Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1903-03-17


son one breathless July afternoon, see
ing its crude but promising outlines a
through maze of alkali dust, darkly
Their well provisioned prairie schoon
en- numbered heavily ON the heels o
two tagged and painting horses. /
had been a terrific trip on man an,
beast> The man lay. bright eyed, DIR,
Tipped and silent, on the shakedown ii
the wagon bed.
AS the horses stopped instinctively
amid the willows beside the stream
the girl turned 10 her father with ar
encouraging smile. But at sight Of
him the smile changed to tense lines
of horror. On the mans chin tric1feC
a vivid crimson stain.
An hour later Anita Murdoch walked
away from the hastily improvised
camp with young DR. Byrne. He
glanced down at her pityingly She
was SO delicate, SO quiet and so pref
ty. What was her father thinking of
She was no more fit to take up a claim
and manage a ranch on little or NO
capital than
She Looked at him in mute inquiry.
II thought best not to say this be
fore your fSsher. but you must not
think Of resuming your journey. He
would never survive the rough roads,
and the rare air on top of the Divide
would certainly bring on another hem
orrhage."
sThen you mean that we can never
go into La Junta valleyT
There was anguish in the question.
and the doctor hcsitated.
Il believe the disappointment would
kill him. she continued Ever since
we got that first railroad circular he
has been counting on going there, get
ting well and strong and working
again. We've taken the La Junta Ban
ner for six months, and we know just
where we want to live and how to file
our claim. Oh, we must go onr'
well. for tSe present you had better
stop here and let your father recuper-
ate. Perhaps when it is cooler At
any rate, there is tidy two room
shack right back of my Office The
rent is cheap. and ! can keep an eye
on him until he is in shape to travel.
1t won't do for him to sleep here on
the river edge even one night. We
must pull him together, you know"
And the doctor nodded cncouragingly
to the girl, who stood watching him
with wide open. frightened eyes
SO. all unwilingly. did the Murdoeks
take up their residence In Fort Slmp-
son. The hot blasts of July merged
into the sullen humidity of August,
and one day in the freshening breath
of September Henry Murdoch tottered
to the postottice for the La Junta
Banner. They read it together, he and
Anita. read Of the mountain locked
valley where the sun never shone too
fercely nor yet the blasts blew cruel
"; where crops rose like air castles In
the night: where the sick were made
well; where-and this was the best of
weak lungs were fed and
The Murdacks knew all
the prominent La Junta citizens by
name, rejoicing with them in success,
sympathizing with them in adversely.
They lived in Fort Simpson, but their
hearts were in La JuEta. And now
only the Divide. with its pitiless alti-
tude. stood between them and this
promised land. to reach which they
had sold their little Iowa home.
That night after her father had
fallen into a troubled sleep she footed
Up their account book. They had lived
so simply. yet little remained. If they
sold the horses. they might reach the
valley by rail, but mountain railroad
fares are high, and without horses
how could they farm?
She rose impulsively and hurried to
DR.. Byrne's Office. He received her
with undisguised pleasure. OF late lie
had felt that his calls had been I'M
welcome. Very Gelicascly they had
limited that professionally he was not
needed. and he feared that they might
view his obvious attempts TO drop
in socially as professional calls char
itably paid.
Father seems stronger today. Don't
you think he can stand the journey
very soons'
DR.. Byrne shook his head.
'The nights are cold. There is al
ways frost in the -mountaiHs?"
s.Bnt you said when it was cooler.s
she persisted.
He led her to the window and point
ed silently to the distant mountain.
where even in the moonlight she could
catch the CLINT of snow patches. She
.lasped her hands in despair.
"Why-wby did you tell me he could
20 later? You knew all the time that
ne could not take the trip. and yet
She turned upon him fierceiy and
read that In his eyes which made her
wrath burst into a fame. In her IN
love for her father she read
In this other mans love for herself
,nly seIfshness. He had thought that
f she stayed she might learn to love
rim And now she hated him.
'.Oh. If / had never listened to you.
Now he VIII stay here to die
DIR. Byrne tried to take her hot hands
IN his, but she drew away from him.
MY dear girl, you are well and
strong. For you the overland journey
has no horrors; for your father 1t
neans-death-"
Then exclaimed Anita bitterly, ST
must get something to do, so that we
can 20 BY rail. thought 1t my duty
to care for him, and now our money is
nearly gone"
He gained possession of her hands
his time.
Anita. it Is your duty to care for
atm until the end WON'T Won let me