Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1902-09-26

fGRAHAM
~ DAVID towRY


young snan in uamiton county. II the
basa 5ast asa boon announced In as
many words. nobody would have cues.
toned the abselate Correctness of the
statement.
Dolly Worth had taken particular
pains to manifest her Indifference CON
corning Dams actions, his sayings bis
likes or ~dlsliNcS-his Future Nothing
that affected Dan Graham could On the
slightest name concern Dolly Worth
And everybody thought that they
were engaged
Finally. when speculation seemed TO
be exhausted. somebody conceived the
idea that the reason why these two
had parted was not so much Of a mys
terry after oil.
Inside OF "A week everybody knew
that Dolly had discarded her lover he.
cause he was n stay at home" When
the Fairvlew guards marched away 10
fight in Cuba. among all the enthuslas.
tic beauties who waved their handkcr-
chiefs after the swiftly recedlng train
none was more prominent than Dolly
Worth.
Although nobody could summon sui
hclent courage to Inform Dan Ora
ham that people referred TO him as a
''stay at home" he knew the truth as
well as If II had been cried from every
hOusetop. For n time his mother
feared that lie was IN danger OF i'm.
pressions that might prove lasting
Impressions which, n permitted TO be-
come permanent. would mar his life.
But some underlying force, some in
bred strength, asserted itself speedily.
Dams demeanor was again the agree
nble front presented to all the world.
and n very winning demeanor It was.
The air palpltated with wars alarms.
People talked Of nothing but the war
until one day n garrulous old man
cOntrived between his daily dOzes to
inform Dan that he at least did not
find any fault with him for not going
10 the war. That was six or eight
EC1ths after Dolly Worth had coclly
parted from him on the most public
Lhar-Efare In Fairview.
T1s next day a calamity overlook
FUtrT5ew- The valley sank in waters
gathered IN q great storm. Its fields
were swept: fresh cleaned harvests
were lost: the fences for miles crum-
bled into the rising waters like the
fringe Of a dolls dress in a blaze, leav-
ing the valley desolate. The muddy
waters pressed through erevices and
crannies, filling every cellar In Fair
view; then they rose to the first and
second floors. A general hegira was
Inevitable. Furniture was pulled and
hauled and lifted by main strength
from floor to floor. Only such articles
were left floating as might serve for
p%recarious footing for the drowning
rats.
Everybody was wet, dirty, soggy and
cold. Night was coming on rapidly
when n motley crowd gathered around
the immense fire the boys had klndled
on the lot in front of the postotiice
where the farmers hitched their horses
when the food was not.
Suddenly somebody mentioned old
Gabe SOmers.
Old Gabe was the oldest inhabitant
of Fairview. One Of Gabe's uncles
was captured by the Indians and tor
tuFed to death on the island opposite
the town. Gabe lived alone in a cabin
isolated from his fellows, a rlckety af-
fair Mt best, so old that nobody was
able TO recall when 1t was erected.
'Has anybody seen old Gabe?"
The query was repeated. AS men
looked at each other there in the fast
falling night a silence fell upon the
crowd. The silence was ominous.
GObe's poor cabin would never survive
the food. Perhaps while they stood
there it was crumbling down into the
hungry water. Then the spirit which
prompts all mankind to extend a help
ing hand found voice. There were
shouts, suggestions, conflicting advice.
Suddenly one man ran toward Gabe's
cabin. Those nearest him exclaimed;
others inquired who 1t was. Soon the
crowd knew Dan Graham was fore
most In a mad race to the rivers edge.
Dan was the swiftest skater, swim
mer and runner In Fairview and the
best dancer. Now he dlstanced all 9th
ers so far that before they could APP
proach him he had leaped into a skin-
pushed It out and was settling the oars
into the rowlocks when the others
came up to the rivers edge.
Just a little beyond Dan they saw
Gabe Somers' cabin. II ever Gabe's
cabin entered the strong current The
men looking on tossed their hands In
the air despairingly.
Hell drown. Nothing could save
him now"
yes. and Dan Graham'n drown
too"
"If n Of them floating trees hits
the skin
"Or a log hits It a blr'-
cor some sunken sawyer bobs up
that's worst Of all"
"And It'll be so dark he can't see Just
where he u.s."
maybe he'll swim out"
"Swim! Swiml Against that cur
rentT'
"Its xt 10 s~uicide-thnts what
say" said the postmaster, With a chok.
ing voice. lie was related 10 Dan. HC
bved hin as his own son..
asThere'B not another man in thu
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