The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-11-27

There was a strange incongruity in
the two, and an unconscious challenge
as well.
All next day, which was Saturday,
and, indeed, during the following
week, stood guard over my notice, en-
joying the excitement it produced and
the comments it called forth. 1t was
the advance wave of the great ocean
of civilization which many of them
had been glad TO leave behind some
could have wished forever.
To Robert Muir. one of the farmers
newly arrived, the notice was a har
binger of good 1t stood for progress.
markets and higher price for land.
albeit he wondered hoo he wad be
keepit up" But his hard wrought
quick spoken little wife at his elbow
"hooted" his scruples and, thinking of
her growing lads, welcomed with I'M
mixed satisfaction the coming of "the
meenister.' Her satisfaction was
shared by all the mothers and most of
the fathers in the settlement. but by
the others, and especially by that roll
licking, roistering crew. the Company
of the Noble Seven. the missionary's
coming was viewed with varying de-
grees of animosity. 1t meant limita-
ton of freedom in their wildly reck-
less living. The permit nights would
now. to say the least. he subject to
criticisms the Sunday wolf hunts and
horse races. with their attendant de-
lights, would now be pursued under the
eye of the church and this would not
add to the enjoyment of them. One
great charm of the country. which
Bruce. himself the son of an Edinburgh
minister and now secretary of the No
bic Seven. described as letting a fell
low do as he BANKED pleased would
be gone None resented more bitterly
than he the missionary's intrusion
which he declared to be an attempt
ito reimpose upon their freedom the
trammels of an Anticipated and bigoted
conventionality. But the rest of the
Company. while not taking so decided
stand. were agreed that the estab-
lishment of church institution was
an Objectionable and impertinent as
we'll as unnecessary proceeding.
OF course II Kendall and his friend
Bronco Bill had no opinion one way
or the other The church could hardly
affect them even remotely. dozen
years stay in Montana had proved
with sufficient clearness to them that
church was a luxury of civilization
the west might well do without.
Outside the Company of the Noble
Seven there was only one whose opin
/ ion had value in Swan Creek. and that
was the Old Timer. The Company had
sought to bring him in by making him
an honorary member. but he refused
| to be drawn from his home far up
! among the hills. where he lived with
! his little girl Gwen and her old half
| breed nurse. Ponka. The approach OF
the church he seemed to resent as a
personal injury. 1t represented to him
that civilization from which he had
fled fifteen years ago with his wife
and baby girl and when. five years
later. he laid his wife in the lonely
grave that could be seen on the shaded
knoll Just fronting his cabin door the
last link to his past was broken. From
all that suggested the great world be-
yond the run of the prairie he shranlS
as one shrinks from sudden touch
upon an old wound.
Il guess I'll have to move back" he
said to me gloomily.
"Why:" | said in surprise. thinking
of his grazing range. which was ample
for his herd.
"This blank Sky Pilot" He never
swore except when unusually moved
"Sky Pilot?" | inquired
He nodded and silently pointed 10 the
notice.
"oh. well. he won't hurt you, will
hep
Cant stand it." he answered savage
iy; must get away"
"What about GwenT' J ventured.
for she was the light OF his eyes PITY
to stop her studies" was giving her