The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-11

some comfort to them low-down Harrisous; but
even the law. / reckon, recognizes fathers
rights And ez Crsss SEE. now ez Seth's out o.
the way. thar amt no reason why she can't 60
back to school and finish her eddication: And
reckoned she was right And We both agreed
that shod left school to git them store clothes,
it was only fair that shed give the school the
benefit of EN-"
The case seemed more hopeless than ever.
The master knew that the man beside him
might hardly prove as lenieut to a second objec-
ton at his hand. But that very reason, per-
haps, impelled him, now that he knew his dan
ger. to consider il more strongly as duty, and
his pride rsvolted from q possible threat under
lying McKinstry's condolences. Nevertheless,
be began gently.
But . you quite sure you won't regret that
You didn't avail yourself OF this broken engage
ment, and your daughters outft--to send her to
some larger boarding. school iii Sacramento or
San Francisco Don't you think she may find
it dull and soon tire of the company Of mere
children when she has already known the ex-
element of"-he was about to say "a lover"
but checked himself, aud added, "a young
girls freedom2
"Mr. Ford" returned McKinstry. with the
slow and fstuous msconcsption of . ope-idsaed
man, when l said just now that. looRin' inter
: that ksm peaceful school of yours. didn't dnd
o place for Cress, il warnt because didn't think
she ouehter hev place thar. Thar Was that
thar wot she never had little girl with me
and the old woman, aud that she couldn't find
ez a grownd-up girl in any boarding school-the
home Of a child: that kind o. innocent foolish
ness that sometimes reckon must hev slipped
outer our emigrant wagon comm across the
plains, or got left behind at ST. Joe. She was
grownd cir. fit to marry afore she was child.
She had young felers a spsrkin her afore she
do Dsysd mind m'h tsn y ous sSa. s'r
wern't in the natur OF Blair Rawlns's
darter TO teach her own darter any
better, for all she's been mighty help to me.
So if lite all the same to you, Dir. Ford, We
won't talk about grownd up school; I'D rather
Cress be little girl again among them other
children. / should be a powerful sight more
kan if I knowed that when was away huntin'
stock or hghtin' stakes with them Harrisons that
she was a settin' there with them and the bird 8
Mebbe there's been little too many scrim-
images goir' on round the ranch sence she's been
q child; mebbe she orter know suthin' more Of
a man than fel.er WHO sparks her and fights
for her"
The master was silent. Had this dull, narrow.
minded partisan stumbl upon a truth that had
never dawned upon his own broader comprehen-
sion} Had this selfish savage aud literally
red-handed frontier brswler been moved
by some dumb instinct OF the power
OF gentleness TO understand his daughters needs
better than hel For a moment he was staggered.
Then he thought Of Cressys later firtations
with Joe Masters, and her concealment of their
meeting from her mother. Had she deceived
her father alsol Or was not the father dscslv-
ing him with this alternate suggestion of threat
and Of kindliness-of power and weakness He
had heard OF this cruel phase Of Southwestern
cunning before. With the feeble sophistry of
the cynic he mistrusted the good his sceptcism
could not understsnd. Howbeit plancing side
ways at the slumbering savagery of the man be-
side him, and his wounded hand, he did not care
to show his lack OF confidence. He contented
himself with that equally feeble resource Of
weak humanity in such cases-good-natured
indifference. ''An right" he said.
carelessly, "Pll see what can b
home alonei Shall accompany your AS Me-
Kiustry waived the suggestion with a gesture,
he added lightly, if to conclude the interview,
''l1l report progress TO you from time to time.
if you like
thar indicating the ranch. But prhaps you
wouldn't mind my ridin' by and lookin' at the
school room winder onct in a whilel Ah--you
would he added, with the first deepening of
color he lad shown. ''Well. never mind"
You see IL might distract the children from
their Lessons, explained the master gently, who
the infinite delight which glimpse Of Mckin-
stry's fiery aud fstuous face at the window
would awaken IN Johnny Flgees infant breast.
WELL no matter" returned McKiastry,
slowly. "Ye don't keer, / s'pose, to come over
to the hotel and take suthinl A julep or q
smash
~ shouldn't think of keeping you minute
longer from Mrs kipsfry," said the master.
looking at his companions wounded hand.
THANK you all the same. Good bye"
They shook hands McKinstry transferring his
rife to the hollow of his elbow 10 offer his un-
wounded left. The master watched him slowly
resume his way towards the rancho Their, With
. haif-uneasy ana half.pleasurable sense that he
taken some step whose consequences were more
important than hs would ct present understand