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About The Springfield news. (Springfield, Lane County, Or.) 1916-2006 | View Entire Issue (May 5, 1921)
THE SPRINGFIELD NEWS PAGE SIX We Homesteader By Robert J.C.Stead - Th Cow Puncher," Etc TBustrottons bf IRWIN MYERS Copyrlf nw All Right Rerd CHAPTER VII Continued. -11- , "Nothing wrong at home. I hope, Mr. Harris?" said the young neigh bor, noting his troubled appearance. "Nobody pick, or anything?" "Tea. there Is something wrong." aid Harris, trying vainly to conceal the bitterness In his voice. T.eulah's left us." "Who. r.eutah? 1 can hardly be lieve that. Mr. Harris. It was only last night I was talking with ber." "Well. she's pone. Left through the night. We well. I tell you. George we bad a little disagreement, but I'd no notion she'd take Is so much to heart. Of course you know about the trouble with Jltn yesterday. Taklug everything together there won't be no flowing today." Harris hrd sail more than he meant; he could feel the color mounting Into his balr. and the bad English of his last words betrayed a subtle recklessness rather than care lessness of speech. "Don't you believe a word of It" said George. "I know Jim, and I know Beulah. and If anybody else hinted what you've said you'd want to use that rifle on them. Like enough Bou lah's staying somewhere around the neighborhood, and she'll be back when she has time to think It over." "That proves you don't know Beu lah." said Allan. "As for Jim. I as never able to get below that smile, and I saw more of him than you did. George." "Well. I hope you find a way out," said George sincerely. "It would have been like her to come over to our place, but she Isn't there. Maybe you'll find her at Morrison's." "That's possible," said Harris. "We'll go over there, anyway." But Morrisons knew no more of Beuiah's whereabouts than did George, and inquiry at other homes in the neighborhood was equally futile. Har ris shrank from carrying his search Into the town, as he dreaded the pub licity that would be attached to It But as the day wore on and the search continued fruitless he finally found himself at I'luluville. If P.eulnh and Jim were really married the Presby terian minister would be likely to know something of the matter, and Bev. Andrew Guthrie was a man of MMise and discernment. Mr. Guthrie received bis guest cordi ally, albeit with some wonderment as to which member of the family might be sick, but delicacy forbade a direct question. Now, in agricultural com munities It is something of an offense to approach any matter of Importance by frontal attack. There mu.-t be the due amount of verbal skirmishing, re connoitering and outflanking before the main purpo:,e Is revealed. Conse quently Harris, for all his torture of suspense, frpent some minutes In a dis cussion of the weather, the crops, and the prospect of a labor shortage In harvest "They're all well at home, I hope?" said Mr. Guthrie at length, feeling that the custom of the community had bet-n sufficiently honored. "Yes. all that's there," said Harris. "Ag thut s there? 1 '..ido't kuju any of jour folks were away. Perhaps Mrs. liarriii is down East? I'm sure a feumtiier amid the orchards of her old home would be a delight to her and, of course. Mr. Harris, you are able to gratify yourself in these little natters LOW." Harris received these remarks with a mixture of feelings. The minister's reference to his financial standing cur ried with It a certain gratification, but It consorted poorly with his recent conversations with his wife and with Lis present mission. "And Beulah," continued the minis ter, conscious that his first shot had gone wild. "She's a fine young woman now. I see her in church occnsioiLlly. In fact, I was speaking with Mrs. Bur ton, the choir leader, a day or so ago, and Beuluh's name was mentioned be tween us." "It was about Beulah I came to see you," said Harris, with averted eyes. Then In u few words he gave his ver sion of what he knew urjtf what he suspected. "I fear I can add nothing to your Information," said Mr. Guthrie. "They haven't been here," and, as yoi say, if Beulah contemplated marriage, I think frlio would have called on me, Travers, too, I knew a little, and thought him a decent chap. But we must flnu the girl and talk tjiis over quietly with her. Is there any place in town she would be likely to go to? What about Mrs. Goode's boarding