West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-01-07
NUMBER II


thoughts and aspirations. Dick. In
whom friendship for Echo had iong
before ripened into conscious love. took
her tears as evidence that she was
similarly affected toward him. and he
allowed all the suppressed passion OF
his nature full vent in declaration of
love. The girl was deeply moved by
this revelation OF tho heart or n strong
man made tender as woman's by n
power ccntering In her own humble
self, and. being utterly without expert
cncc OF the emotion even I'm its protec-
two form OF calf love, which IN tho
varioloid OF the genuine affection, sho
imagined through sheer sympathy that
she shared his passion. So sho assent
cd with mnidonly reserve to his plea
that she promise 20 marry him when
ho should return and provide n homo
for her. Her more cautious mother So
cured n modification OF this pledge by
limiting the time that Echo should
wait FOR him to ono year. II at the ex-
piratlon OF that period Lauo did not
return to claim her promise or did not
write making satisfactory arrange
mcnts for continuance of the engage
mont Echo was 10 be considered free
to marry whom she chose.
Soon after Lanes departure Mrs.
Allen persuaded tho colonel to send
Echo east TO n New England finishing
school FOR girls, where her mother
hoped that her budding love for Lane
might he nippcd 10y the frigid atmos-
phcre OF intellectual culture, II not, In
deed, supplanted by saving Interest
In young mon I'm general and perhaps
In some particular scion OF n blue
bloodcd Boston family.
The plan succeeded I'm part only.
Tho Compnnionshlp OF her schoolfel-
lows, her music and art lessons, her
books during the limited periods nj.
lottcd to serious study and roading)
and, above all, her nttrItion nt recep-
tlons with another order OF men than
That she had known In the rough, un-
cultured west occupied her mind 30
fully that poor Dick Lane, who was
putting thought OF Echo Allen in
every blow OF his pick, received only
the scraps of her attention.
Dick had few opportunities 10 mail
n letter and none OF them for receiv-
ing one. Impractical I'm writing, his
rplstolary compositions were crude I'm
the extreme, being wholly confined
to bald statements OF fact. Had he
been ns tender on paper as he was In
his words and accents when he kissed
away her tears at parting her regard
FOR him would have had fuel to feed
IN ana might have kindled into genu-
Inc love. As II was, she was forced
To admit that I'm comparison with the
brilliant university men with whom
she converscd Dick Lane intellectually
was MS quartz 10 diamond
ON the other hand. she contrasted
Dick I'm the essential point OF mnnli
noss most fnvornbIy with the mak
| butterflies OF society that hovere<
around Der. what one or them was
so essentially ehiyalrous as the west
crn man-so modest, so self sacrific-
| Ing, so brave and resolute and re-
sourceful2 Dick Lane, or Jack Pay
son. for that matter, In all save the
advcntltious points OF education and
| culture was the higher type OF man
| hood, and Jack, at least II not poor
| Dick, could hold his own I'm mental
and artistic perception with the
brightest, most cultured OF Harvard
| graduates.
At the end OF the year she came
| back home 60 awnit Dicks return from
the wilds OF Mexico. There was great
anxiety about his safety. for 6oront.
! no, attacked by Crook I'm the Apnehe
| stronghold OF the Tonto basin. had es1
! capped 10 the meuntains OF northwest
crn Mexico with his band OF fierce Chi
| rlcahuas.
Now, Dick Lane had not been heard
from I'm this region. When be neither
| made appearance nor sent a meBsa &c
upon the day appointed for his return,
his brother. Bud, was for setting out
Instantly to find him and rescue him
If he we're I'm difficulties.
Then II was that Echo Allen liscoy-
cred the true nature OF her affecfion
for her lover-tbat it was sisteriy re-
gard. differing only In degree, but not
I'm kind, from that which she felt for
his brother. She Joined with Polly 20
opposing Buds going. urging his reck-
lcssness ms reason. You are certain
10 be killed." she snid, "and I cannot
lose you both" Jack Paygon. for
whom Bud was working, then came
forward and offered TO accompany him
nud keep within bounds Again there
was revelation OF her heart 70 Echo,
one that terrified her with a sense
OF disloy0ty It was Jack she really
loved. noble, chivalric, wonderful Jack
Payson, whom with a southern girls
intensity OF feeling, she had uncon.
sciously come TO regard as her stand.
ard Of all that makes for manhood
Plausible objections could not b.
urged against bis sacrificing himself
for his friend. with an Irresistible
Impulse she cast herself upon bis
breast and said, 81 cannot bear 20 see
you go"
Payson gently disengaged her arms
81 must. Echo It is what Dick
would do for me II were IN his
place"
However, while Payson aud Bud
were preparing for their deparur,
Buck Mckee apeared IN the region and
reported t'Ht Dick Lane1 had beer
killed by thr Apaches lie told Will
convincing details bow he had me-
lane as ca u was returning from Z
successful prospecting trip IN the
Ghost range and how they had sunl
their differences IN standing together
against an attack Of the indians. III
cxtOHed Dicks bravery, relating how
severely wounded. he had stood on tbs
savages 20 enable himself 10 escape.
when he handed over DICKS watcf
20 EchO-fOr he had learned on his re-
turn that she was belrotbed 10 Lane
MS a last token from her lover. NJ
doubt remained in the minds Cf his