Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-14
THE SQUAW MAN
NOVEL JULIE FAvERsnAM
1905 By 4 Bro1

are tied to the corral: everything is ready"
He took Jim's hand in both of his, Good
bye. Jim: sorry you re not going with us"
Goodbye. John" was all that Jim said
Jim was conscious that the last moments
he had dreaded were becoming tragic
reality There stood Diana ready to start
on her journey: on the other side OF him
Petrie advanced with outstretched hand
while at the back OF the yard he could see
the boys clustered around the wagon wait
| Ing for the final moment. He realized that
the sun was rising higher and higher in the
heavens and that II was growing hotter
He must send them away. A strange veil
that dimmed all about him. seemed to hang
between him and his surroundings. Finally
he turned to Petrie. who stood on the other
side of Bill. Goodbye. MIR. Petrie." Jim
held his hand out to the lawyer. in front OF
the child and In a low voice said You've
won your case against me: see that my boy
gets all that is coming to him
Petrie gravely answered, You may trust
me. sir" Then he joined the others at the
wagon.
Jim stretched out his hands in silence to
the boy. The child jumped from Bits
shoulder and nestled against his father.
Bill left them: only Diana remained near
Jim.
And now, old man. kiss your daddy"
A troubled look crept over the childs
face. 1t had all been great fun. hut now
he was growing frightened. His hold tight
ened around his fathers neck. Jim quickly
saw that he must divert the boys mind.
Take good care of Cousin Diana, won't
you?'
At this appeal the child. who was a mas
terful little fellow. used to being treated as
an equal by the men on the ranch. an
swered. Sure And as Diana came to him
he leaned down. smiled and said. II like
you"
Diana smiled as she kissed him. and said.
And I love you God bless your
She could scarcely bear the look of pain
in Jim's eyes they went from the boys
face to hers. then back again to the boy.
In silence they grasped each others hands.
then Diana walked over to Bill, who ten
derby helped her into the wagon.
Jim was alone with his boy. There was
much that he wished to say. but he dare
not speak. He could see the wistful look
beginning to return to the chHd's face.
Good" he said. lightly. and now be
Off" Close he pressed the child's face to
his lips. There's brave boy-with
smile and hurrah!"
How could he place the child in the wagon
beside the waiting woman, whose face was
turned away to hide her pain! His voice
dropped low and almost broke. Some day.
when you have a son of your own, you'll
know what this means" they heard him
whisper. But no Wynnegate ever was a
gutter. and so We'll take things as they
come"
Still no one turned to him. Diana felt the
child being lifted in beside her and the baby
fingers fasten around hers She turned her
face to Jim. but almost savagely he called:
Drive on, and never look back"
And Charley, who had remembered Bits
words Ito drive like -" with a crack and
slap let the impatient animals go. The
men started after the wagon
"Give 'em a cheer, boys" Jim cried, and
the place rang with their shouts.
Petrie and Sir John galloped alongside the
wagon, with Grouchy. Andy. Shorty and
Bill following as fast they could run.
Cheer after cheer sent back It's echo. while
Jim stood alone listening as he watched the
swaying rumbling cart raise its cloud of
dust through which he could barely see the
men still running and hear the faint echoes
Of their cries Of Goodbye, Hal"
Like symbol of broken hope, he stood,
solitary figure in the dreary, deserted place.
His hands were still outstretched toward the
receding wagon. The deep-tinted. rose-col-
ored rocks glowed more and more radiantly.
until the binding glare from the plains
made Jim shield hts eyes.
There they go'-he strained forward
closer to watch bhe wagon-"down into the
ravine-out of sight-and out Of my life
forever"
AS the dip in the land engulfed and shut
out his last glimpse of the travellers, he
dropped inert and clinched his arms over
his head. while his heavy dragging steps
were the only sounds that broke the terrible
stiffness that had fallen over the yard. AL
most mechanically he reached the bench
and sank down upon 1t. Nat-u-ritch. from
her hiding place above, could hear the sobs
that came from the crushed and broken
man.
CTo Be Concluded Tomorrow