The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-02-18
Continued.)

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ttitt1btt
CContinued.)
"But I'm not protested Ross I'm
going to leave her right here. / can't
take her.
Wetherford looked at him with
steady eyes. into which a keen light
leaped- Don't you intend to marry
herr
Ross turned away. mo; don't !
mean II, is impossible"
~Why not? Don't tell me you're al
ready married?' He said this with
menacing tone.
mo; I'm not married. but He
stopped without making his meaning
plain. I'm going to leave the country
and
Wetherford caught him up. "I reck-
on understand what you mean. You
consider Lie and me undesirable par
ents-not just the kind you'd cut out Of
the herd Of your own free will. Well.
that's all right / don't blame you so
far as I'm concerned. But you can for
get me-consider me a dead one. I'll
never bother her nor you"
Cavanagh threw out an impatient
hand. 1T is impossible" he protest
ed "It's better for her and better for
me that l should do so. I'm going
back to my own people"
Wetherford was thoroughly reused
now. Some part Of his old time fire
seemed to return to him. He rose from
his chair and approached the ranger
firmly. I've seen you act like a man.
Ross Cavanagh- You've been good
partner these last few days-a SON
couldn't have treated me better-and
j hate to think Ill OF you. But my girl
loves you'll could see that. / could
see her lean to you"
Ross said slowly: "It win be hard
for you to understand when tell You
that care great deal for your daugh-
ter. but a man like mean Englishman
cannot marry, or he ought not to
marry-for himself alone There are so
many others to consider-his friends,
his sisters
Wetherford dropped his hand 81
see." His tone was despairing. when
/ was young we married the girls we
you are not that kind You may be
right I'm nothing but a debilitated
old cowpuncher branded By the state
a man who threw away his chance
but can tell you straight I've learned
that nothing but the love of a woman
, counts"
In the meantime Lee Virginia wait
ed with increasing Impotence for
Ross Cavanagh's return. expecting
each noon to see him appear at the
door. But when three days passed
without word or sign from him her
uneasiness deepened into alarm. The
Z whole town was profoundly excited
over the murder. that she knew, and
she began to fear that some Of the
rangers enemies had worked their evil
win upon him.
With this vague fear in her heart
she went forth into the street to In
quire. One Of the first men she met
was Sifton. who was sitting. as usual.
outside the livery barn door. smiling,
inefficient. content. OF him she asked.
Have you seen Mr.. Cavanagh"
Yes" he answered; 81 saw him yes
terday, just after dinner. down at the
postoffice. He was writing letter at
the desk Almost Immediately after
ward he mounted and rode away. He
was much cut up over his chiefs dis
missalr
why has he not written to me-"
she asked herself. land why should he
have gone away without word Of
greeting. explanation or goodby? 1t
would have taken but moments
time to call at the door,"
The more she dwelt upon this neg
lect the more significant it became.
After the tender look in his eyes.
after the ardent clasp of his hand, the
thought that he could be so Indifferent
was at once a source Of pain and self
reproach.
With childish frankness she went to
Lie and told her what she had learn
ed. Eer eyes dim with hot tears.
Ross came to town and went away
back to his cabin without coming to
see me-"
Are you sure he's been here?'
Yes. He came In, got some letters
mt the postoffice and then rode
away Her voice broke as her dis
appointment and grief overcame her.
Lie struggled to sitting position.
There's some mistake about this.
Ross Cavanagh never was the whiting
kind OF man. You've got to remember
he's on duty. Probably the letter was
some order that carried him right back
TO his work.
but If he had really cared he could
have ridden by to say just word. But
he didn't He went away without a
N III