The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-02-04
CHAPTER V.

the little hotel produced an
amazing change in Eliza Weth-
erford's affairs. The dining
room swarmed with those seeking
food. and as the news Of the girls
beauty went out upon the range the
cowboys sought excuse to ride in and
get square meal and glimpse of the
"queen" whose hand had witched "the
old shack" into marvel of cleanliness.
Generally they failed Of so much as
glance at her. for she kept away from
the dining room at mealtime
Lee Virginia was fully aware of this
male curiosity and vaguely conscious
of the light which shone in the eyes
of some of them (men like Gregg.
She had begun to understand. too. that
her mothers reputation was barrier
between the better class of folk and
herself. But as they came now and
again 10 take meal they permitted
themselves word in her praise,
which she resented. 81 don't want
their friendship now" she declared
bitterly.
her she began to be interested In some
Of her boarders.
So far as the younger men were con-
cerned, she saw little to admire and
much to hate. They were crude and
uninteresting rowdies for the most
part. She was put upon her defense by
their glances, and she came TO dread
walking along the street, so open and
coarse were their words Of praise.
Few of these loafers had the courage
to stand on their feet and court her
favor, but there was one who speedily
became her chief prosecutor. This was
Neill Ballard. celebrated (and mac
lmpudenO by two years travel with
wild west show. He was tall, lean,
angular and freckled, but his horse
manship was marvellous and his skill
with the rope magical.
He had lost his engagement by rea-
son Of a drunken brawl, and he was
now living with his sister, the wife of
a small rancher near by. Virginia de-
spised the other men, but she feared
this one, and quite justly.
The Greggs, father and son, were
In open rivalry for Lee also, but in diff
ferent ways. The older man, who had
already been married several times,
was disposed to buy her hand In what
he called honorable wedlock," but the
son, at heart libertine approached
her as one who despised the west and
who. being kept In the beastly coun-
try by duty to parent. was ready to
amuse himself at any ones expense.
= He had no purpose in life but to feed
his body and escape toll.
The chivalry of the plains, of which
Lee had read so much and which she
supposed she remembered, was gone.
She doubted If 1t had ever existed
among these centaurs. Why should II
inhere in ignorant brutal plainsmen
any more than in ignorant, brutal fac,
tory hands?
There came to her now and again
gentle old acknowledgements" they
would be called-and shy boys from
the farms, but for the most part the
men she saw imhlttcred her, and she
kept out of their IL ut as much as pos
sible. Her kePurSt pleasures, almost
her only pleasure, lay In the occasion
al brief visits of Cavanagh as he rode
IN FOR his maj
ISze perceived all these attacks OF
her daughter and was infuriated by
them. He brows were knotted VIII
care as well as with pain, and she In
cessantly urged Virginia TO go back L
Sulphur "Ill send YOU money to pa!
your board Till you strike II jon I"I
to this the girl would not agree an'
the business by reason of her presenc
went on increasing from day TO day
To RedHeld Lie one day confessed
her pain. II ought to send for tina
doctor up there, but the plain truth !
I'm afraid of him. don't want {
knew what's the matter of me, IL
his Job to tell me I'm sick, and II
scared of his verdict"
"Nonsenser' he replied. you can
afford to put off getting him niue
longer. I'm going back tonight br
I'll be over again tomorrow. WIN
uont you let me DrlnS MN uo"h'
will save you $12. And by the wa,
suppose you let me take Lee Virginl
home with me. She looks bit d.
pressed An outing will do her goo
She's taken hold here wonderfully"
Hasn't she? But | should have sci
her away the very first night I'm sc
ting TO depend on her I'm plum
FOOLISH abort her nUw-can't let hi
out Of my sight, and yet I'm off N
feed worrying over her. Gregg is &c
ting dangerous. You can't fool n
when 1t comes to men. Curse Ecu
They're all alike. every one Of ther
won't have my girl mistreated, e
you that. Pm not 1T to be her motho
Now. that's the truth. Reddy, and tn
rotten little back country COW town