bouse? I will Just cull up on the telephone 1 can waka Inquiry without th ueeesslty of any explanations. Inquiry at tho house of Mrs. Coode brought a strong ray of light out of the darkness. Beulah had been there during the morning, and had explained that she whs leaving on the west bound train, which even now was thrumming at the station. On learning this, with out a word Harris sprang Into the bug gy, while Allan brought n sharp cut of the whip across the spirited horses. They reached the railway station half 0 minute too late; the train was al ready pulling out. and as Harris ryes followed It In anger and vexation they plainly saw Jim Travers swing Uthely onto the rear platform. With an oath the farmer reached for his rifle, but Allen wrenched It from his hands before any onlookers noted the action. "iMn't be a fool," he whispered, and started the horses homeward. CHAPTER VIII. Into the Farther West During the drive homeward Harris' thoughts persistently turned to the share his wle had had In Beulab'a de parture, and his feeling toward "Jury grew more aud more hostile. He re solved, however, that there should be no open breach between them; he would neither scold nor question her, but would Impress her with bis dis pleasure by adopting a cold, matter-of-fact, spoak-wheu-you're-spokeu-to atti tude toward her. Under the circumstances It was not remarkable that Harris' work began to loom larger than ever In bis life. The space left vacant by his daughter be filled with extrh energy driving the great plows through the mellow summer-follow. ' A new tank-man was en gaged and the rumble of the engine was hoard up anJ down the fields from early morning until dark. From bis wife he held aloof, speaking with strained cenrtcy when ceech was necessary. She, In turn, schooled for years In self-effacement hid her ttor-A row In her heart and went about her work with a resignation which he mis took for cheerfulness, and which con firmed hi in In bis opinion that she knew more of Beuiah's Intentions than she bad cared to admit. Only with Allan his relations remained un changed; Indeed, the attaclient be tween the two grew deeper than e"er. The young man avoided any reference to Beulah; what (ie felt In, his own heart be kept to himself, but the rather shrewdly guessei that he laid the whole blame on Travers. Meanu 'hlle Mary plodded along with her housework, toiling doggedly from five in the morning uidll half-past nine or ten af night lieulah's depurture hrtd left all the labors of the home upon her hands; her husmuid had maile no suggestion of securing help, aud she had not asked any. One or two postcards she bad had from Beu lah, but they brought no great Infor mation. They came in the open mall; her husband was welcome to read them if lie chose, hut as he had sought his own company exclusively since Beuiah's departure she made no at tempt to force them upon him. At last one morning came a letter, a big fat letter, left In by a neighbor passing by, as the custom was for any settler going to town to bring out the mall for those who lived along his route. She tore the envelope open nervously and devoured Its contents with hungry eyes. "My Dear Mother: - "Here I am. In the shadow of the Rockies. That may sound poetical, but It's u literal fact. It Is still early In the evening, but the etin has disap peared behind the great masses to the west, and the valley whjch my win dow overlooks Is tilling up with black ness. The Arthurs are pure gold, and I have told them everything. They don't Id? me anyone, not even father. How Is he? Slaving as usual, I sup pose. "Well, I must tell you about my trip. When I left the house that flight I had no Idea where I was going, but the simplest thing seemed to be to go Erst to Plalnvllle. "You've no Idea how heavy that suitcase got, but I took my time, as there was nothing to gain by reaching town before daylight When I got there It struck me It might be a good plan to have some breakfast, so 1 walked round to Goode's boarding house. After breakfast I went over to the station, and asked what the fare was to Arthurs' station; I found I bad enough mor.ey for the trip, and I bought a ticket without further ado, "The homestead rush Is on iiere In earnest; the trains are crowded, most ly with Americans, and the hotels are simply ipllllr.g over. "I wanted to ask some one about Arthurs, and I didn't like to Inquire In tlio hotel. There was a lot of drinking going on there. But near the door were two young men talking, and I overtieard one of them mention Arthurs' name. Pulling myself to gether, I asked him if he could tell me where Arthurs lived. "'Yes, miss," he answered, lifting a big hat and showing when he spoke a clean set of teeth. 