Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-18

lover WHO VIII WIllc lit SuSh piooN
freezing adventures! How the other
girls would enjoy this letter, dear! And
to think that l am the only person
permitted to share it's thrilling con-
tents with you! 1 ought to feel greatly
hattered-as, of course, do!"
Il have no secrets from you, Mig
non." said the blonde Canadian; 1--WE
are bosom friends. you know, bound by
VOWS of eternal fidelity and devotion
I really believe that l love you next
to Guy"
There Is nothing in life more real
and at the same time more transitory
than these ardent schoolgirl friend
ships. The perfect, clear-cut lips OF
Mignon curled in sweet little smile
Thank you, mamie. And now, do
you find yourself quite ready to fol-
low Browning's advice:
"TLove
Give love. ask only love, and leave the
rest
IN other words, dear, are you will
ing to turn your back upon the world
and fare forth the pretty pastoral OF
love and sheep in the far, dear. beau
tiful west?"
Maud started in horror.
Never! How can you ask such
question after hearing Guys letter?
Sheep? Oh, 1 abominate them, living
or dead! And to call the west dear
and beautiful when such monsters as
this Black Dave are permitted to run
loose about it. robbing and shooting
decent people-well, really, Mignon, 1t
seems a little too much, even though
you are western born. Never will go
to Colorado now. On the contrary
shall write Immediately to Guy, and
urge him to shake the dust Of the
sage-brush from his feet, and return
at once to civilization"
Mignon smiled, and twisted the cool,
green ferns about her dainty, ungloved
fingers.
"Of course" she answered, that
road agents, and the robbing and
shooting and bloodshed are all too
dreadful for anything, and it is very
natural, Maud dear, that after such an
adventure you feel little inclination for
the land or the people. But 1-yes,
am western born, and" with sudden
radiance in her velvety brown eyes, i
love the west with all my heart! 1t Is
my dear fathers country-it is poor
mamma's-it Is mine! Why should l
not love it?"
"The west is your fathers country,
only by adoption" corrected Maud, TO
whom the history of her friend was as
familiar as her own. You have told
me a. dozen times that he was born In
the hub of the universe-Boston; and
have 1 not been in Yankeeland long
enough to know that no WYE could
properly be born anywhere else? From
the old judge-your great grandfather,
wasn't he-down to your cousin Cyril
l understand that the Yves have al
ways been the bright and shining
lights of the Suffolk Bar. But, jest
ing aside, dear, you were such a lit
tie thing when you came to live in the
east, that surely you remember little
of your western home?"
The western girl arose to sitting
posture among the ferns. The lovely
color pulsed in her oval cheek.
Il remember everything" she cried,
"the ranch-the free, glad life we. all
led there-the immense herds that
represented my fathers fortune-papa
was, and is. cattle king, you know
monarch of a great, grand domain
Almost from babyhood l was accus-
toned to the saddle. l used to ride
with papa over all his range. l could
handle a lariat and branding iron, and
curb a bucking horse with the Skill OF
cowboy. The ranchmen petted me
papa adored me. All, child OF eight
does not forget, and / had reached
that age when mammals health gave
way. and we were told that she must
be sent east to the care of competent
physicians. Poor mamma was always
delicate. and the climate of Colorado
did not agree with her. Then. too
| 1t was time for me to go to School-
papa said he was very ambitious fol
me-and so l was torn from my deal
ranch, and my wild ranges, and the
great herds, and the white peaks pierre
ing the rosy sky, and the free air OF
those vast solitudes, and brought, with
poor mamma, to the east! and papa
carried US to Rookwood, his own birth
place, and ordered the best physicians
that money could command to attenC
mamma, and then embraced and bless
ed US. and went back, alone and lone
", to his herds and rancheros. All,
wonder how he has managed to live
eight weary years without US there!
There were tears in her lovely eyes
Above all things earthly this cir
adored her absent father.
And you have never seen him since
that parting, dear?" said Maud, full
of sympathy.
"Neyer," sighed MignOn. "Wher
poor mamma died he was far away II
some remote place buying cattle, ant
did not hear the news for long time
| wrote to him in an agony OF home
sickness. and begged him to come ant
take me back to the ranch; but he an
swered No it was best for me TO re-
main at school: the ranch was no place
for me without poor mamma, and III
delivered me to the care of Uncle Phil
ip, whose ward l am"-with a little
grimace-"to the present day"
Il do not like your Uncle Philip'
said Miss LOTUS, dryly.
No more do l." replied Mignon
with great frankness. and now ina
my school days are nearly over, l hope
that papa will recall me from my Ions
exile. | do so long for him and 70
my great, free west! You love CIVIL
zation. Maud, but | am a western gyp
sy. eager to give up society and re
fnement, everything in fact, for th'
old ranch and the great ranges. and m!
dear father once more!"
What an affectionate daughter yo'
are. to be sure!" said Maud, admiring