The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-11-07

with n sudden. terrified snort.
breaker. whose hoof had gone into n
squirrel hole. was on his knees,
pI,,nging wildly to free himself. and
the next instant prone on the ground,
with Dixon under him.
Used ms she was TO accidents, hairs
breadth estapcs. and fcais of daring
horsemnnship, Tigc laughed at his
nwkwardness and refined In her pony,
waiting for him to get to his feet;
but after moment of waiting. he did
not rise. and then. with all her assist
ancc, could not. White, and breath
less, and only half realizing what IL
might mean. she dashed ahead for
Pedro and Filipc. but when they
reached him Dixon still lay helpless.
They carried him carefully to the
ranch house, n low stone cabin daubcd
with adobe soil. and gave him into the
care Of Juann, the old mahaly who did
everything about the house for Fer
nando that his vnquero-daughter
scorncd.
The nearest settlement was three
leagues away. and when nj last the
| doctor came he looked nj Dixon and
| shook his head. But his verdict was u
meaningless combination Of words 10
Tigc's unframed ears until she caught
the words. "paralyzcd. he'll never
move hand or foot again"
"Dixon parniyzed!" Over and over
she repeated the words. hell never
move hand ar foot again!" and as she
dashed out Of the house. sprang into
Dixon's saddle. and gallopcd furious
| ly across the plains, the words rang
through her brain with every hoof-
beat. As she rode wildly onward,
spurring her horse into u run. she
graspcd more clearing the import Of
those awful words. Dixon paral.
yzcd!" until turning homeward, heart.
sick and exhausted. Tigc threw her
arms around Breakers neck and under
cover of the darkness wept like girl
| .Junnn, who held an open nnimosit y
toward the gringo, performed all her
services with disappearing grunts. so
u was Tigc upon whom the care oi
the injured man devolycd. Divcstcd OF
hat and jncket. she watched beside
him, waited upon him. sang to him
losing her ruddy color and growing
| yan-eycd from the close confinement
| IN the house. And Dixon. his great
length laid low. his powerful frame
helpless as little cbild's, lay month
after month hopclcssly inert.
And finally IL was spring-timc again
The birds came back, the colors
glowed ON the prairies, the sun was
warm and bright as IL nothing had
happened. One day Dixon lay watch
ing Tigc sitting dcmureIy in the door
way. Her name Of hair was tucked
up primly, excepting the few rebel
lious locks that would not he con
trollcd. her colo was subdued 10 q
delicate flush. ana when she turned to
ward him all the daredevil light wa'
gone out of her eyes.
"Do you love me. Tigc?" he asked
gently. knowing only too well nov
what the answer would be. All thes,
long months Dixon had watched tn,
change his illness had wrought In the
girl-thc gcntler footsteps, the soft
cr tones, the thought fulness In hun
,lred nameless' little ways. until M
last the vuqucro was wholly lost IN
the woman. Then Dixon. because M
was man. every inch, grew more
and more determined on nus conrs'
win every new e''"ehee Oh her 'o'e
with all my heart. and with al
my soul. and with all my strength,
she repeated, reverentiy. not reniizin,
she was fulfilling the law toward DIX
on instead of her Creator; but ther'
was no halfway possible to her--sh.
either loved or hated. and that witt
nil her strength of her 'mpetno"s ma
ture.
Then ncrying himself to the ordca
by main force, Tor inns aiIiiction ha'
made him weak. Dixon went on: ID
you realize that l am paraIyzed To
lifew
The wide eyes. grown deep and ten
der. regarded him sadly. Yes, sh
answered, gently. when they mrs
told me, ] wouldn't believe u, but Nv
grown used To u now"
, "Wei', have no'' broke from D'>
IN, snvagely, IN n'omen'"ry loss
: seif-controi'
but you are not going 10 nave !
oe"r ~ "'o"e. W" WIZ .""!s nav
me WIN you' pica"eu 'he gT'' NJ"
, Ply.
NO, Tige," he answered. steadii,
She could not know that the instin'
, tive effort Ia reach his hand towar
/, her ard his powerlessness tO do ~