'It's twenty-five miles up the river. Were you expect Ing him to meet you? "I explained that I had Intended to drop In on them by surprise, but 1 had had no Idea they lived so far from town. "Oh, that"! not far, he said. fan yon ride?' "Everybody here rides horseback It's the standard means of locomotion And the women ride astride. I was a bit shocked at first but you soon get used to It. But twenty the utiles Is different from a romp round the pasture-Held, so 1 said I was afraid not "'Arthurs Is coming down with the buckhosrd,' remarked the other man 'I passed hlui on the trait as I came In.' "Sure enough, a little later Arthurs himself drew up at the hotel. I wouldn't have known hint, but one of the young men pointed him out, and It would have done you good to see how he received nn. 'And you are Jack and Mary's daughter,' he said, taking both my hands In his and holding me at arm's length for a mo ment. Then, before I knew It. he had drawn me up and kissed me. But I didn't care. Alt of a sudden It seemed to me that I had found a real father. It seems bard to say It but that is how I fitt. "Well, he Juai couldn't keep away from me all evening.- He showered me with questions about you and fa ther, which I answered as well as I could, but I soon found I couldn't keep my secret, so I Just up and told htm all. He was very grave, but not cross. 'You ueed time to think things over, aud to get a right perspective," he said, 'and our home will be yours until you do.' a "We drove home the next day, up a wonderful river valley, doep Into the heart of the foothills, with the blue mountains always beckoning and re ceding before us. Mrs. Arthurs was as surprised and delighted as he had been, and I won't try to tell you all the things she said to me. She cried a little, too. and I'm afraid I came near helping her a bit You know the Arthurs lost their little girl before they left Manitoba, and they have hsJ no other children. They both seemed Jut hungry. "There's nothing so very fine about their home." except the spirit that's In side It. I can't describe It, but it's there a certain leisurely way of do ing things, a sense that they have made work their sen-ant Instead of their mnsier. And still they're cer tainly not Iniy. and they've accom plished more than we have. When they left Manitoba In the early days. discouraged with successive frosts. they came right out here Into the foot bills with their few head of stock. Now their cattle ore numbered in thousands, and they have about a township of land. And still they seem to live for the pure happiness tney find In life, and only to think of their property as a secondary considera tion. "Now I really must cloe. Mrs. Ar thurs rends a note, and I'm quite sure It's an Invitation. Oh. mother, what could be lovelier! Now. don't say you enn't. Father tins plenty of money; let him hire a housekeeper for a while. The change will do him good. "Love to you. dearest, and to Allan. If be still thinks of me. -BF.tr.-A II. -p. S. 1 forgot to mention that Jim Travers left Plalnvllle on the same train as I did. He could hardly be lieve his eyes when he saw me there. I told him I wns going west on a visit, but I don't know bow much he guessed. Said he was going west him self to take up land, but he wonted to call on some friends first, and he got off a few stations from Plalnvllle. Be tween you nnd me. I believe he changed his plan so that the Incident our being on the train together, yon know could not be misunderstood If ttie neighbors got to know of It It would be Just like Jim to do that." With Beuiah's letter wos a short but earnest note from Lilian Arthurs, as suring the mother of her daughter's, welfare, and pressing on' Invitation to sjiend the autumn In the glorious scenery nnd weather of the foothill country. Mary Harris read both let ters over again, with frequent rub bing of her glasses. Love for her daughter, desire to see ber old friend once more, and growing dissatisfac tion with conditions at home, all com bined to give weight to the Invitation so earn wtly extended. "If I -nly could I But