Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-01-27

Il
you think became Of him?"
II could never make UP my mind.
All sorts OF fumors come to US con-
corning him. AS matter Of fact. the
state authorities sympathized with the
cattle barons. and my own opinion Ia
that your father was permitted to cs.
cape. He was afterward seen in Tex
as. and later 1t was reported that he
had been killed there
The girl sat STILL listening to the tire
less whir Of the machine and looking
out at the purpling range with tear
mist eyes. At last she said. II shall
never think Of my father Us bad man
-hc was always SO gentle to me-"
"You need not condemn him. my
dear young lady. The people OF the
Forks-sone of them. at least-con.
slider him traitor and regard you as
the daughter of renegade, but what
does 1t matter? Each year sees the
old west diminish. and already. in the
work Of the forest service. law and or.
der advance. Notwithstanding all the
shouting of herders and the beating
to death Of sheep, no hostile shot has
ever been fred within the bounds Of
national forest. In the work Of the
forest rangers lies the hope Of ultimate
peace aud order over all the public
lands.
| The girl fell silent again. her mind
filed with larger conceptions of life
than her Judgment had hitherto been
called upon to meet She knew that
Redfield was right. and yet that world
80
herdsman and his trampling. long
| horned, half wild kine-still appealed
to her Imagination. The west Of her
! girlhood seemed heroic in memory.
Even the quiet account Of it to which
she had just listened could not conceal
its epic largeness Of movement. The
part which troubled her most was her
| fathers treachery to his neighbors
! That he should fight. that he should
kill men in honorable warfare. she
could understand, but not his recrean-
| cy, his desertion Of her mother aud
herself.
She came back to dwell at last on
tho action Of that slim young soldier
who had calmly ridden through the
Infatuated mob. She remembered that
she had thrilled even then ut the
vague and impersonal power which he
represented To her childish mind he
seemed to bear charm, like the he
roes Of her story books-something
which made him invulnerable.
After a long pause Redheld spoke
again. 1.-The memory Of your father
will make life for time a bit hard
for you in Roaring Fork. Perhaps
your mothers advice is sound. Why
not come to Sulphur City. which is
almost entirely Of the new spiritT'
III I can get my mother to come.
too. I will be glad to do so. for hate
the Fork. But will not leave her
there, sick and alone"
much depends upon the doctors
examination tomorrow"
They had topped the divide now be-
tween the Fork and Sulphur creek
basin. and the green aelds, the alfalfa
meadows and the painted farmhouses
thickened beneath them. Strange how
significant all these signs were now!
A few days ago they had appeared
doubtful improvements; now they rep
resented the oncouing dominion of the
east. They meant cleanliness and de-
cent speech, good bread and sweet
butter.
| Relfield swept through the town.
then turned up the stream directly to-
ward tho high wall Of the range. which
was ragged and abrupt at this point.
They passed several charming farm
houses. and the western sky grew ever
more glorious with it's plum color and
saffron, and the range reasserted its
mastery over the girl. At last they
came to the very Jaws Of the canyon,
and there. in a deep natural grove Of
lofty cottonwood trees. Redheld passed
before high rustic gate which mark
ed the beginning Of his estate. The
driveway was Of gravel. and the inter-
minslins of transplanted shrubs and
pine trees showed the care Of the pro-
fessional gardener.
The house was far from being q
castle. Indeed, it was very like a
house in Bryn Mawr, except that It
was built entirely Of half hewn logs.
with wide projecting roof. Giant
hydrangeas and other Towering shrubs
bordered the drive. and on the rustic
terrace lady in white was waiting.
Redfield slowed down and scrambled
ungracefully out. But his voice was
charming as he said: eleanor. this
is Miss Wetherford. She was on tho
point Of getting the blues. so brought
| her away" he explained.
Mrs. Red0eld, quite as urban as the
house, was slim little woman of del
icate habit, very far from the ordinary
conception o. rancher's wife. Her
manner was politely considerable. but
not heatedly cordial (the visitor was
not precisely herO. and. though she
warmed a little after looking into Vir-
ginia's face, she could not by my
stretch Of phrase be called cordial.
care you tired? Would you like to
lie down before dlnnerY' she asked.
"Oh. no, indeed. Nothing ever tires
me-" Virginia responded. with a smile.
"You look like one In perfect health
continued her hostess in tho envious
tone Of one who knew all too well
what Ill health meant. "Let me show
you to your ROOM"