Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-06-01
CHAPTER L

sion in subdued but agitated activity
during the, entire forenoon. The old
place held its breath, as it were.
Without, Sabbath-ike repose en-
wrapped all things. In the ample front
yard, where more than dozen century
old live oaks conspired to discourage
the growth of the grass, leafy shadows
were reflected from a freshly -scarified
surface of hard brown earth. The
White Cliffs carriagc-drive made very
grand sweep from the big entrance
gate around the outer circle of the old
live oaks up to the low succeed front
steps, on either side of which thick beds
of purple and white violets cushioned
the brown earth and were even then
sweetcning the chill November air.
In one of the large square rooms
which looked out upon the flower
garden at the side of the house, the en-
tire family of White Cliffs. with two
exceptions, was assembled. Those
present consisted of the mistress of
White Cliffs and three of her sons.
THE Lorimer boys" with one ex-
ception, were great, broad-shouldered,
long-legged, stalwart young men, with
square determined jaws and fine eyes.
Their height and their square jaws
We're maternal contributions. Their
good looks and indomitable love Of
rowing came from the Lorimer side.
People said there must be trouba-
dour or two in some of the branches of
the LOrimer tree. The boys were
always falling into sentimental scrapes
of one sort and another. And certain it
was, nothing irlxed them more than
sitting decorously around the house
"like so many tabby CATS" as RATE
contemptuously> described it.
They looked absurdly i'll at ease this
quiet afternoon, grouped idly about the
open fireplace, with nothing more
active on hand than watching their
mothers fast-fying knitting needles.
They would have felt infinitely more
comfortable with their guns upon their
shoulders, their trousers securely
tucked inside their top boots, their dogs
at their heels, and murder in their
hearts. But the spell of the unusual
was upon them too. The guns were all
stacked in one corner of the green
tinted hall, the dogs were in exile, and,
with their three pairs of restless feet
encased in faultlessly polished foot
gear, the Lorimer boys sat decorously
about the home hearth, patient and
bored.
The mistress of White Cliffs was
dressed in her best black bombazine,
over which she had thriftily drawn a
crisp white muslin apron. She was
knitting. Divine Providence had laid
the memorable necessity upon Mrs.
Lorimer of always keeping her hands
occupied. She always was knitting If
she was not doing something else.
Apart from the swift-fying fingers, she
was absolutely motionless- The rest
lessness which on the boys part found
expression In the shutting of feet, un-
repressed yawns, or an occasional ex-
pletive Indicative of wearied patience,
was only to be sur1nised in her case by
the unnecessary frequency with which
she jerlzed a fresh supply of wool from
the big gray ball in her lap.
Her eyes, not big and soft and gray
like the ''Lorimer eyes," but small,
blue and penetrating, never once left
the dancing flames of the wood fire.
Her strong, square, masculine jaw
twitched occasionally; but whatever her
source of inward disquiet, it found no
other expression. She sat there the en-
bodiment of self-contained strength.
The neighbors were fond of saying
that 1.-The Lorimer boys never would
know what they owed their mother"
That they We're fully conscious of her
worth, and that they still stood in con-
siderable awe of her, great burly fell
lows that they were, was beyond ques-
ton; but their awe was mixed with the
tendereSt reverence.
Suddenly scuffiing of hurried bare
feet; then the big mahogany door was
opened, without the ceremony of
knock, to admit a round woolly head
and small eager voice:
81 see her smoke for true this time,
Mister Dick
There was common uprising among
the men. The mistress of White Cliffs
alone sat still. Whatever it was they
were all waiting for, it must come to
her, not she to it. She would not even
meet it half way. Her needles fairly
dew, and she gave an audible gasp as
the boys disappeared into the hall. She
knew they had gone to the veranda for
the twentieth time, at least, to look
toward the river through the vista cut
IN the woods about White Cliffs In or
der to give its inmates a view of up
coming steamers
They all came trooping back present
iy, bringing various reports:
up above Duncan's," said Lorimer,
resuming his chair, and laying one long
brown hand along the arm of his moth
sr's rocker. 1t was as if he admins
tered comfort thereby.
"Just turning the bend" said Dick.
Moving like a SNAIL" said Raphael,
commonly known as ''Rafe.''
sit will be an hour before she gets
here yet, them" said Mrs. Lorimer,
dropping stitches in a most reckless
manner, and for the first time in her
life, perhaps, failing to detect and
promptly rectify wrongdoing.
.tJust about"
Dick replaced his soft felt hat on hls
knee-cap and looked about the familiar
room in new spirit of criticism. It
was a severely clean room, but rather
depressing in its heavy splendor. Dick
frowned at it all. It looked unwelcom-
ing.
IA few flowers wouldn't disagree with