Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-04-06
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By HAMLN GARLAND
Copyright. 1910. by Hamlin Garland

| my mother meet my father! 10 you
know thatT
mo, don't. 1t was a runaway
| match, Ed said l never did know
who her folks were, only know they
thought she was marrying the wrong
man."
The girl sighed as her mind took In
| the Significance of her mothers COM
ing to this wild country, leaving all
that she knew. and loved behind.
"Poor little mother! 1t must have
been very hard for her."
81 am afraid she did have hard
time, for Ed admitted to me that he
hadn't so much as saddle when he
! landed in the state. He hadn't much
when / met him first, but everybody
liked him. He was one of the hand
soonest men that ever jumped a sad
die. But he was close mouthed. You
never could get anything out of him
that he didn't want to tell, and was
never able to discover what he had
been doing in the southern part of the
state
AS she pondered on her changed re
lationship to Lie, Lees heart light
ened. 1t would make difference to
Ross. 1t would make difference to
the Redfields. Traitorous as it seem
ed, it was great relief, joy, to
know that her own mother-her real
| mother-had been mice" "She must
| have been nice or Lie would not have
said so,' she reasoned, recalling that
her stepmother had admitted her feel
ing of jealousy.
AT last Lie rose. "Well, now, dearie,
reckon we had better turn in. 1t
is getting chilly and late"
AS they were about to part at the
door of the tent Virginia took Lies
face between her hands. Coed night,
mother" she said and kissed her to
show her that what she had said
would not make any difference.
But Lie was not deceived. This
unwonted caress made perfectly plain
to her the relief which filled the girls
heart.
Lee Virginia was awakened some
hours later by roaring, cracking
sound and by the fare of yellow
light upon her tent. Peering out she
saw flames shooting up through the
roof of the rangers cabin, while be-
side it. wrapped In a blanket, calmly
contemplating it. stood Cavanagh with
folded arms. A little nearer to the
bridge Rediield was sitting upon an
upturned box.
With cry of alarm she aroused her
mother, and Lie, heavy eyed. laggard
with sleep, rose slowly and peered out
AT the scene with eyes of dull amaze
ment why don't they try to put 1t
out?' she demanded as she took in the
import of the passive figures.
Dressing with tremulous haste. Lee
stepped from the tent just in time to
see Swenson come from behind the
burning building and join the others
in silent contemplation of the. scene.
There was something uncanny in the
calm inaction of the three strong men.
I Slowly. wonderingly the girl drew
near and called to Cavanagh, who
turned quickly, crying out: Don't
come too close and don't be frighten-
ed | set the place on fire myself
The poor old herder died last night
and is decently buried in the earth
and now we are burning the cabin and
every thread 1t contains to prevent the
spread of the plague. Hugh and Sven,
son have divided their garments with
me. and this blanket which wear is
my only coat. All that | have Is in
that cabin now going up in smoke
my guns, pictures, everything"
How could you do IT." she cried
out. understanding what his sacrifice
had BEEN
II couldn't" he replied THE SUI
pervisor did 1t. They had to go. The
cabin was saturated with poison. L
had become to me plague spot, ant
there was no other way to stamp /
out. / should never have felt safe il
had carried out even so much as {
letter.
Dumb and shivering with the chill
OF the morning, Lee Virginia drew
nearer, ever nearer. 81 am so sorry
she said and yearned toward him
eager to comfort him. but he warning
ly motioned her away.
please don't come any nearer, for
dare not touch you.
Y But you are not !ll?' she cried out
8 with a note of apprehension in he
( voice.
! He smiled in response to her ques
( ton. NO; feel nothing but weari
) ness and little depression. ! can
!, help feeling somehow as If | wer
5 burning up part of myself in tina
t fire-the saddle ! have ridden 70
0 years. my guns. ropes. spurs. Every
e thing relating to the forest is gone
and with Il my youth / have bee
5 something of q careless freebooter my
: self. fear. but that is all over wit
!, now" He looked her in the face wit
sad and resolute glance. THE fol
!. est service made man of me, taugh
= me to regard the future. | never n,