Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-01-20
CHAPTER Nv.


led Lee Virginia to active
= measures Of reform. She hur-
ried from one needed reform to an.
other. She drew others into the vor-
tex.
She organized the giggling walters
into a warning party and advanced
upon the flies. By Kissing and shooing
and the tlutter of newspapers they
drove the enemy before them, and
carpenter was called in TO mend screen
doors and windows, thus preventing
their return. New shades were hung
to darken the room and new table
cloths purchased to replace the old
ones, and the whole place had such
cleaning as it had not known before
In five years.
In this work the time passed swift
", aud when Redfield and Cavanagh
came again to lunch they exclaimed In
astonishment, as, indeed, every one did.
"How's thisT" queried Cavanagh hui
morously. Has the place changed
hands?"
Lie was but grimly responsive.
Seems like it has"
81 hope the price has not gone up"
"Not yet"
Redield asked. who's responsible
for this-your new daughters"
You've hit it. She's started right In
to polish us all up to city standards.
She can run the whole blame outfit If
she's a mind to-even If go broke for
It. The work she got out of them girls
is a wonder"
Lee Virginia came in flushed and self
at breakfast. and stood beside the
table while the waitress laid the dishes
before her guests with elaborate as
sumption of grace and design. Hither-
to she had bumped them down with a
slash of slangy comment. The change
was quite as wonderful as the absence
of the flies.
do we owe these happy reforms to
you?" asked Cavanagh, admiring Vir-
ginia's neat dress and glowing cheeks.
Partly" she answered. Il was des-
perate. had to do something, SO I
took to ordering people around"
Il understand" he said. Wont you
sit at our table again"
please do" said Redfield. 81 want
to talk with you"
She took seat little hesitatingly.
You see, | studied domestic science at
school, and I've never had chance to
apply it before"
Here's your opportunity" Redfeld
| assured her MY respect for the
science of domestics is growing. !
marvel to think what another week
will bring forth. l think I'll have to
come down again just to observe the
/ Improvement in the place"
1T can't last" Lie interjected.
Shell catch the western habits.
| She'll sag. same as we all do"
"No. she won't" declared Ross, with
intent to encourage her. IF you give
her free hand l predict she'll make
your place the wonder and boast OF
the countryside"
when do you go back to the noun
tains?" Lee Virginia asked little
later.
Immediately after my luncheon" he
replied
She experienced a pang Of regret
and could not help showing it little.
Your talk helped me-" she said. "Ive
! decided to stay and be Of use to my
mother"
Redfeld overheard this and turned
toward her.
Il want Mrs. Redfield to know you
I'm sure her advice will be helpful.
hope you'll come up and see us If you
decide to settle in Sulphur or If you
don't"
Il should like to do So" she said
touched by the tone as well as by the
words of his invitation.
"Rcdfields house is one of the few
completely civilized homes in the
state" put in Cavanagh. When ] get
SO weary Of cuss words and poaching
and graft that | can't live without
killing some one | 60 down to Elk
Lodge and smoke and read the super
visors London and Paris weeklies and
recover my tone"
Redfield smiled. when | get weak
kneed or careless in the service and
feel my self respect slipping away
go up to Ross cabin and talk with @
man who represents the impersonal
even handed justice of the fedora
law"
Cavanagh laughed. There. Hav
ing handed each other reciprocal bou
quets. we can now tell Miss Wether
ford the truth. Each of us thinks very
well of himself, and we're both be
levers in the new vest
what d. you mean by the new
west?" asked the girl.
well, the work you've been doinl
here this morning is part of it." an
swered Redfield. ITS kind Of house
cleaning. The old west was pictur
esque and in way manly and fine
certain phases of 1t were heroic-ant
| hate to see it all pass, but some o
us began to realize that it was not al
poetry. The plain truth is my com
panions for over twenty years wer'
lawless rufIians, and the cattle bust