El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-21
The Beginning Of Things
BY Vance Palmer.

II ginning of things, when a row OF
- tents lined the main street and
water was less plentiful than beer is in
most towns. AS a matter of fact the
settlement hadn't much to show yet In
the way of civilization, though it turned
out some of the best opals in the coun-
try; and some Of the first corners pros
pered and fattened, and some went to
the wall, according to the fate laid
out for them or to their weakness Of
the flesh.
Bailey didn't do either, because it was
somehow part of his temperament to
take a middle course always AS opal
buyer for the settlement he made a
good living, and that was all.
There were half dozen women
there, two or three of them pretty, and
they wondered most of all about Bal
ley. They asked him to dances and rid
ing picnics, but he never came, always
explaining courteously that his BUSH
ness took up all Of his thought and
time. Then they whispered to one an
other that his life had been spoilt by a
woman.
That was how five years passed away
and nothing happened of any note.
Then one day Bailey found himself on
business at the nearest township, 80
miles away, with his horse lame, and
the necessity of having to be back at
the settlement next day. A coach crawl
ed between the two places once every
week, so he waited for that and jump
ed aboard. He was immersed in some
letters at the time, and it was a full
five minutes before he noticed the wo-
man in the corner who was gazing at
him with curious eyes. When he did,
the blood drummed a little at his tenn
pies. They had gone on a long while
before he spoke, and then 1t was with
pale lips.
This is the last place 1 expected to
find you, Helen
She gave fluttering. nervous smile.
THAT is why you came here. I sup
pose. Wal?''
He answered in a hard voice:
Frankly, yes. And now, why have
you come here?
Her fingers were twiddling restlessly
with her muff chain and her throat felt
very dry.
81 came to see my brother Steve"
she said: I am going to look after him
for while"
The name connected two cells of Bal
ley's brain, and for q while a mist
swan before his eyes He had never
thought of Steve Dacres as being in
any way related to the woman he had
loved, and it panied him to know it
now; not that there was much real evil
in the boy, but cards and liquor had
Slapped most of the clean manhood out
of him. and his name floated around in
sonneition with some shady things
II can't altogether leave here" he
said; you wouldn't demand that It's
a bigger place than it looks. though.
and there's no need for us ever to meet.
Will that content your
What she said was indistinct, and
they went their ways.
But everyone noticed that Bailey had
become even more busy and preoccu-
pied than before. His business was in
creasing. and he opened a branch at
new field. going over there as often as
he could.
Bailey threw his tremendous vitality
into his business with an abandon that
fairly startled Grayson, his clerk The
latter was a handsome. flabby-lipped
boy from the city, too weak to be any
rent of life till Bailey took him up and
set him on his feet He lounged over
to where Bailey was sitting one after
noon, and said, caressing his nous
tache:
Say. Bailey. have you seen Steve Da-
cres's sister,"
Bailey looked up with nuick eyes,.
but he read no hint of knowledge in
the boys face.
Yes he said abruptly, I've seen
her"
And what do you think of herr"
Grayson went on. isn't she wonder
ful?"
Bailey made a stab at the inkpot
with his pen.
Quite wonderful" he said. Look
here. Grayson, I've got to go over to
Tightening Ridge tomorrow, and you'll
be in charge Of things for day or two.
Take a double grip of yourself. and
don't think of anything but business
But when he came back he found that
Grayson had been spending most of his
time in the company of Helen Dacres.
The boy said he was teaching her to
ride, and Bailey bit his lips. for he had
taught her to ride in the old days
why should / care?" he said to him.
self "She and / are less than nothing
to one another now
But it isn't much use a man telling
lies to himself even when he does very
emphatically, and soaring itself into
Bailey's brain was the knowledge that
she still had power to hurt him.
And so six months passed, leaving no
change, except that Bailey grew little
harder. and a little older. and his smile
did not come as quickly as it used to
of old.
This went on until the night before
the miners ball, when, sitting in his
back room with his pipe. between his
teeth, the old fever laid It's hands on
him again He felt that his life was
growing as bare as the naked earth,
and he wanted to taste of music, the
threshing of dancing feet. the company
of his own kind. But most of all he
wanted to be near Helen again, to
watch the strange glow in her eyes
and to hear the ripple of her laugh. He
said in his heart that there was no rea-
son why he should avoid her always
Next morning he said to Grayson:
Look here, Grayson, you'll have to
take the weeks opals into the town
ship tonight. You can have my horse"
Grayson looked up with a desperate
determination in his face.
Il can't go tonight, Bailey"
Nonsense" his companion raped
out; you'll have to 60 Why not?"
The boys face was white.
I'D rather break with you altogether
than go tonight. I've promised Hell