Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-08-10

to me. | liked ii because her name
was Alice. like the song. It's a good
many years since saw her, Isle. and
don't know whether she is alive or
dead. Don't you see, kid, why my cal
lous old heart filled up with tears SO
that 1t would have burst If I hadn't
shed few"
81 am sorry, Craig. very sorry, that
l selected that song"
Don't you be sorry; be glad. II
saved me from one of my fits, for one
of 'em has been coming on ever since
i have been here
shall | sing something else for your
''No; don't sing; don't play. don't
want to get the taste of that one out
of my mouth. Sit here and talk with
me. We won't have another evening
together for long time-maybe new
err"
why do you say thatT'
'I'm going TO light out In the morn
ing before that fit comes on. You
think am older than your father, don't
your
''I should say that you are. by sew
eral years"
well, l reckon | am in some ways
II comes of having fits. suppose. but
Dick Maxwell is five years older than
am. He's AS or thpreabout. according
TO his say. / look about IS. but I'm
only 43. Do you know what | am get
ting atg"
mo"
This: I'm preaching. lad. Every one
OF those years that rest on my head
without having come into my life was
put there by n piece Of scoundrelism
that committed when was jus, the
age that you are now. and I hadn't any
more excuse for getting into Il than
you have now either. | don't say that
, you'll ever get into place where you
may be likely to do anything that amt
right, but IL you do there will be time
to think always is. for thinking
is mighty quick work and IL that
time ever does come you remember
what have said Just now and stop
long enough TO hum that song over TO
yourself before you cut loose from the
outfit aud so IL alone. Life amt going
to be all roses for you. Isle Maxwell.
and don't YOU forget It, Your father
hasn't brought you up right. to my way
OF thinking. You needn't get huffy.
Amt criticiSing him. I'm analyzinC
you You don't know any more about
the world outside of this ranch than n
hog knows about skating. and that
amt much TO speak Of I've been
watching you while I've been here.
and there are whole lot OF things that
you have got 10 learn between now and
the time when you will have to go II
alone, and nobody ever knows when
that time is coming. It's just like n
blamed Injun and draws bead on
your vitals from behind bush or n
rock when you amt looking. and it's n
dead shot every time. You can't throw
loop over circumstance and drag IL
along willing captive, like we did that
steer. It's got way OF slipping out
and roping you instead. and you've got
10 post yourself about things so that
you Will be ready 10 keep one hand out
in just about the same way that you
poked yours through the loop of Jim
Cummings RATA over I'm the Smoky. /
don't wonder that some OF the boys
have said thai you look like a woman.
You Go, and you do not You do be
cause you have got a tender heart. like
woman's. and il sticks out through
your masculine garb just as plain as
daylight when you amt thinking. Dick
Maxwell has trained you right enough
as far as he has gone. for all | know,
but he's good ways from going far
enough want you TO make me a
promise. Isle"
What sort of promise. Craig?"
You'll be 81 some day. and when
the day comes that sees you that old
want you TO promise that you will ride
over TO my ranch aud see me. Will
your
Certainly. | will ride over a great
many times In the meanwhile. too, IL
you care to have me-"
That's all right or course care to
have you. but want you to remember
that promise anyhow"
I'll remember IT."
And now, while we've got a chance
to talk. I want to say one thing more
20 sou about women. This idea that
you've got that they are denominations
on the face OF the earth is all wrong, il
your dad did teach X to you. and some
day I'll prove it to you. I've been look
ing through your library. and there
amt a book there that will tell you a
blamed thing about them-not che. To
my way Of thinking you ought 10 have
few, even II you read 'em against the
wishes Of the old man. They won't
hurt you any, and in my opinion they
will do you lot of good Do you
know where that old corral is, down in
the southwest corner Of my ranch?"
Eyes"
well, next Sunday you ride over
there. 1t amt much more than a doz-
EN- miles. I'll leave some books there
for you to read. Maybe I'll meet you
there If you come about shutdown.
They will be books that will teach you
something that you ought to know, and
don't, and-here comes Dick. Lord! I
never delivered such a long lecture be-
fore in my life. 1t all comes OF your
singing that song"
When on the following morning Lisle
would hava