It would cost so much," (TO UK CONTINUED.) Bird Outruns Horse. Anyone who has traveled through Western Texas becomes familiar with the mcsqulte tree, or, as It sometimes grows, a shrub. In some places where It may grow to be thirty or forty feet high, It Is commonly known as the chaparral, says the American For estry Magazine of Washington. Here It Is scrubby and masses Into dense clumps, It being the home of that fa mous bird the "j-oud-runner" or chapar ral cock, nnd other Interesting species. It Is a form of big. ground cuckoo, that only takes to flight when hnrd pressed; while on open ground It con run so fast that an ordinary horso can not keep up. , Excellent Philosophy. Life Is like a game of whist I don't enjoy the game much; but I like to play my ards well and see what wilt be the end of It George Eliot n 4&t n "AFTER EVER? MEAL Mint leaf, peppermint or lus cious Juicy fruit, cither flavor Is a treat for you sweet tooth. And all are equally good or you. Teeth, appetite and digestion all benefit. Vour nerves will say thank you. your vim ultl respond. WRIGLEVSIs liked for what It does as well as for Its BIC value at the small cost of 5c- The Flavor Lasts U y Color and Precious 6tones. Diamonds aro not always crystal clear, but vary greatly as to color ond few of tho precious stones aro true to color. Tho famous Hopo diamond Is a real nod most beautiful blue. Green diamonds aro found, and others of a lovely crimson, but these aro very raro. Black diamonds nro com mon enough. Brack pearls aro rarer, but ore found. Pink pearls ore great ly prized. . Chinese Use of Paper. In tho art of making and using pa per we ore not In line with the Chi nese, and other Asiatics, who not only make the finest paper In tho world, but apply It to all sorts of uses, making window panes, umbrollas, fans, sandals and even cloaks and garments of it A , To Have a Clear Sweet Skin. Touch ' pimples, redness, roughness or Itching, If ajtfr, with Cutlcura Oint ment, then bothe with Cutlcura Soap and hat water. , Rinse, dry gently and dust on a little Cutlcura Talcum to leuvo a fusclnatlnjf fragranco on akin. Everywhere 23c each. Adv. ' "French Leave." Many authorities beliovo that tho term "French leave" originated In a French custom In the eighteenth cen tury of withdrawing from crowded as semblies without taking leave of host or hostess. Others maintain that tho word "French" Is a corruption of "frank," meaning "free." Somewhat Hard on Humanity. Kvery man's experience of today Is that he. was a fool yesterday and the day before yenterday. Tomorrow bo will most likely be of exactly tho same opinion. Mapkay. NOTHING STANDS SO 1 1 Kill 01 a remedy for every womanly ailment, n.i Prescription. Thin Y Prescription h im jT'i inviirorutinir, reMora- f tivo tonic, u Koothing I A nnil utrotii'l liiMiimr hit x f 1 villi?, find in for painful di.sordurH nrnl chronic i i !:..- a-4'1 i -. t.. lilU rr:A. (. in nil JiMlilli girls just entering vom;iiihool;for nursing mothorn ; and every woman who is "run-down," tired or over worked. Send 10 cents to Dr. Pierce's Invalids' Hotel, UufTalo, N. Y., for trial package of TaMets. , Ancient Popular Pastime, Tho Chinese have played ball In va rious ways from times of remote ana tlqulty. For centuries games of ball have been known and played In Japan. Kthtnplnn and Fast Indian traditions refer to games with balls played many centuries ago. Rose Leaves Again. Itoso bowls aro no longer otd fash ioned, but modern, comes tho word from New "York. Tho Idea of keep ing rose loaves has been revived and ChlncHO pattern bowls aro becoming very popular. When Green and Tender. It is In our salad days that we aro most particular about our dressing. Boston Transcript. Did It Seem That Long? Santa Cruz Nowb "She was sixty nine years of ago and she had been married for more than a century ." Boston Transcript. Culicura Soap -i ANI OINTMENT Clear (he Skin , C'ntoiit 25 mi 50c, Tilcum 25c. Land of the Orris Root. Orris root, which la used oa a ba- sis ot many perfumes, la obtained only around Florence and In the neighbor hood of Verona. Ars Ynil SatKfipH? BF.HNKE. WALKER we iou oaiiMieuj business coLLtcr is th blKKHt, most perfectly euulppnd IIiihIiiphh Trttliilriif Hhojl In the North w-Mt. Kit youi-HMlf fur hlKhur pimltlon with mart money. Permanent poult loi HMxiired our CirHliiate Write f)r ratulog- Fourth and Yamhill, Portland. P. N. U. No. 19, 1921