The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-02-14
90. by Hamlin Garland
I'm HER FATHER !"

~I MEYER
I'm HER rArHERw
stoop. His voice was firm. 81 merely
want to say that if you fool that girl
I'll kill your
Ross stared at him, quite convinced
that he had gone entirely mad. That's
mighty chivalrous Of you, Mr.. Sheep
Herder," he replied cuttingly, "but I'm
at loss to understand this sudden in
dignation on your part"
'You needn't be. I'm her father!
Cavanagh fairly reeled before this
retort. His head rang as it he had
been struck with club. He per-
ceived the truth Of the mans words
instantly. He gasped, Good God,
man. are you Ed Wetherford?'
The answer was quick, THAT'S who
amw Then his voice changed. But
/ don't want the women to know I'm
alive / didn't intend to let anybody
you or any man tries to abuse her I'll
kill him! I've loaded her up with
trouble, as you say, but I'm going to
do what can to protect her now that
I'm in the county again"
Ross. confused by this new compli-
cation in the life Of the girl he was be-
ginning to love, stared at his compan-
ion in dismay. Was it not enough that
virginia's mother should be slattern
and a termagant? At last he spoke.
"Where have you been all these
years?'
I'm the Texas pen I served nine
years there"
"What for?"
shooting a man. 1t was case OF
self defense. but his family had more
money and influence than / did, so /
went down the road. AS soon as I got
out I started north-just the way a
dog will point toward home. I didn't
intend to come here, but some way
couldn't keep away. SHE'D around
the outskirts Of the Fork, picking up
odd jobs Of sheep herding just to have
time to turn things over. I know
what you're thinking about-you're
saying to yourself, We'll. here's a nice
father-in-lawr Well. now, l don't
know anything about your people. but
the Wetherfords are as good as any
body. If l hadn't come out into this
cursed country, where even women &c
shooting wild, / would have been in
congress; but, being hot headed.
must mix In. I'm not excusing my.
self, you understand. I'm not desir.
able addition to any mans collection
of friends. but can promise you this
mo one tsst yourself shall ever know
who I am At the same time. you cam,
deceive my girl without my being
named In the funeral that will follow
you are only distant and roman.
past" said Cavanagh. "She remem.
bers you as bold rider and won
drously brave and chivalrous father
"She must never know. You must
| promise never to tell her."
81 promise that" Cavanagh said, and
| Edwards went on:
IF I could bring something to her
| prove to her Pm still a man-it might
| do to tell her. but I'm branded man
now and an old man, and there's nc
hope for me. / worked in one OF the
machine shops down there, and it took
the life out Of me. Then, too. left q
bad name here in the Fork. / know
that. Those big cattlemen fooled me
| into taking their side of the war.
staked everything / had on them. an6
then they railroaded me out Of the
1 ~ I'M
| ed, no matter where / turn"
Every word he uttered made more
apparent to Cavanagh that Lee Viz
| ginfa would derive nothing but pair
| and disbursement from knowledge
that her father lived. "She must b.
spared this added burden of shameful
Inheritance" he decided.
| The other man seemed to under
stand something of the rangers ind1g
nant pity, for he repeated: II wan
you to swear not to let Lee know Tn
alive, no matter what comes. Sh'
must not be saddled with my record
Let her go on thinking well of me
Give me your word" He held out al
insistent palm.
Ross yielded his hand, and in spit'
of himself his tenderness for the bro
ken man deepened. The sky was dark
ening in the west, and. with a glance
upward. he said, II reckon we'd bettel
make your camp soon or you'll b.
chilled to the bone"
They mounted hastily and rod
away, each feeling that his relation
ship to the other had completed!
changed. Wetherford marveled owe
PILES CURED IN TO IA DAYS