The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1911-07-07

tVWttu tbt tVUfig Mptnuu " INV |
rush Of tenderness Now that she was
released from the necessity Of excus.ng
her mothers fnults-fnults she could
now ignore-now that she could look
upon her ns q ioynl II end. she was
moved to pity and to love- and, rising.
she went TO her and put her arms
about her neck and snId This won't
make any difference. | am going to
stay with you and help you just the
same"
| The tears came TO the old womar'n ,
eyes, and her voice broke MS she re-
Piled II know you would say that.
Lee Virginia, but all the same ! don't
intend to have you do any such thing. |
You've got to cut loose from me alto
gethcr, because some fine chap is 60
Ing to come along one of these days,
and he won't want me even as a step
mother-in-law. No; l have decided that
you and me had better live apart. III
get you place to live up in Sulphur,
where can visit you now and again,
but guess am elected to stay right
here in the Fork They don't like me,
and don't like them, but have kind
Of got used to their ways OF looking at
me sidewise. They don't matter as
much as It would up there in the city"
Lee turned back wistfully toward
the story of her mother. "Where did
my mother meet my father? Do you
know thatT
mo, l don't. It was n runaway
match, Ed said. never did know
/ who her folks were, only l know they
thought she was marrying the wrong
| man."
: The girl sighed ms her mind took In
J tho significance Of her mothers COM
D ing to this wild country. leaving all
. that she knew and loved behind.
0 "Poor little mother! 1t must have
been very hard for her."
! Il am afraid she did have hard
+ time, for Ed admitted to me that he
l hadn't so much as saddle when he
4 landed In the state. He haunt much
Z when met him first, but everybody
liked him. He was one Of the hand
8 soonest men that ever jumped sad
!. die. But he was close mouthcd. You
+ never could get anything out Of him
that he didn't want to tell, and was
n never able to discover what he had
been doing in the southern part Of the
n state"
Q As she pondered on her changed re-
l. latlonship to Lie, Lees heart light
ened. It would make difference ia
Ross It would make difference "a
+ tho Redfelds. Traitorous d. 1t seem
o cd, It was a great relief, a Joy, t.
o know that her own mother-her rea
mother-had been mice" "Shs mus
is have been nice or Lie would not have
r. said So" she reasoned, recalling that
her stepmother had admitted her feel
), ing Of jealousy.
d At last Lie rose. "well, now, deerie
reckon we had better turn IN. i
It Is getting chilly and late"
sr As they were about to part at tn
door Of the tent Virginia took Liss'I
n. face between her hands. Good night
er mother" she said and kissed her t
Or show her that what she had SAX
!. would not make any difference.
a. But Lie was not deceived. Thi
r. unwonted caress nude perfectly plail
70 to her the relief which filled the girl
"A heart.
~ Leo Virginia was awakened som
:, hours later by roaring. cracking
:. sound and by the hare Of yellow
~ light upon her tent Peering out. sh
- saw flames shooting up through tn
p roof OF the rangers cabin. while bs
~ side It, wrapped In blanket, calml
contemplating 1t, stood Cavanagh wit
70 folded arms. A little nearer to tn
ns bridge Redncld was sitting upon a
2, upturned box.
With a cry Of alarm ahs aroused be
% mother. and Lie. heavy eyed. laggar
~ with sleep. rose slowly and pecred ou
Ill at the scene with eyes Of dull amaxl
nd mont. "why don't they try to put
be outY she demanded ~ she took IN th
m import Of tho passive agures.
at Dressing with tsemulous haste. Il
stepped from the tent 3ust In time I
nt. see Swcnson come from behind u
burning building and Join the othcI
On In silent contemplation q the seen
There was something uncanny In Il
in calm inaction Of III three strong mel
We Slowly, wondcrinGly. tho girl DIRE
or near and called q Cavanagh, WI
-, tnFusa aslckly. eEzing- a2fA- snn1