The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-02-04

to recover herself. but as Cavanagh
watched the blush fade from her face
leaving It cold and white. he sympa-
,hized with her-pitied her from the
bottom of his heart. He perceived that
lie was chance spectator of the first
scene I'm painful domestic drama
one that might easily become trag.
edy. lie wondered what the forces
might be which had brought such
daughter to this sloven. this virago
TO see a maid Of this delicate bloom
thrust into such place as Lie Weth-
erford's "hotel' had the reputation Of
being reused Indignation.
when did you reach town." he
asked, and into his voice his admlra-
tiOn crept.
"Only last night"
"You find great changes heref"
mot so great as in my mother It's
alp She stopped abruptly. and he
understood.
Lie being drawn back TO her cash
register, Redheld turned to say: "My
dear young lady, don't suppose you
remember me, but knew you when
you were tot OF five or six. knew
your father very WELL"
did you?' Her face lighted up
"Yes, poor fellow; he went away
from here rather under cloud. you
know"
Il remember a little OF it, was
here when the shooting took place"
$50 you were. Well since then much
has happened to us ALL" he explained
10 the ranger. There wasn't room for
n dashing young blood such as Ed
Wetherford was In those days" He
turned to Lee. He was no worse than
the men on the other side-it was dog
eat dog-bnt some way the people
rather settled on him as scapegoat.
lie was forced out. and your mother
has borne the brunt of it since. Those
were lawless days"
More and more Lee Virginia's heart
went out in trust toward these two
men. Opposed to the malodorous. un.
shaven throng which filed the room,
they seemed wondrously softened and
sympathetic, and in the rangers gaze
was something else-something which
made Ier troubles somehow less intol-
erablc. she felt that he understood
the difficult situation In which she
found herself
Redheld went on. you find us hor.
ribly unciviized after ten years alb.
senceY
Il find his unciyllized" she replied
with fierce intensity, looking around
the room. Then, OH the impulse, she
added. 81 can't stand It. ! came here
TO live with my mother, but this Is too
too HORRIBLE"
Il understand your repulsion," re.
piled Redtield. "A thousand times
repeat, apropos of this country, Where
every prospect pleases and only man
Is Vile"
"Do you suppose it was as bad ten
years ago." she asked "Was every.
thing as dirty-as mean? Were the
houses then as full OF flies and smells z"
"rm afraid they We're. OF course
the country isn't all like this, aud
there are neat homes and gentle peO.
pie in sulphur, but most cattlemen
areas they've always bcen-a shift
less, happy -go-lucky lot at baSt, and
some OF them have been worse, as you
know"
Il never dreamed OF finding my
mother in such place." she went on
Il don't know what TO do or say. She
isn't well. | ought to stay and help
her, and yet-oh, It is dsheartening"
Lie tapped Redfeh on the shoul.
der. Come over here, Reddy, If you
have finished your breakfast. want
to talk with you"
Redfeld rose and followed his land.
lady behind the counter and there sat
In earnest conversation while she made
change. The tone IN which her moth.
er addressed the supervisor. her action
OF touching him as one man lays hand
upon another, was profoundly reveal.
Ing to Lee Virginia. She revolted
from 1t without realizing exactly what
1t meant and, feeling deeply but vague.
ly the forest rangers sympathy, she
asked:
How can you endure this kind OF
lifef"
81 can't, and | don't" he answered
cautiously, for they were being closely
observed. II am seldom in town My
dominion is more than a mile above
this level My cabin Is 1900 feet
above the sea. 1t is clean and quiet
up there"
Are all the other restaurants in the
village like this?"
Worse. l come here because II IL
the best"
She rose. 81 can't stand this air ana
these flies any longer. They're too
disgusting"
Gle followed her into the other
house, conscious of the dismay and
bitterness which burst forth the in
stant they were alone. "What am
10 dof She is my mother, but I've lost
all sense OF relationship to her. And
these people, except you and Mr.. Red
field, are all disgusting TO me. II isn't
because my mother is poor, 1t isn't
because she's keeping boarders it's
something else" Al this point her
voice failed her.