The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-03
MastsrfuI John Masters.

ed the very existence Of old Jeff Wig
gins. although the Virgins shanty was
on the road that led from Moul-
trie to the more plebian town Of
| Great Swamp. that sprawled its frame
stores, its lumber mill and its tur-
pentine still along the railroad. If
Moultrie spoke OF old JEFF Virgins at
all. which is doubtful. it called him
that old cracker" Virgins had come
out from Great Swamp. however, and
/ Great Swamp, knowing him intimate
ly, spoke Of him more freely and more
accurately. They called him that
drunken hog" He was despised by
even the guller negroes, with whom
he fraternized in the fellowship Of
fiery corn Whiskey They refused to
work his cotton land on shores, for
which old Jeif cared little, because his
wife and his daughter hoed and
plowed and planted for him, with the
help Of an OK. To his bent and wrin-
kled wife he was only part Of the
dreary existence that she lived
through listlessly; but to his tall,
grave-faced daughter he was a daily
agony, something to be cared for,
something to be fought for. What
ever old JET Virgins was to Moul-
trie and Great Swamp, he was always
the father Of Sally Virgins to Sally
Virgins Even her hunger for happi-
ness in her love for John Masters did
not lessen this strange sense of pro-
lection over the old sot whom she
should have loathed, in the natural or
der OF things. It Is not surprising
that sturdy John Masters, conscious
Of his power in his own little world,
should not have understood her. This
morning, he had come to plead again,
to plead in a way that was very like
command, as was John Masters
way.
Sally loved him as only a woman
starved IN love and sorely needing a
strong mans help could love. She was
proud Of his growing power in their
world Of field and pine; for Masters
was one Of those young men Of insIg-
niicant birth who were now rising
into power IN a new South, where
their fathers could have hoped only
for the overseer's quarters. She
knew her lover was strong and brave,
and leader in the eyes OF Great
Swamp, and she knew he loved her
And too, she knew old Jeff Virgins
was a shiftless. lying. thieving sot.
Perhaps 1t was the very realization
that her father had lost everything be-
yond hope that her yearn over him,
in spite Of Masters pleading this
morning-a pleading that had a touch
Of anger in it. The young foreman
Of the great turpentine camp OF "The
Barrens" was standing In the door
way, his face more stern than loving;
and her father, very drunk, was
sprawling on the bench outside the
cabin wall.
Sally" began Masters again, i've
waited long and patient for you, long
ing to take you out Of this sty. You
know that well. Sally don't you? You
know love you we'll, Sally, and it's ]
lime you knew whether you love me-
"of course I love you, Jack" said a
he girl, much troubled. I
Then why do you keep putting me
N, dear?" he said. more gently. B
TITS because Of father" she an t
wered. She turned and looked out I
he doorway at the old man. He was o
Of hair, and his straggly v
ray beard dripped Of tobacco Juice as y
10 lay sprawled out and snoring on 8
he bench. She saw 1t all and realized 4
/ all, realized it more keenly because
I its contrast with the erect strength 81
I the young man who stood so close g
es'de her and into whose strong arms
he longed TO creep, had It not been al
or the harshness that came into his b.
nee as his eyes followed hers. A lit q
Ie dry sob broke from her, aud she b.
hut her eyes wearlly Father being n
hat he Is" she said, mo one will
are for him IL mother and I leave M
im." "a
well what OF that?" he answered. Il
luntly. let him work for once In st
Is life. I wish something would come al
long and kin him and feed him to
le buzzards. He has cursed this com m
unity too long. Worse than that. he Il
as cursed your life But can make y
p for all that. Sally dear, II only you -
III take me instead Of him. It's got io
} be a choice, but It ought not to be IN
hard choice. You know I'll take a.
IRE Of your mother too" =,
Mother would come gladly" said
lily. slowly. But Jack, father oi
seds me. anyway. II ] don't stand di
Z him, no one else in all the world 81
III so much as look at him. II he M
ould lie dying by the road. Can't ~
~ wait a little longer. Jack?7 al
Il viii not wait longer" he an of
Fered, roughly, his face growing a M
slzy red beneath the tan. You ~
oose now. Sally. once and Tor an. ~.
"a choose that dirty hog there. Sleep do
g OF the whiskey be stole from some -.
ggers in my camn. or Won rhooea mo ~