Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-08-13
CHAPTER IL

aIC LTdDpGTS WeIt jIlt ICd1 utIOts III b4lG
far west. These, even at the time of
which write, had given place to ad-
yenturous miners and to q class of men
who were as bold in their defiance of
law as were Robin Hood and his men
in the middle ages. Henry Kyle and
Font Robb were men of this class and
were well known to Captain Brandon
by reputation but, for reasons that will
be given hereafter, he permitted them
to accompany him. and though he knew
that they were stealing away in the
dead Of night-a most unnecessary pro-
ceeding, by the way-did not raise q
hand to stay them. They rode through
the mountains till daylight, when Henry
Kyle took his friends hand and said:
Here we part for the present, Font.
1t is nearly year since I have seen the
old folks, and am going home"
''I hope you'll find 'em all right, "
said Robb, adding, with smile, Il
hope they won't win you away from the
boys"
Without any comment, Henry Kyle
raised his bride arm and his splendid
horse darted away and was soon lost to
sight among the hills. He rode until
the summer sun looked straight into the
deepest canyons and riffs of that Won
drous land and flashed on lake that
was walled in by mountains that rose
skyward like an impossible barrier.
Between the mountains and the lake
there was belt Of valley many hun
dreds of acres in extent, with clumps of
trees here and there that gave it park
like effect There were cattle and sheep
in the meadows, and the emerald ex-
panse was scanned with sinuous streams
that flashed down from the distant snow
peaks and poured their cool trout filled
currents into the lake. From one of the
groves a pillar Of smoke arose, marking
the site Of a human habitation. When
Henry Kyle saw this, he left the trail
he had been following and gallcped for
the grove. Tho cattle and sheep raised
their heads and looked after him in
wonder.
A large double log house occupied a
clear space in the grove, and back of
this was q barn The surrounding gar
dens showed thrift, and the vines and
flowers indicated more refinement in
the occupants Of the place than is usual
ly seen in that wild land. AS Henry
Kyle was hitohing his horse to tree
before the house beautiful girl of II
or IS ran out, and, with cry Of MY
brotherl My brotherP' she threw her
arms about him.
"Glad to see you, Nora" said Henry
Kyle, kissing her; then holding her at
arms length, while admiration filled
his eyes, he continued:
why, you grow moro and moro
beautiful every time see you. All, ite
q pity that so fair a mountain flower
should be shut in from the admiration
Of the worldi"
1.-The worldv' she repeated. This is
my world" and she lifted her eyes
with an expression of alteration from
the valley to the mountains. Away
from this home / could not be happy.
"Well, WE'LL Where one is content
knowledge Of better things may not be
prudent But tell me, how is mother?'
Before the girl could answer a gray
haired woman, with IA calm, patient
face and an indescribable look of having
seen better days in other scenes, came
out and greeted the young man with
warmth and tenderness which only
mother can feel
"Put away your horse" she said.
You have surely come to stay with us
now"
"Only few hours" he answered.
| Then he added, with forced laugh: Il
have too often broken the peace Of the
| valley. / do not think that my father
and Louis will care to have me with
them for even that time. F"
You know they will. All, Henry, if
you would only stay with us we might
be very happy"
They had now entered the house, and
an Indian boy, who acted as servant,
| was told by Mrs. Kyle to take charge OF
| the horse.
II should like to make you all happy,
but am afraid i am an Ishmaelite and
| can never settle down. Have you not
often defended me by telling father it
was in the bloodT"
mo, Henry. 1t is not i'll your blood
TO err as you have done. Impulse has
been the curse of the-the Kyles, but
not one Of them has ever been capable
of deliberate wrong" said Mrs. Kyle,
coming over and stroking his wavy
brown hair.
'I might be happy in this valley if
could persuade a young beauty whom
recently met to stay here with me and
share my fate" said Henry Kyle with
the light, careless manner that was pc
culiar to him.
"And who is this beauty" asked
Mrs. Kyle.
"She is with her father, brother and
another sister, now en- route to Oregon
or Washington territory. The immi-
grant train passes within two hours
ride of here tomorrow.
"And where docs this family come
FROM"