The Marshall republican., 1911-06-09
Cavanagh,
Forest
Ranger
The Great Conservation
Novel
BY HAMLIN GARLAND
Copyrish,. 1910. by Hsmiin Garland!
XIV.
BY HAMLIN GARLAND
Copyright. 1910. BY Hsmiin Garland!

ofnaiutuishtu tue Ou1CeT ITOm
the man. the soldier from the
civilian. lie did o hesitate to act.
and yet be suffered a mental conflict
as he rode back toward the scene Of
THAT inbuman sacrifice on the altar Of
greed.
sit will be hours before any part of
the sherif's posse can reach the falls.
even though they take TO the swiftest
motors. and then other long hours
must intervene before | can ride down
ito her. Yes. at least n day and q night
must drag their slow course before I
can hope TO be Of service to her" And
the thought drew a groan Of anxiety
from him. At such moments Of mental
stress the trail II a torture aud the
mountain side IN inexorable barrier.
Halfway TO the hills he was inter-
cepted by an old man who was at
work on IN irrigating ditch beside the
road. He seemed very nervous and
very inquIsitive. and rs he questioned
the ranger his Eyes were like those OF
a dog that fears his masters hand.
Ross wondered about this afterward.
but NJ the momcnt his mind was busy
With the significance Of this patient
toiler with n spade. He was a prophet.
ic figure In the most picturesque and
sterile land Of the stockman. Here.
within twenty miles Of this peaceful
fruit grower" he said. "ls the crown
Ing infamy OF the freebooting cowboy"
lie wondered rs he rode on whether
the papers OF the state would make a
jest OF this deed. "wiil this be made
the theme for caustic comment IN the
eastern press for n day and then be
forgotten
As his hot blood cooled be lost faith
IN even this sacrifice. Could anything
change the leopard west into the tame
ness and serenity Of the OF? NO." he
decided: nothing but death will do
TINT. This generation. these aerce and
bloody hearts. must die. Only In that
way cnn the tradition OF violence h.
overcome and 4 new state reared"
Al the foot Of the toiisome. upward
winding trail be dismounted and led
his weary horse. Over his head and
about halfway q the frst hilltop lay
a roof Of icecy vapor. faint purple
In color aud seamless In texture.
Through this he must pass. and Il sym.
boliz,d TO him the line Of demarcauon
between the plain and the mountain.
between order and violence.
Slowly he led his horse along the
mountain side. grasplng with eager de-
sire at every changing aspect OF the
marvellous mountain cen IL was In.
finitely more gorgeous. more compel.
ling. than bis moonlight experience the
night before.
As be led his horse out upon a pro-
Jecting point Of rocky ledge to rest his
love for the range came back upon
him with such power that tears misted
his eyes and his throat ached. where
else viii ! fnd such scenes M thisg'
he asked himself. where In all the
lowiands could such splendors shine'
How can ! iravc this high world In
which 'bese wonders coui. and go' /
will nut. Here viii bring my bride
and hnild NY h""" This Is my
world
Hui the mist grew gray. the aurcole
nf tire fnd,d. the sun went down he
hind the hills. und the chill of evening
1eepened al the trail. and as he re-
approached the scene of mans inhu.
manity 10 man the thought OF camping
there beside those charred limbs call.
ed for heroic resolution. He was hun.
cry. too. and 10 the air pinched he
shivered.
AT the best the sheriff cannot reach
here before midnight" he said, and
settled down to his unsought. revolving
vigil.
His n relief lay In the mental com.
position of a long letter TO Lee vir.
gtnia, whose life nj that moment was
q comfort to him. "If such purity,
such sweetness. can come from vio-
lence and vulgarity then surely a new
ana splendid state can rise even gu
Of the ashes Of these murdered men.
Perhaps this Is the end OF the old"
heT unused. perhaps this Is the begin.
ming OF the new" and as he pondered
the last faint crimson died out Of the
wlest so must the hate and violence
DIE out Of America" he said. 4leaving
the clear, sweet air OF liberty behind"
He was near to the poet at the mo.
y1nent. for be was also the lover. His
allegiance to the great republic stood
4hs test. His faith In democracy was
shaken, but mot destroyed. II will
1wait" ~ decided. This shall be the
ign. u this deed goes unavenged
then win ! put on my badge and my
uniform and - back 70 the land where
for q hundred yeasv at least such
deeds q thsss hare been impossible"
He built : 6re q night fell 10 ssrvs
both - . beacon and ~ I defense
against Tho cold Hs felt himself
w9ifdiy remots n this Vigil. From
~ far height ~ looke6 ohroa4 upon
tAs ts.I!l 1850 NJ ecssn