Oh,
that marvellous, lofty sky with just clouds enough to make the blue more
intense! Oh, the wonder of the wind from the wild, mysterious green sea
to the west! With the change and sheen of the prairie, incessant and
magical life was made marvellous and the winter put far away.
Merry parties drove here and there visiting. Formalities counted for
little, and yet with all this freedom of intercourse, this close
companionship, no one pointed the finger of gossip toward any woman. The
girls in their one-room huts received calls from their bachelor
neighbors with the confidence that comes from purity of purpose, both
felt and understood. Life was strangely idyllic during these spring
days. Envy and hate and suspicion seemed exorcised from the world.
III
JUNE
The centre of the social life was Bailey's store. There stood the
post-office, which connected the settlers with the world they had left
behind. There they assembled each day when the flag ran up the long pole
which stood before the door as a signal for the mail.
Pages:
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35