OBTAINING hand.


Not yet, Lulu, he may play again
Beside, | dare not go"


The child was trembling with excite
ment. put strong arm about her and
lifted her to her feet Come dear, per
haps our Fate is waiting for u.s."


l spoke carelessly, but the words ef.
fected her strangely


perhaps so. o Lulu! If l only
dared speak !"


"You dear romantic creature, there is
no need of speaking" answered, not
knowing what she meant. "Come along
Let us find him."


We are but a short distance from
home. although the house was lost to
view behind swell of the prairie. In a
few moments we were stealing softly in
1t the door, l, at least, intent on catching
tight of the unknown intruder. We
we're too late. Everything was silent
here. The violin in its case as Kathie
,ad left it. my guitar in its green cover
ng beside it. Not a single article of
urniture, not piece Of music disturbed.


at was some one outside, Kathie," l
,aid.


But Kathie made no answer. Instead
The caught up the violin aud played the
lificult opera without single mistake