The Price of the Prairie: A Story of Kansas

  THE PRICE OF THE PRAIRIE

  "AT EVENING TIME IT SHALL BE LIGHT"

  "Come, Phil," she cried, "come, crown me Queen of Mayhere in April!"]

  THE PRICE OF THE PRAIRIE

  A Story Of Kansas

  by

  MARGARET HILL McCARTER

  Author of "The Cottonwood's Story," "Cuddy's Baby," Etc.

  With Five Illustrations in Color by J. N. Marchand

  Fifteenth Edition

  ChicagoA. C. McClurg & Co.1912

  CopyrightA. C. McClurg & Co.1910

  Published October 8, 1910Second Edition, October 29, 1910Third Edition, November 16, 1910Fourth Edition, December 3, 1910Fifth Edition, December 10, 1910Sixth Edition, December 17, 1910Seventh Edition, January 25, 1911Eighth Edition, February 25, 1911Ninth Edition, April 5, 1911Tenth Edition, May 3, 1911Eleventh Edition, September 23, 1911Twelfth Edition, December 9, 1911Thirteenth Edition, February 17, 1912Fourteenth Edition, August 10, 1912Fifteenth Edition, December 28, 1912

  Copyrighted in Great Britain

  Press of the Vail CompanyCoshocton, U. S. A.

  This little love story of the prairies is dedicated to all who believethat the defence of the helpless is heroism; that the protection of thehome is splendid achievement; and, that the storm, and stress, andpatient endurance of the day will bring us at last to the peace of thepurple twilight.

  CONTENTS

  Chapter Page

  PROEM ix

  I Springvale by the Neosho 13

  II Jean Pahusca 25

  III The Hermit's Cave 32

  IV In the Prairie Twilight 43

  V A Good Indian 56

  VI When the Heart Beats Young 73

  VII The Foreshadowing of Peril 85

  VIII The Cost of Safety 99

  IX The Search for the Missing 114

  X O'Mie's Choice 132

  XI Golden Days 150

  XII A Man's Estate 166

  XIII The Topeka Rally 184

  XIV Deepening Gloom 200

  XV Rockport and "Rockport" 217

  XVI Beginning Again 242

  XVII In the Valley of the Arickaree 261

  XVIII The Sunlight on Old Glory 277

  XIX A Man's Business 292

  XX The Cleft in the Rock 317

  XXI The Call to Service 334

  XXII The Nineteenth Kansas Cavalry 354

  XXIII In Jean's Land 370

  XXIV The Cry of Womanhood 390

  XXV Judson Summoned 403

  XXVI O'Mie's Inheritance 420

  XXVII Sunset by the Sweetwater 442

  XXVIII The Heritage 464